Geographia Polonica (2002) vol. 75, iss. 1

Metropolises and the processes of metropolitanisation

Jerzy J. Parysek

Geographia Polonica (2002) vol. 75, iss. 1, pp. 25-41 | Full text

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