Geographia Polonica (1981) vol. 44

Vadim V. Pokshishevski, Institute of Ethnography, Academy of Sciences of the USSR

Yakov G. Mashbits, Institute of Geography. Academy of Sciences of the USSR. Moscow. USSR

Gerold Kind, Technical University. Dresden. G DR

Boris S. Khorev, Moscow Slate University. Moscow. USSR

Konrad Scherf, Higher School of Economics. Berlin. GDR

Abstract

In the structure and/or interdisciplinary design of different subsystems of the socio-economic space we can see the entirely marked position of the settlement subsystem. Its organization is certainly affected by the arrangement of the settlement structure in a narrow sense, i.e. the structure of settlements (i.e. their size, functions, etc.). But this primary basis does not play such a decisive part in the settlement subsystem as does, for instance, the structure and dislocation of industry in the industral subsystem or the characteristics of the production types, subtypes, etc.. in the subsystem of agriculture. The settlement subsystem as the territorially most universal component of the socio-economic space is modelled relatively strongly by processes originating in the structure of industry, services, agriclture, etc., and has retroactive modifying effects on these 'more specialized' subsystems. The study of settlement must therefore necessarily deal even with questions of the geography of transport, recreation, industry, agriculture, etc.; and the present paper was compiled taking account of this fact.

Miroslav Macka, Insiilule of Geography, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences Brno Czechoslovakia
Jan Bina, Insiilule of Geography, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences Brno Czechoslovakia
Jaroslav Mareś, Insiilule of Geography, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences Brno Czechoslovakia
Bozena Novakova, Insiilule of Geography, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences Brno Czechoslovakia
Vaclav Touśek, Insiilule of Geography, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences Brno Czechoslovakia
Milan Viturka, Insiilule of Geography, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences Brno Czechoslovakia
Jiri Vystoupil, Insiilule of Geography, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences Brno Czechoslovakia

Abstract

Problems of human settlement are a part of a more general problem, i.e. territorial organization of social life. These problems become more complicated and acute with the passage of time, therefore their importance increases as well as the need to solve them.The national economic base of settlement is being constantly developed and changed: large territorial-production complexes emerge, new resource areas develop, huge transport routes, ports and electric power stations are built, and plans to transform Nature are elaborated and implemented over vast territories. All this imparts un-precedented dynamics to human settlement.The tasks to improve settlement cannot be reduced merely to removing shortcomings and intensifying positive elements. It is also essential to master the process of urban and rural settlement reorganization and formation of towns and their systems, as well as to direct it along postulated channels.The first essential step in controlling the mechanism of settlement is to grasp its essence. A study of settlement problems must be aimed, first, at analysing appropriate processes and revealing trends within them and, secondly, at identifying causes behind them.

Georgii M. Lappo, Institute of Geography Academy of Sciences of the USSR

Marek Jerczyński, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland

O.l. Medvedkova, Institute of Geography. Academy of Sciences of the USSR. Moscow. USSR

Alfred Von Kanel, Erns-Vlorit-Arndt University. Greifswald

V. Sh. Dzhaoshvili, Vakhushli Institute of Geography. Academy of Sciences of the Georgian SSR. Tbilisi. USSR

Abstract

As in other countries the settlement structure in the German Democratic Re-public is becoming ever more urbanized. This is obvious from the growth of part of the cities and rural settlement centres, and from the increasing extent to which settlements become integrated. One of the challenges of urbanization is the need to make progress in overcoming the present differences in working and living conditions existing at the level of regions and beyond. In this connection conflicting trends toward concentration and dispersion can be observed. More detailed research is needed to identify those forms of settlement structures which can be employed most favourably to implement the fundamental socio-political objectives of a socialist system.

It is desirable that the settlement structure be efficient from an economic and social point of view, and the following is primarily a look at social aspects of regional settlement systems and city-hinterland regions. The aim is to show the way in which different types of cities have links with their hinterlands through the movement of people, and to demonstrate the social functions of city-hinterland regions. Special importance must in this connection be attached to the area within easy daily reach of the centre. A discussion is needed on what types of centres and regional features result in a comparatively contained daily communication area. In the latter the overall level of the working and living conditions depends decis-ively on the qualitative and quantitative patterns of functions the centre provides. The question may then be asked whether these patterns can satisfy advanced de-mands, whether they may be extended in view of present or future population development within the region or whether the region will have to give up its com-paratively self-contained existence and become integrated into the regions around other cities.

Rudolf Kronert, Institute of Geography. Academy of Sciences of the GDR. Leipzig. GDR

Frankdieter Grimm, Institute of Geography. Academy of Sciences of the GDR. Leipzig. GDR

Zbigniew Rykiel, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakowskie Przedmieście 30, 00-927 Warszawa, Poland

H. Kowalke, Martin-Luther University. Halle-Wittenberg. GDR
J. Leykauf, Martin-Luther University. Halle-Wittenberg. GDR
G. Mohs, Martin-Luther University. Halle-Wittenberg. GDR
Helga Schmidt, Martin-Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg
Dieter Scholz, Martin-Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg

Grzegorz Węcławowicz [g.wecla@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland

Abstract

One major prerequisite for generalizations concerning the internal structure of a city, which is viewed as a relatively isolated settlement system composed of interlinked subsystems, is to have an adequate knowledge of the structural regu-larities specific for each of the subsystems. The steadily rising importance of the service sector vindicates paying special attention to the structure and development of that subsystem. If we consider that retail trade tends to have a focus-creating effect on the emergence of service centres in cities it seems useful to pinpoint the interest of empirical studies in this respect on the search for the regularities governing the distribution of shops.

Irena Chudzyńska, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland

Jerzy Dzieciuchowicz, Institute of Geography, Łódź University, Łódź. Poland

Andrzej Gawryszewski, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland

G.a. Golts, Institute of Geography. Academy of Sciences of the USRR. Moscow. USRR

Agnieszka Zurkowa, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland
Janusz Księżak [j.ksiez@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland

Witold Kusiński, Warsaw University. Warsaw. Poland