Geographia Polonica (2014) vol. 87, iss. 1

Abstract

Contemporary Polish-Lithuanian relations are heavily burdened by radically different assessments of the situations of the national minorities in the two countries, i.e. Poles in Lithuania and Lithuanians in Poland. However, assessments are fraught with difficulties reflecting a complicated history and the different potentials of the two minorities, and also warped by a great many stereotypes. The main aim of this paper is to compare the situations of the Polish minority in Lithuania and the Lithuanian minority in Poland by reference to criteria that are objective (demographic potential, legal status, organisational activity, education) or subjective (the opinions of leaders of national organisations), as well as to attempt to determine how the different situations of the two minorities affects their relations with the authorities, the majority and the foreign homeland.

Keywords: ethnic geography, national minorities, interstate relations, Polish minority, Lithuanian minority, Polish-Lithuanian relations

Marek Barwiński, University of Łódź Faculty of Geographical Sciences Kopcińskiego 31, 90-142 Łódź: Poland e-mail: marbar@geo.uni.lodz.pl
Katarzyna Leśniewska, Department of Political Geography and Regional Studies Faculty of Geographical Sciences, University of Lodz

Abstract

The paper introduces the results of a statistical analysis of two components of depopulation, movement through migration and the natural growth of population in the European part of the Russian Federation during the period 1990-2010. The analysis also involves a breakdown by nationality, which is seen to be a driver of quantitative change. A typology analysis is presented with consideration given to trends to demographic growth or decline. The outcome of an analysis via Webb’s typology indicates that depopulation occurs due to natural decline with an increasing role of migration as a driver of depopulation.

Keywords: depopulation, natural growth and decline, migration, nationalities and ethnic relations, Webb's typology, Russian Federation

Rafał Wiśniewski [rafwis@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of the population-density distributions present in 147 Polish towns and cities of 30,000 inhabitants or more, as of 2002. The determination of these distributions was by reference to concentric rings 1 km across, with numbers of inhabitants being determined on the basis of aggregate data for 14,000 statistical districts, the numbers per centre ranging from 16 in the case of Łuków to 1346 in Warsaw. The districtsin question cover a total area of 9800 km2 and account overall for some 16.8 million inhabitants of Poland. This makes this the most exhaustive analysis of population-density distributions ever carried out for the country. The results of the analyses point to the wide spread presence of function-related distributions of population density in the largest Polish cities, albeit irrespective of their size as referred to more precisely. A clear majority (88%) of centres are characterised by a distribution model in line with either the exponential or power functions, or derivatives. The ‘crater effect’ indicative of depopulation in city centres is met with only rarely, in just a very few towns and cities, this perhaps reflecting the relative youthfulness of Poland’s urban areas.

Keywords: population density distribution, population density profile, population density model, urban population, Poland’s cities

Przemysław Śleszyński [psleszyn@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania PAN

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to identify ongoing changes in post-socialist large housing estates and to clarify their main factors, using a case study approach. The paper examines the transformations of nine housing estates in the third largest Polish city – Łódź. The transformations were analysed in two dimensions: social (socio-demographic changes) and physical (changes in the spatial and functional structure and changesin the physiognomy). The key question was whether the changes occurring in large housing estates in Łódź protect them before the development of the social and physical degradation, identified in many estates in Western Europe, referred as the “large housing estate syndrome”. Research has shown that in examined housing estates there are no symptoms of physical or social degradation. Moreover, processes found there contribute to the prevention of the negative phenomena leading to the development of the “large housing estate syndrome”.

Keywords: housing transformation, large housing estates, post-socialist city, Łódź

Ewa Szafrańska, University of Łódź Kopcińskiego 31, 90-142 Łódź: Poland

Abstract

The objective of the article is to analyse the changes in labour market destinations of geography graduates in selected countries over the last 30 years. Moreover, the paper discusses the results of a Polish study on professional career plans of recent geography graduates and the fulfilment of these plans in 2012. It has been established that key professions in which a geography degree proves useful include: teachers, GIS specialists, and land use/environmental planners. Currently, Polish students would like to work mainly as specialists dealing with analysing and monitoring environmental changes, urban planners, spatial designers and teachers. Sadly, their expectations are hardly ever met and only students looking for teaching positions were most likely to succeed in their job seeking efforts.

Keywords: geographical studies, geography graduates, labour market, professional career, workplaces, first job

Danuta Piróg, Faculty of Geography Pedagogical University ofin Kraków, – Poland ul. Podchorążych 2, 30-084 Kraków

Abstract

The road investment stage is always preceded with projects, which relate to multifaceted economic, environmentaland spatial analyses. The visual values of the surroundings are usually neglected when designing and building motorways and express roads. The authors believe that the increasingly large-space range of motorway construction requires that more attention be paid to the landscape context of such investments. Functioning of all objects of the accompanying infrastructure of the transportation system affect the way the space is organized. The aim of the article is to assess, in detail, the scenic values of a selected section of the Pan-European Transport Road Corridor – National Road No. 1, in the Silesian Voivodship. The Pan-European Transport Road Corridor runs through Poland from south to north.

Keywords: landscape assessment, landscape aesthetic, scenic values, visibility map, motorway, Silesian Voivodship

Jerzy Nita, University of Silesia Faculty of Earth Sciences Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec: Poland
Urszula Myga-Piątek, University of Silesia Faculty of Earth Sciences Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec: Poland

Abstract

In 2011, there were legislative changes made in Polish laws concerning water management and spatial planning. These changes resulted from the implementation of the Floods Directive, particularly its first stage. In consequence, the Polish government introduced legal acts altering the previously binding legislation, including those acts directly concerning the spatial development of floodplains. The Floods Directive was adopted by the European Parliament and the European Council in 2007 as a response to the growing urbanisation of floodplains. Urbanisation is causing more frequent flooding. The results are increased material (loss of property) and non-material (loss of life) losses. The main aim of this paper is to present the legislative changes introduced in Poland in relation to spatial planning in floodplains, resulting from the implementation of the Floods Directive. The paper also aims at defining how these changes may influence the future development of flood zones.

Ewa Głosińska, Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences Dzięgielowa 27, 61-680 Poznań: Poland

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of citations to Geographia Polonica, a leading English-language geographical journal edited by Polish geographers, boasting its 50-year-long history. The examination was based on Google Scholar and its Publish or Perish application, that is the most comprehensive search engine of citations which returns the most representative results for Polish sources, particularly in social sciences. Due to the nature of Google Scholar – it only explores existing materials shared in the Internet – the study shows a series of regularities in contemporary citations.

Keywords: bibliometrics, citations, journals, Google Scholar, geographical publications, development of geography in Poland, Geographia Polonica

Przemysław Śleszyński [psleszyn@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania PAN

Abstract

Presented here with reference to Poland is a new method by which to assess the efficiency of a country’s transport network in relation to its settlement network. The work described proceeds on the assumption that efficiency is greatest where connections by road for private cars take the shortest route in a straight line, without restrictions or limitations in the course of the journey made. Real barriers and limitations arising from bends and speed limits reduce traffic speeds, thereby limiting the efficiency in transport-related and settlement terms.

Keywords: efficiency, effectiveness, spatial accessibility, transport network, settlement network, travel time, Google Map, Poland

Przemysław Śleszyński [psleszyn@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania PAN

Mariusz Kowalski [mar.kow@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland

Risto Laulajainen, Gothenburg Business and Law School PO Box 630, SE-405 30 Gothenburg: Sweden

Mirosław Grochowski [m.grochowski@uw.edu.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland