Urban Geography: City Models, Networks, and Globalization

Item 11: Defining the City and Urban Dynamics

A city is defined as a settlement with over 10,000 inhabitants and high population density. Its economic activity is based on services (transportation, trade, tourism) and industry. Cities exert influence on surrounding areas and feature dynamic social and functional structures characterized by skyscrapers, tall buildings, and long avenues.

Urban Social Agents

• Private Land Owners: Includes construction entrepreneurs and real estate promoters who sell or rent homes and premises.
• Business: Industries and service providers.
• Judiciary: Municipal, provincial, and regional governments.
• Public: Individuals and social movements or associations.

Urban Morphology and Functions

Maps: Patterns include irregular, orthogonal (reticular), or radiocentric layouts.

City Functions:

• Residential: Hierarchical population distribution.
• Historical: Historical centers, extensions, and industrial estates.
• Economic: Services, trade, construction, tourism, and transportation.

Models of Cities

• Europe: Historic centers, widening areas, and peripheries (polygons, bedroom suburbs).
• USA and Australia: Central Business Districts (CBD), residential extensions, and horizontal, wide-area residential zones.
• Developing Countries (PVD): Central political/economic hubs, residential zones (often increasing in poverty toward the periphery), and hinterlands.

Item 12: Urban Networks in Spain

Urban Hierarchy

• Global National Metropolis: Madrid.
• Regional Metropolis: Valencia, Seville (500k–1.5M inhabitants).
• Sub-metropolis: Murcia, Valladolid.
• Medium Cities: Santander (50k–200k).
• Small Towns: 10k–50k.

Axes of the Spanish Urban System

Key hubs include the Madrid area, the Mediterranean Axis, the Cantabrian-Ebro Valley, the Atlantic-Galician Axis, Andalusia, and the Balearic and Canary Archipelagos. Note: Urban sprawl causes high ecological costs, necessitating measures to reduce the urban heat island effect.

Catalan Network of Cities

• Barcelona Metropolitan Region: Core (Barcelona) and surrounding crowns (Hospitalet, St. Adria, St. Cugat).
• Supranational Regional Capitals: Girona, Lleida, Tarragona, Manresa, Tortosa, Vic.
• Regional Capitals: Berga (Berguedà).
• Sub-regional Cities: Salou (Costa Dorada).

Item 13: Globalization and Economic Integration

Globalization is a process of economic integration occurring among states under capitalism. It involves international interrelation following the end of the Cold War, supported by the IMF (focused on economic stabilization and technical advice) and the World Bank (providing financial and technical aid).

Consequences of Globalization

• Development: Advances in transport, communication, and global trade liberalization.
• Multinationals: Consolidation of global corporate entities.
• Political: Creation of nation-states.
• Economic: Expansion of trade and outsourcing.
• Cultural: Cultural uniformity, often trending toward Anglo-centric models.