Suchergebnisse

Changes of demographic potential in Sosnowiec since 1886 till the present times are represented by a demographic curve. Its ran reflects social and economic conditions which influenced the discussed industrial centre. The demographic development in the given centre has been irregular, three peaks and three depressions of the population level can be distinguished on the curve. The first peak occurred before the I World War, being the result of intensive development of mining and steel industry, which made Sosnowiec the main industrial centre in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie (Dąbrowa Coal Basin). The second demographic peak developed before the II World War when the town became the most important industrial, trade and cultural centre in the contemporary Kielce province. The second demographic peak occurred in the seventies and eighties of the last century, during the administration reform and intensive industrial development of Zagłębie Dąbrowskie. Demographic depressions were specific and occurred after both World Wars and after the change of the political system (due to the economic transformation, results of the general demographic crisis).

Demographic potential is a necessary condition of any human activity. Its dynamics (migrations) releases resources of social activity. Therefore population (human) geography is connected with various geographical disciplines such as settlement geography, social geography, political geography, regional geography, geography of culture, historical geography, ecology and others. It is an implicational discipline - the base for other geographical disciplines and such sciences as psychology, sociology, medicine, economy and town-planning. It is also an applicational discipline, which means that it has a universal character. It serves the science but also the policy. It is a tool of multisemantic features and high political usefulness. The knowledge of population structures and processes makes it possible firstly to distinguish: 1) social-economic character of the region; 2) regional economic differentiation of the state (continent, world); 3) level of urbanisation and its stages and secondly it is: 4) the tool of social policy - it balances job market; 5) the tool of economic strategy - efficiency of human activity; 6) prognostic category in many spheres: demographic, sociological, economic.

The article is an attempt to show the processes of metropolisation of the Upper-Silesian Conurbation. Its aim is to highlight the determinants of forming of "metropolis", through showing the institutional base of metropolitan level in the Upper-Silesian conurbation, aspirating to "Silesia" metropolis. The article is composed of two parts. In the first one, theoretical and metodical assumptions were presented, basic concepts were explained, as well as the area of research, juxtaposed to other metropolitan areas in Poland, was characterised. In the second part, the first attempts of empowerment of metropolitan institutions of the municipal union character in the Upper-Silesian Conurbation, and the institutional base of metropolitan level, were analysed. In the Upper-Silesian Conurbation, the institutional base is still poorly developed, in relation to the developmental possibilities. The metropolitan processes in this area are only developing. The institutions of metropolitan level are dispersed in many towns, which results from the policentricity of the colonisation system of conurbation genesis, as well as from the early phase of metropolisation in this area. The metropolitan institutional base is developed best in Katowice. In the remaining towns, it is weakly marked.

In its methodological context, the article, expands on the idea of the organization of the "Silesia" superstructure. The idea of establishing a common urban organism emerged with the local governments of the Upper Silesian conurbation cities and was dictated by the need to find a way to change the traditional image of the Silesian region and its post-industrial role in the economic space of the country, as well as Europe. Therefore, in 2009, the Metropolitan Association of Upper- Silesia, an association for the initial institutionalization of "Silesia", was registered, because "Silesia" does not hold any administrative or legal force. Such an organizational "revolution" of the Upper Silesian conurbation initiated a wide social debate, in which the arguments of both supporters and opponents of such an enterprise in the Silesian region became apparent, together with misunderstandings related to the term "metropolis", and the idea of establishing "Silesia". Representatives of local governments chose the more prestigious term "metropolis" as if a complex metropolisation had taken place in the Upper Silesian conurbation. It would be adequate, however, to look only for the first features of metropolitan functions in this de-industrialized and restructured region, which are going to shape the longlasting metropolisation process under the influence of globalisation.

In its methodological context, the article, expands on the idea of the organization of the "Silesia" superstructure. The idea of establishing a common urban organism emerged with the local governments of the Upper Silesian conurbation cities and was dictated by the need to find a way to change the traditional image of the Silesian region and its post-industrial role in the economic space of the country, as well as Europe. Therefore, in 2009, the Metropolitan Association of Upper- Silesia, an association for the initial institutionalization of "Silesia", was registered, because "Silesia" does not hold any administrative or legal force. Such an organizational "revolution" of the Upper Silesian conurbation initiated a wide social debate, in which the arguments of both supporters and opponents of such an enterprise in the Silesian region became apparent, together with misunderstandings related to the term "metropolis", and the idea of establishing "Silesia". Representatives of local governments chose the more prestigious term "metropolis" as if a complex metropolisation had taken place in the Upper Silesian conurbation. It would be adequate, however, to look only for the first features of metropolitan functions in this de-industrialized and restructured region, which are going to shape the longlasting metropolisation process under the influence of globalisation.

In its methodological context, the article, expands on the idea of the organization of the "Silesia" superstructure. The idea of establishing a common urban organism emerged with the local governments of the Upper Silesian conurbation cities and was dictated by the need to find a way to change the traditional image of the Silesian region and its post-industrial role in the economic space of the country, as well as Europe. Therefore, in 2009, the Metropolitan Association of Upper- Silesia, an association for the initial institutionalization of "Silesia", was registered, because "Silesia" does not hold any administrative or legal force. Such an organizational "revolution" of the Upper Silesian conurbation initiated a wide social debate, in which the arguments of both supporters and opponents of such an enterprise in the Silesian region became apparent, together with misunderstandings related to the term "metropolis", and the idea of establishing "Silesia". Representatives of local governments chose the more prestigious term "metropolis" as if a complex metropolisation had taken place in the Upper Silesian conurbation. It would be adequate, however, to look only for the first features of metropolitan functions in this de-industrialized and restructured region, which are going to shape the longlasting metropolisation process under the influence of globalisation.

Regional identity is a significant element of contemporary scientific discourse. It is justified in the era of progressing globalisation, which, by unifying traditional cultural patterns, forces regional communities to redefine their traditional values. Today, the Silesian identity is subject to such transformations. The distinctiveness thereof was shaped by many political, social and economic factors. Contemporarily, globalisation is a factor in socio-cultural transformations. The essence of the study of Silesian identity in the face of globalisation is to indicate the most important changes thereof reflected in the perception of the inhabitants of Katowice. The research goal is to analyse changes in the perception of globalisation and modern attitudes towards Silesian values (work and family).

Regional identity is a significant element of contemporary scientific discourse. It is justified in the era of progressing globalisation, which, by unifying traditional cultural patterns, forces regional communities to redefine their traditional values. Today, the Silesian identity is subject to such transformations. The distinctiveness thereof was shaped by many political, social and economic factors. Contemporarily, globalisation is a factor in socio-cultural transformations. The essence of the study of Silesian identity in the face of globalisation is to indicate the most important changes thereof reflected in the perception of the inhabitants of Katowice. The research goal is to analyse changes in the perception of globalisation and modern attitudes towards Silesian values (work and family).

Regional identity is a significant element of contemporary scientific discourse. It is justified in the era of progressing globalisation, which, by unifying traditional cultural patterns, forces regional communities to redefine their traditional values. Today, the Silesian identity is subject to such transformations. The distinctiveness thereof was shaped by many political, social and economic factors. Contemporarily, globalisation is a factor in socio-cultural transformations. The essence of the study of Silesian identity in the face of globalisation is to indicate the most important changes thereof reflected in the perception of the inhabitants of Katowice. The research goal is to analyse changes in the perception of globalisation and modern attitudes towards Silesian values (work and family).