Geographia Polonica (2002) vol. 75, iss. 2

Planning urban systems in Soviet times and in the era of transition: the case of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

Jurgis Vanagas, Zaiga Kriśjane, Rivo Noorkoiv, Eugenius Staniunas

Geographia Polonica (2002) vol. 75, iss. 2, pp. 75-100 | Full text

Abstract

The article deals with the principles of planning the urban system during the Soviet era in the three Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The main items of Soviet regional and urban planning doctrine are first described and an outline given of urban network development in the programmes and projects elaborated during the post-war decades. Some light is then shed on the peculiarities of the urbanization processes and evolution of urban networks during the period of transition. The article outlines the way in which the restoration of independence in 1990 economic and political conditions change fundamentally in these republics, with concomitant altering of goals and problems in both regional and urban planning.

Keywords: regional planning, urban network, central command-type system, transitional period, free market economy

Jurgis Vanagas, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Sauletekio alley 11, LT-2040 Vilnius, Lithuania
Zaiga Kriśjane, epartment of Human Geography, University of Latvia, Alberta 10, LV 1215 Riga, Latvia
Rivo Noorkoiv, Geomedia Ltd., Riiiitli 4, EE-51007 Tartu, Estonia
Eugenius Staniunas, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Sauletekio alley 11, LT-2040 Vilnius, Lithuania