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This book presents multidimensional socio-economic transformations taking place in the post-socialist cities located in selected countries of the Central European region.
The analysis includes case studies from the Eastern part of Germany (Chemnitz, Leipzig), Poland (Lódz, Kielce, Katowice conurbation, and peripheral urban centres from Eastern Poland), Slovakia (Bratislava, Nitra), the Czech Republic (Olomouc, Brno), and from Hungary (Pécs). The analysed urban areas have undergone far-reaching political and socio-economic changes in the last 30 years. These changes began with the collapse of communism and the centrally planned economy system in the region of Central Europe. The beginning of this period, often referred to as post-socialist transformation, dates back to 1989. The consequence of the aforementioned political processes was the multifaceted socio-economic and demographic changes that significantly affected urban areas in Central Europe. This book presents an attempt to summarize the main long-term processes of changes taking place in these urban areas and to identify contemporary and future trends in their socio-economic development.
The book will be valuable to undergraduate and postgraduate students in human geography, urban studies, economy, and city marketing, especially with an interest in Central Europe.
List of contents
1. Introduction 2. Post-socialist urban change and its spatial patterns - the case of Nitra 3. The University as the creative hub - the city of Olomouc after 1989 4. In the shadow of Karl Marx: The case of Chemnitz and its multiple transitions 5. Young people's life plans and their impact on the demographic future of a shrinking city - Kielce case study 6. Manufacturing in the Post-Industrial City: The Role of a "Hidden Sector" in the Development of Pécs, Hungary 7. Socioeconomic development in Bratislava during post-socialism 8. Brno in transition: From industrial legacy towards modern urban environment 9. Challenges and Problems of Re-growth: The Case of Leipzig (Eastern Germany) 10. Lódz - a multidimensional transition from an industrial center to a post-socialist city 11. The socio-economic transformation of the Katowice conurbation in Poland 12. Population ageing processes in towns and cities situated in peripheral areas. An example of urban centres in Eastern Poland 13. Conlcusions
About the author
Waldemar Cudny is an Associate Professor at The University of Lodz, Faculty of Geographical Sciences (Poland). He specialises in urban, tourism geography, and event studies. His publications include such books as City Branding and Promotion: The Strategic Approach (Routledge, 2019) and Urban Events, Place branding and Promotion. Place Event Marketing (Routledge, 2020).
Josef Kunc, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Masaryk University, Faculty of Economics and Administration, Brno, Czech Republic. He specialises in the transformation of the current socio-economic and spatial environment of cities and regions, consumer preferences, shopping behaviour, and retail management as well as special interest tourism.
Summary
This book presents multidimensional socio-economic transformations taking place in the post-socialist cities located in selected countries of the Central European region. It will be valuable to undergraduate and postgraduate students in human geography, urban studies, economy, and city marketing, especially with an interesting in Central Europe.
