Jerzy J. Parysek

Abstract

Metropolitanisation is one of the processes observed in the contempo-rary world that has an ever increasing influence on its economic and social development and that is an object of various types of scientific inquiry, including geographical. However, as this complex and multi-faceted process is perceived and interpreted in a variety of ways, it might be useful to resolve it more fully. The article therefore seeks to elucidate the terms metropolis and metropolitanisation in such a way that, by focusing on the functions and spatial structures characteristic of metropolises, the process of metro-politanisation is described in the context of urbanisation and globalisation. A classification of metropolises is also proposed and carried out, and European and Polish metropolises are described. In regard to Polish metropolises, which are still rather metropolises-to-be, attention is centred on the progress of metropolitanisation and prospects for the develop-ment of metropolitan functions within the next few years.

Keywords: metropolis, metropolitanisation processes, metropolitan functions, spatial-functional structures, globalisation, cities, global cities

Jerzy J. Parysek [parys@amu.edu.pl], Institute of Socio-Economic Geography and Space Economy, Adam Mickiewicz University, Fredry 10, 61-701 Poznań, Poland

Abstract

The natural environment and its place in physical planning can be approached in a variety of ways. In an extreme case, the environment can be treated as the subject matter of a plan; alternatively, it can be one of the elements constituting the subject of planning. It can be treated as material defining the spatial framework of development, or as its factor and limitation, etc. The way we approach the environment depends primarily on how we under-stand the nature-man relationship, and what model of the operation and development of nature we adopt. Two such models can be considered: (1) of the autonomous development of nature, and (2) of controlled nature-man interactions. In the latter, two types of interaction are involved: of the spatial integration or spatial separation of nature and man. These assumptions can underlie various approaches to the environment; their elucidation is the subject matter of the present paper.

Keywords: natural environment, physical planning, nature-man relationship

Jerzy J. Parysek [parys@amu.edu.pl], Institute of Socio-Economic Geography and Space Economy, Adam Mickiewicz University, Fredry 10, 61-701 Poznań, Poland
Lidia Mierzejewska [mierzeja@amu.edu.pl], Institute of Socio-Economic Geography and Space Economy, Adam Mickiewicz University, Fredry 10, 61-701 Poznań, Poland

Abstract

The article presents the results of studies of the development of Polish towns by size categories. They allowed a synthetic evaluation of the process of urbanisation based on a multivariate analysis of the growth dynamics of 60 largest towns and an analysis of the development trajectories of the particular size groups of towns.

Keywords: Postwar urbanisation in Poland, dynamics of town development, factors of urbanisation in Poland, negative outcomes of intensified urbanisation

Jerzy J. Parysek [parys@amu.edu.pl], Institute of Socio-Economic Geography and Space Economy, Adam Mickiewicz University, Fredry 10, 61-701 Poznań, Poland
Jacek Kotus [jacek.tusko@gmail.com], Institute of Socio-Economic Geography and Spatial Management, Adam Mickiewicz University Dzięgielowa 27, 61-680 Poznań, Poland