Research projects
Counterurbanization in the Czech Republic
migration to the countryside, life style and changing residental preferences
Submitter
- Science Foundation of Charles University in Prague , project Nr. 104810
Research period
- January 2010 - December 2011
Abstract
The changing relations between urban and rural areas or between ‘Gemeinschaft’ and ‘Gesellschaft’ have been always fascinating for many researchers. The dichotomy of urban and rural seems blurred from today’s point of view. Nevertheless we argue that there still exist essential differences between urban and rural lifestyle and between the everyday life activities in both types of environments.
The aim of our project is to analyze counter urbanization phenomena in the Czech Republic and to develop the typology of counterurban migrants. What are the motivations behind the escape out of the city? What are the pull factors on the rural side? Do counterurban migrants retain their urban lifestyle after moving to the countryside? Or do they conform to the rural one? Could we conceive counterurbanization as a threat for traditional local culture? Those are the key questions which we do answer in proposed research.
We use both quantitative and qualitative methods, utilizing strong sides of the methods from both different perspectives – geographical and sociological.
Counterurbanization research is complementary to suburbanization research and allows us to transfer knowledge and experiences for mutual learning. The proposed research will enrich our understanding of contemporary residential decentralization in the Czech Republic.
News
- More information about the project are available on counterurbanization project webpage in english or in czech language
Publication
- ŠIMON, M.(2011): Counterurbanization: condemned to be a chaotic conception? / Kontraurbanizace: chaotický koncept? Geografie, 116, No. 3, pp. 231–255. (IF 2010 = 0.787)
Abstract: This paper presents an overview of past and current debates over the conceptualization of migration into rural areas – counterurbanization. It begins with the history of the term itself, leading us from its original use to the contemporary plurality of its meanings. Key issues in the process of defining counterurbanization are examined, in light of the term’s historical development. The article illustrates a shift in counterurbanization research from the study of the settlement system to the study of local dimensions of counterurbanization and finally to the discursive production of counterurbanization. Secondly, contemporary residential decentralization in Czechia and the theoretical framing of counterurbanization are linked together in order to discuss the relevance of the counterurbanization research agenda in Czechia. The article concludes by stating the need for new ways to approach migration into rural areas.
Keywords: counterurbanization – suburbanization – migration into rural areas – amenity migration – post-productivist transition – neo-ruralism.
- ŠIMON, M. (2011): Successful integration of Romanian community from Bílá Voda / Úspěšná integrace rumunské komunity z Bílé Vody. Český lid : Ethnological journal 98, No. 2, pp. 155 - 172. (IF 2010 = 0.343)
Abstract: In this paper I seek to contribute to our understanding of Romanian immigration in the Czech Republic that has been neglected so far in the scholarly literature. This article presents evidence on a selected Romanian community in peripheral village in the Jeseníkregion based upon biographic interviews. The emergence and function of the community are reflected in the migration history of Romanian families, their gradual integration in society and in place of residence (marginalized village). Special emphasis is placed upon crucial moments like emergence of the distinction between Romanians and Roma in the eyes of majority of the society. Positive as well as negative influences upon the integration are discussed. The paper shows empirical evidence which is in some aspects contradictory to findings about integration of foreingers in the Czechia as presented by Tollarová (2006). The paper concludes with some consideration about future development of the community.
Keywords: Immigrant integration, migration to rural areas, Romanian, Roma, Pentecostalism.
- ŠIMON, M., OUŘEDNÍČEK, M. (2010): Migration into rural areas and counterurbanization: An overview of theoretical concepts and discussion of their relevance for research in Czechia. / Migrace na venkov a kontraurbanizace: Přehled konceptů a diskuze jejich relevance pro výzkum v Česku. In: Geografie pro život ve 21. století: Sborník příspěvků z XXII. sjezdu České geografické společnosti pořádaného Ostravskou univerzitou v Ostravě 31. srpna – 3. září 2010. Ostrava: Ostravská univerzita v Ostravě, s. 738-743. ISBN 978-80-7368-903-2
Abstract: Population deconcentration is the main feature of the Czech settlement system during the last two decades. It has been studied mainly as suburbanization or metropolization. The experiences from western countries and preliminary analysis of migration data suggest that the population deconcentration occurs also in rural areas. We can talk about counter-urbanization. The aim of the article is to discuss various conceptualizations of counter-urbanization phenomena, from its origin to contemporary plurality of its meanings as it is reflected in academic discourses. The specific attention is devoted to so called post-socialist counter-urbanization. Various ways towards the definition of counter-urbanization will be discussed especially in relation to urbanization processes. We argue that our research efforts should focus on local dimension of counterurbanization in order to understand the impact of population de-concentration on everyday life in localities.
Keywords: Counterurbanization, Suburbanization, Migration into rural areas, Amenity migration- ŠIMON, M.(2011): Fleeing from Cities to the Country / Únik z měst na venkov. Geografické rozhledy 6, pp. 6-7.
Abstract: This article presents a short introduction to the topic of migration into rural areas. Its first section discusses differences and similarities in terms of lifestyles in urban and rural areas. The second part presents the findings of a research project concerning migration into rural areas. Five groups of migrants are distinguished according to their migration strategy and reasons for migrating.
School
Key research interests
- theories and approaches in urban geography
- post-socialist cities
- mobilities and urban change
- residental deconcentration
- post-structuralist geographies
Current affiliation
PhD student at the Department of Social Geography and Regional Development at Charles University in Prague
Qualifications
Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Science
- Bachelor (Bc.) - Geography and cartography (2003 - 2006)
thesis: "Theoretical approaches to study of urbanization" (in czech) - Master (Mgr.) - Social geography and regional development (2006 - 2008)
thesis: "New concepts in urban geography" - Ph.D. - General Issues in Geography (2008 - …)
Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Social Science
- Master (Mgr.) - Sociology of contemporary societies (2008 - …)
Studies and research abroad
- SS 2008: Geographisches Institut, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany, Program Socrates - Erasmus.
Skills
- : ArcGIS, SPSS, webdesign (XHTML, CSS, SEO)
Conferences, presentations
- 14/9 - 17/9/2011: Cities after Transition: Space, Culture and Transition, 4th Workshop, Bucharest, Romania. - "Towards a typology of counter-urban migration: the case of Czech Republic (methods, findings, life-strategies)" (with Klára Šustrová).
- 30/8/2010 - 3/9/2010: EuroRural conference 2010, Brno, Czechia. - "Counterurbanization / Neoruralism / Migration to the Countryside: theoretical framework, methodological discussion, and the first empirical findings from the Czech countryside" (with Klára Šustrová).
- 30/8/2010 - 3/9/2010: XXII. meeting of Czech geographical society, Ostrava, Czechia. - "Migration into rural areas and counterurbanization: overview of concepts and the discussion of their relevance for research in Czechia / Migrace na venkov a kontraurbanizace: Přehled konceptů a diskuze jejich relevance pro výzkum v Česku." (with Martin Ouředníček).
- 14/5/2010: New Wave II - student geographical conference, Prague, Czechia. - "Geography and the un-learned society: how are we successfully developing it…" (abstract in czech).
- 11/3/2010: colloquium for Msc. students, major urban geography, settlement geography, migration. - "Postmodern approaches in human geography".
- 3/3/2010 - 5/3/2010: Urban Ideas Bakery in Pecs , Pecs, Hungary. (read more about the UIB ) - international expert
- 11/2/2010: Ethnic minorities and their positioning in European space. Reflexion of history versus lived contemporaneity, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University in Prague. - " Paradox of successful integration: the case of Romanian community".
- 17/9/2009: 3rd International Workshop on Post-communist Urban Geographies: Actors Shaping Urban Change, Tartu, Estonia. - "In Search of Counterurbanization: Some Evidence from the Czech Republic" (with Martin Ouředníček and Jakub Novák).
- 22/5/2009: New Wave - student geographical conference, Prague, Czechia. - "Foucault as a geographer: thinking space" (abstract in czech).
- 21/5/2009: City expansion - solution of problem?, Prague, Czechia.
- 5/12 - 6/12/2008: Creative Cities Conference Prague 2008: How to create creative city?, Prague, Czechia.
- 20-23/11/2008: „Rewitalizacja miast i obszarów wieskich oraz rozwój regionalny”, Collegium Polonicum - Słubice, Poland. - "Renewal of inner city in post-socialist transformation: the case of Prague".
- 27-28/11/2007: URBES – City revitalization in the context of sustainable development, Prague, Czechia.
- 30/11 - 1/12/2007: City: versatile non/obviosity, Brno, Czechia.
- 6-7/12/2007: Stare, nowe, betonowe – blaski i cienie polskich blokowisk, Poznań, Poland. - "Prague´s suburban development: contemporary situation, trends, and political participation".
Teaching
201+ - SS
- undergraduate course Methods and practice in human geography, 4 ECTS, (in czech).
2010 - SS
- english course Urban Social Geography II., 5 ECTS, (teaching assistant).
- undergraduate course Methods and practice in human geography, 4 ECTS, (in czech).
2010 - WS
- english course Urban Social Geography I., 5 ECTS, (teaching assistant).
2009 - SS
- undergraduate course Methods and practice in human geography, 4 ECTS, (in czech).
- lecture "Postmodern urbanism" within the course Urbanization and city development, 3 ECTS, www (in czech).
Useful tools
- How to organize student´s presentations - teacher´s manual (in czech).
Other sources
Post-socialist urban geographies
Jussi S. Jauhiainen: Post-communist urban geographies: an essay
- plenary lecture presented at 3rd International Workshop on Post-communist Urban Geographies. 17-19 September 2009, Tartu, Estonia
- free to be distributed / debated / criticized / neglected.
- for questions: jussijauhiainen@utu.fi
Jiri Musil: Why socialist and post-socialist cities are important for forward looking urban studies
- presented at the conference "Forward Look on Urban Science", Helsinki 26-28 May, 2005
- Jiří Musil, Center for social and economic strategies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Prague
- article from Environment and Planning A about production of knowledge, by Robert Hassink
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