Conjunction of Local and Global Processes Towards Qualitative Integrated Urban Development of Danube Region

Miodrag Ralevic,Esad Muminović,Tatjana Mrdjenovic

doi:10.2478/aup-2019-0012

Abstract

Abstract We are witnesses of continuous and turbulent complexity process of urban development at every spatial level. The presence of information and communication technologies in every aspect of our life leads to the fact that there is no more “delay” in between global and local changes. This conjunction changes the paradigm of urban development, which is now in networking, communication and integration. This paper discusses these relations described as hypothesis within Castells’ paradigm of network society and project identity that should be developed on local level in order to be a part of – a node of global network, and to survive and develop its potentialities and capacities. This paradigm is discussed in relation to C. Alexander’s, E. Howard’s, and P. Geeds’ approach in order to define principles and steps of integration of different spatial levels toward more coherent, harmonized urban development. The research applies theoretical approaches of networking towards integrated development of Danube region.

Highlights

The process of transforming singular urban system into a complex network system is possible through “process of synthesising” human settlements throughout the evolution of the development of the “formation, duration and alteration” of the form and mode of habitation of urbanized space
We are facing new challenge: to multiply settlements’ “checkpoints’’ and to interconnect them as much as they are accessible, i.e. attractive, to each other. This is a crucial thing in double-sided globalization processes that are, according to Castells, both a chance and threat for local communities and their urban representation [1]
According to him local communities and urban societies should develop “project identity” based on past, present and future image in order to be competitive in global network [2], to represent a unique node and develop strong relations within local, regional and global network

Summary

Introduction

The process of transforming singular urban system into a complex network system is possible through “process of synthesising” human settlements throughout the evolution of the development of the “formation, duration and alteration” of the form and mode of habitation of urbanized space. We are facing new challenge: to multiply settlements’ “checkpoints’’ and to interconnect them as much as they are accessible, i.e. attractive, to each other. This is a crucial thing in double-sided globalization processes that are, according to Castells, both a chance and threat for local communities and their urban representation [1]. Networking of regions and settlements is done by establishing relations of different types, categories and intensities, which are in function of linking the specificities of settlements by different categories (similarity, opposite, dependency, etc.);. The number and type of relations between the elements (settlements), the sets of elements (regions) and the whole, is, “impenetrable” as a function of change over time;. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, which by its innovations grows into a “REPAIRING APPARATUS” (hardware, software, technology, communication, business, ... planning) through which it is possible for every checkpoint (in this case settlement) to be in relation to all other gatherings (regions) and individual elements (settlements, cities, etc.)

The Theoretical Starting Point of Network Structures

Model Options for Urban Network Strategies for Danube Region