The Dilemmas of the Kaliningrad Oblast Today. The Kaliningrad Oblast is a Russian
exclave on the Baltic Sea neighbouring with the EU countries of Poland and Lithuania. On
one hand, the Oblast belongs to the Russian political, economic and defence area, and on the
other, it is separated from other parts of the Russian Federation. This specific location affects
the nature of the local economy, the dependence on import and a drive towards cooperating
with countries abroad. The economic situation of the Kaliningrad Oblast is strictly related to
the economic situation of the remaining parts of Russia. Kaliningrad is subject to principles
established by the federal centre, and Moscow decides about the most important issues of
the region. At the same time, the Oblast makes efforts to provide conditions for social and
economic development comparable to the development standards of neighbouring countries.
The residents of the Oblast can be characterised by a sense of own identity, their openness
to Europe, as well as activeness and entrepreneurship as compared to other Russian citizens.
The greatest number of military units in Russia cluster in Kaliningrad Oblast. This potential
is continually strengthened with the progressing modernisation of Russian military forces.
Small border traffic, initiated in July 21 between the Republic of Poland and the Kaliningrad
Oblast of the RF, had a major impact on the animation, volume and the dynamics of cross-border
relations and the promotion of Poland. In July 2016, the Polish side suspended the project.
Inflow areas of Poles to Germany after the EU enlargement in 2004. The aim of
this article is to analyse one of the important components of contemporary Polish-German
relationships, i.e. migration of Polish population to Germany. The scale and dynamics of this
process have intensified since Poland’s accession to the European Union in 2004 and full
opening of the German labour market to Polish citizens in 2011. The article focuses on spatial
consequences of Polish-German migration seen from the perspective of the immigrant country.
Its conclusions are based on unique statistical data and cartographic materials.
Spatial and time diversity of housing construction in Poland. Residential housing
construction, as one of the most important elements of spatial development, a factor decisive
for living conditions of residents, is the object of interest not only of architects, planners
or local and state authorities, but increasingly also of geographers, who mainly analyze these
issues in a spatial context. The article analyzes the development of construction in post-war
Poland in three periods: real socialism, the transformation period and the last decade. The
subject of the analysis is the number of completed dwellings/flats in total, by location (city,
village) and by investors (housing cooperatives, developers, private constructors and others).
Identification of agriculture types in Poland with analysis of spatial associations.
The aims of the paper were to identify and characterize contemporary agriculture types
in Poland, and evaluate the suitability of the typology used. The analysis was performed on the
basis of territorial units (communes, LAU2). The study involved a total of 68 variables characterizing
agriculture. Spatial associations found in the data were identified. As the next step,
an analysis of local spatial autocorrelation was performed and spatial clusters were identified
by LISA and cluster analysis performed by the method of k-means clustering, which identified
a total of five agriculture types. The study presented the spatial distribution of individual types
of agriculture and their characteristics. Furthermore, the method was shown to be especially
useful for investigating agricultural phenomena characterized by a large number of traits in
relation to a large number of territorial units.
Systemic transformation in Polish surface transport: An evaluation. The purpose
of this paper is to provide some insight into the processes of restructuring and privatisation
among rail, road, urban-transport, and inland shipping companies after 1989. Where
freight is concerned, carriage on standard- and broad-gauge railways can be evaluated as partly
deregulated, while where the carriage of passengers is concerned – all carriers up to mid-2005
had originated within the PKP Group. The most common form of transformation of passenger
carriers is communalisation of existing companies. The first private operator (the present-day
Arriva) appeared as late as 2007. The disintegration of national road carrier (PKS) resulted
in the founding of c. 40 new freight firms, the majority of which were closed-down soon. The
most common form of privatisation of the PKS passenger enterprises has involved leasing by
workers. The privatisation has involved not only Polish investors but also foreign ones (Veolia,
later on taken over by Arriva, and Israeli Egged Holding via its affiliate Mobilis). However, the
share of public-capital ownership remains substantial, resulting often in final bankrupcy of
road transport companies. Among the operators in urban transport public owership remains
dominant in various forms (local authorities, municipal, budgetary companies). On the opposite,
in inland shipping small private firms are dominant. Moreover, systemic transformation
plus Poland’s EU accession have given rise to the conditions underpinning the emergence of
Europe’s largest shipowners (OT Logistics).
Cultural, ideological and social sources of anarchy in spatial management in
Poland. The article is an individual statement about the state of the steering sphere of spatial
management in Poland. The author puts forward the thesis that for years there has been anarchy
in it, which deepened in the period of systemic transformation. Despite the established
legal framework of spatial management, consistent with European standards and the existence
of spatial planning institutions at local, regional and national level, manifestations of anarchy
are widely visible. This is an important, though not the only, reason for the widely observed
and repeatedly documented disorder and even spatial chaos in the material sphere of spatial
management in Poland. The sources of this anarchy are sought in a specific Polish culture,
ideologies professed by professionals related to spatial management, and in old and new social
divisions.
Management of metropolitan areas – foreign experience and their Polish implications.
The aim of the article is to present problems of development of metrotopolitan areas as
premises for creating various forms of territorial integrated management. The reference point is
the Report “The OECD Metropolitan Governance Survey” (2014). The models of metropolitan
integration were analyzed in both: “the top-down” legal and political solutions of European
countries as well as “bottom-up initiatives” of building local government partnerships. The
metropolitan reforms in Germany, France and Italy were discussed as good solutions. Against
this background, the dilemmas of managing metropolitan areas in Poland, implementation of
EU instrument – ITI and possible direction of metropolitan reform are presented.
The Settlement System of Poland: Patterns of Change. Poland’s settlement system
has become a scene of accelerating metropolitan development over the last few decades.
The trends observed and their policy implications are discussed in the article by focusing on
sub-spaces, settlement structure components. Special reference is made to the formation of
city networks and their role in spatial organization at the national level. A possible future
course of the metropolization phenomena, together with some factors of their evolving intensity,
is outlined against the background of selected European urbanization scenarios.
Regional differentiation of economic growth in Poland between 1995 and
2015. The paper explores the regional differentiation of economic growth in Poland between
1995 and 2015 in terms of GDP per capita. The historically lagging-behind regions of eastern
Poland has shown relatively high dynamics and reduced the gap vis-à-vis Western European
regions. At the same time, they have not been catching up with the fastest growing metropolitan
areas, which leads to increased inter-regional disparities in the country. The lowest rate of
growth is characteristic of northern regions and western borderland, which is related to their
social and cultural features, including poor human capital, and limited internal market. There
is moderate correlation between regional economic growth and the quality of life. The least
favourable situation in both respects is found in the German borderland.
Demographic challenges of regional development of Poland. The goals of the
article are dichotomous. First of all, it is the recognition of the main problems of regional
development in Poland, resulting from the current and forecast demographic and settlement
situation, including depopulation and population aging. An increasing mismatch between
jobs, housing, education and services, increasingly scattered and inefficient settlement and
inefficiency of the administrative and territorial system in terms of income and expenditure
balancing and ensuring an adequate standard of services resulting from the administrative hierarchization
of the settlement network, territorial delimitation and spatial accessibility have
been identified. Then, in the second place, an attempt was made to formulate remedial measures
related mainly to the optimization of spatial development and stimulation of innovative
economic growth based in particular on endogenous poles of growth. In the article, among
others the results of the author’s research and analyzes were used, which were carried out for
practical purposes for government diagnostic and strategic documents in the years 2000–2017
[incl. “Report of the spatial development of Poland”, “Concept of Spatial Development of Poland
2030”, “National Strategy for Regional Development 2010–2020”, delimitation of “State
Intervention Strategic Areas: Growth Areas and Problem Areas” and “Responsible Development
Strategy”].
Strategic Choices of EU cohesion policy post 2020 in light of the European
Commission programming documents. The aim of this study is to evaluate the conceptualization
of European cohesion policy in the next programming period of the European Union
and in the European financial perspective 2020+. Special attention has been paid to documents
of European Commission, which is the leading institution in the dialogue of various
stakeholders on this subject. It has been also described the unique significance of European
cohesion policy for the socio-economic development of Poland (after the accession in 2004 and
in the coming years). Against this background the most important assumptions of Poland's
negotiating position has been determined as well as the necessary changes in the regional
policy model in Poland.Strategic Choices of EU cohesion policy post 2020 in light of the European
Commission programming documents. The aim of this study is to evaluate the conceptualization
of European cohesion policy in the next programming period of the European Union
and in the European financial perspective 2020+. Special attention has been paid to documents
of European Commission, which is the leading institution in the dialogue of various
stakeholders on this subject. It has been also described the unique significance of European
cohesion policy for the socio-economic development of Poland (after the accession in 2004 and
in the coming years). Against this background the most important assumptions of Poland's
negotiating position has been determined as well as the necessary changes in the regional
policy model in Poland.
The K4 graph and the inertia of the adjacency matrix for a connected planar
graph. A substantial history exists about incorporating matrix analysis and graph theory
into geography and the geospatial sciences. This study contributes to that literature, aiding
in analyses of spatial relationships, especially in terms of spatial weights matrices. We focus
on the n-by-n 0–1 binary adjacency matrix, whose rows and columns represent the nodes of
a connected planar graph. The inertia of this matrix represents the number of positive (n+),
negative (n−), and zero (n0) eigenvalues. Approximating the Jacobian term of spatial auto-normal
models can benefit from calculating these matrix quantities. We establish restrictions for
n- exploiting properties we uncover for the K4 graph.
‘Hard’ and ‘soft’ methods in analyses of territorial structures’. This article refers
to two distinct approaches to investigations of territorial structures and their changes: the
‘intuitive’ of ‘soft’ approach and a more rigid, formalized or ‘hard’ one. The examples of analyzing
the regional patterns in Poland over a almost 40 year span are called to illustrate these
relations between two methodological standpoints. The conclusion states that both of them
are valid and useful, however their strengths can be fully exposed when both are applied in an
comprehensive way, supporting each other in a difficult process of investigation multidimensional
and dynamic changes of the social territorial systems.
Concepts and methods in polish spatio-electoral research. At the turn of the
20th and 21st century spatio-electoral research in the world entered the phase of maturity and
crystallization of research concepts and methods long ago, in Poland the stage of spontaneous
development of research in this themes. As a result of the development of spatio-electoral
studies in Poland, spatial approach patterns were developed, and the scope of using statistical
analysis methods in a spatial context was extended. Another important aspect of this research
was the discourse and the use of the notion of factors in building a theory or constructing
pre-theory regarding the spatial differentiation of electoral behaviors. From a macroanalytical
perspective concerning territorial patterns from the subregional level to the macroregional
level, four groups of concepts of the influence of factors and conditions can be distinguished:
a) concepts of historical and cultural conditions, b) modernization concepts, ie actions of some
socio-economic factors, c) concepts related to competition and conflicts within the political
system of the country; d) concepts of spatial and neighborhood influence, also called concepts
of political topography.
The evolution of David Harvey’s scientific interests. David Harvey’s work is
a significant example of evolution and differences in contemporary human geography. It is
characterised especially by three features related to one another: a constant change in scientific
and research interests, a tendency to bridge the divisions between geographical specialities
and scientific disciplines and the inclination towards deep theoretical and methodological reflection.
A temporal and problem analysis allows distinguishing two phases of his research
interests. In the first, neopositivist one, Harvey discusses methodological aspects of geography,
being part of the process of changes in the research pattern of the maternal discipline; in
the second, as a confirmed Marxist and radical geographer, he critically analyses contemporary
urbanisation and the ideas of postmodernism and neoliberalism. Along with the evolution of
scientific and research interests, Harvey’s approach to the examined issues changes – from an
inquisitive researcher, concerned with the state of a native scientific discipline, he becomes
a critical observer and a reformer of the surrounding reality.
Participation – Activity – Agency – step back or progress to develop civil society?
The main aim of the article is kick-off discussion about phenomenon of participation in
spatial planning and management. Background to the discussion are results of my, more than
twenty years, research on citizens’ standards of influence to the local authorities. It is drive me
to the question if is the public participation right way to create civil society, especially in the
context of spatial management? What do we expect in that context? We would like to provoke
Polish local communities to bottom-up initiatives or make citizens to participate “on the call
of the authorities” in statutory forms of engagement in spatial management process? There
in Poland do we want to create a “civil society” or a “society of civic organizations”? Public
participation is a tool and action that provokes the processes of civil society development or
part of a bureaucratic planning ritual to tame the “social demon of activity”? Listed questions
provoke me to discussion about five, in my opinion, significant, though perhaps not the only,
dilemmas accompanying the implementation of participatory processes in the spatial planning
and management, especially large territorial units. These are: “institutionalization of engagement”,
“formalization of civic engagement”, “erosion of civic engagement”, “diversity of forms
of civic engagement”, “exclusion of groups of citizens through involvement”. The listed issues
show that participation is not end of process, but only a tool on the road to building or a civil
society or a society of instrumental activity.
Public space in geographical and social aspects. Space as a scientific and social
term has many interpretations. Work organizes mutual relations between various kinds of
spaces. The paper focuses on the contemporary determinants of shaping a public space in
cities regarding the popularization of information and communication technologies. Attention
was also paid to the metric feature of social spaces because it is usually neglected while constructing
such spaces.
State Urban Policy – concept, Institutional scope and structure in integrative
management of the development. The management of space, as a common good, closely
linked with economic and social development in Poland – meets a number of barriers. One of
the major barriers is flawed and inefficient system of spatial planning and the lack of explicit
national urban policy. The causes of this situation are manifold and complex. There is a week
understanding that spatial planning has regulatory function and that is a main measure of
intervention in inefficient – by its nature – market mechanism of real estate development and
location of new construction objects. The existing in Poland since 2015 formal document under
the title “National City Policy” is in fact the part of cohesion policy. It formulates only very
soft policy recommendations concerning spatial development which are identified in different
cities and their functional areas, whereas financial measures go separately through sectoral
programs.
In the article author consider the future place of national urban policy in integrative system
of development policy which combine economic, social and build environmental dimensions.
Than he analyzes the relationship between national spatial policy and the urban polices at
the national and local level. Finally he presents some general conclusions and recommendations.
According to the author, because of complexity of the issues and challenges, the detailed
formulation of state urban policies and its implementation must lie within the competence
of a strong governmental institution (responsible for research, monitoring and evaluation,
elaboration of visions and scenarios in a broad global context). The primary partner in the
state urban policy, co-responsible for its success, should be adequately, provincial and local
governments. Through the cooperation of state and territorial authorities, is the most strongly
manifested multilevel model of “public governance”. The special role belongs to the local authorities
due to their assigned competence in creation of local by law in respect of land use and
building allocation. Efficient urban policy must have two dimensions; horizontal and territorial.
Horizontal domain should belong to the state (national planning, passing the law, systemic
intervention, etc.). Territorial dimension should belong first of all to local urban policies but formulated and implemented within the framework and measures defined by national spatial
policy and operational state urban policies.
Contemporary changes of socio-economic development factors. The aim of
the work is to determine the scope of contemporary changes of socio-economic development
factors, paying attention to the consequences for their interpretation and mechanism of impact
relating to the regional and local level. The main goal is specified by formulating the
following research questions: (1) What major megatrends shape contemporary developmental
transformations? (2) What is the direction and scope of changes in socio-economic development
factors? (3) How are the conditions of development processes changing as a result of
these changes and how they differentiate the processes of development in space? The article
is a synthesis of the results of two research projects of the National Science Center: NN 306
79 19 40: Socio-economic development and the development of areas of growth and areas of
economic stagnation (2011–2014) and OPUS 10 – 2015/19/B/HS5/00012: New challenges of
regional policy in shaping the factors of socio-economic development of less developed regions
(2016–2019) and the results of own authors’ research – employees of the Regional Analysis
Department at the Institute of Socio-Economic Geography and Spatial Management of the
Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.
Equilibrium, disequilibrium and adaptation. The inspirations for spatial economics.
This paper is a part of author’s long-term research project related to dynamics and
evolution of space economy. In the attempts of theoretical reconstruction of these processes
the notion of equilibrium plays an important role, as well as related notions: disequilibrium
and adaptation. In the analysis of equilibrium the author drew on the concepts elaborated by
the neoclassical school of economics. In the analysis of disequilibrium the concept of physics
turned out to be fertilizing, namely the concept of dissipative structures and self-organisation.
The concept of adaptation is elaborated in depth in biology. These three concepts have been
applied in spatial economics long since. Further research is necessary however, to make these
application more relevant to spatial economics, and in this way more fruitful.
Socio-economic development as well as factors and determinants of development.
The scientific language, as well as everyday and literary language, is in constant development.
The effect of this development is the multiplication of flavored notions and concepts
leading to many misunderstandings and ambiguities, which should not happen in the scientific
language. The presented texts should be written in a language that is clear, simple, logical,
unambiguous and understandable, and their interpretation should not cause problems. This
article presents remarks concerning the interpretation of such basic notions of socio-economic
sciences as socio-economic development, economic growth and factors and conditions of
development, quite freely used in scientific texts. It also contains the correct interpretation of
these notions, especially in reference to the language of socio-economic geography, regional
economics and socio-economic and spatial development and planning. Only an unambiguously
interpreted text can be a platform for mutual understanding, basis for scientific discussion
and the way to the the real development of science.
Circular economy – a new approach in the understanding of the human–environment
relationship. The work presented the assumptions of the circular economy as a new
concept of the economy functioning with the method of production “from cradle to cradle”
constituting the opposition to the commonly used linear economy approach (take, make, dispose).
Work discussed also the impact on the quality of human life and the management of
environmental resources. Functional assumptions of the circular economy and its territorial
dimension were presented, especially in urban areas where the green economy and sharing
economy mechanisms are used. The potential for economic growth and the creation of new
jobs was also emphasized due to the implementation of circular economy in the EU countries.
Geography versus spatial management. The aim of the article is to draw attention
to substantive connections that combine spatial management with geography, first of all with
socio-economic geography. Both disciplines are of a multidimensional nature and they expose
physical space as a field of their interests. The convergence of disciplines is also reflected in the
research methodology – a spatial analysis has been developing in socio-economic geography
since the 1960s by the so-called spatial direction. Both disciplines are competitive not only on
the scientific, but also educational and utilitarian (socio-economic practice) market. The article
focuses on the essence and a cognitive sense of both fields, in general, and on their scope
of competence. Spatial management should be developed as part of basic sciences, including
geography as its professional specialization.