Urban-rural Interactions in Latvia

Kūle, Laila

doi:10.1080/20429843.2010.9628236

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…In 2008 -2009, specific territories were identified according to urban -rural connectivities: (1) larger cities and rural areas in close proximity, (2) territories (corridors) of flows (transport of people, goods, energy, capital and information) and (3) places with specific particularities (development potentials) that contribute to intensification of urban -rural interactions (areas with strong branding potential, natural and cultural amenities, natural resources, areas of not-wanted land uses and administrative and functional boundaries) (Kūle, 2010). Such analytical grouping of territories were used to describe municipalities or their parts in order to reveal existing practises of urban -rural interactions, as well as to propose future policies on how to support activities that can stimulate growth.…”

Section: Typology Of Places In Relation Of Urban -Rural Connectivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban–Rural Interactions in Latvian Changing Policy and Practice Context

Kūle

2013

European Planning Studies

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This article aims at a better comprehension of urban-rural interactions as a spatial concept and its utilization for spatial and regional policies. Based on literature review and on interviews with planners and experts, the article explores how the concept of urban-rural interactions is defined, characterized and structured. The understanding of urban and rural, how they are connected provides a basis for capturing complexities and development of urban-rural interactions. The study, reviews urban-rural policies and practises in Latvia. Contemporary built-up areas and lifestyles are influenced by imprints of past urban-rural interactions. Aspects of contextuality, cross-sectorality and informality have to be taken into consideration when urban-rural interactions are applied to the policy field. The article introduces a typology to capture both the diversity and particularity of places in terms of urban-rural connectivity. An insight is given how the current Latvian local government territorial structure can contribute to building target-oriented urban-rural partnerships.

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Section: Typology Of Places In Relation Of Urban -Rural Connectivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban–Rural Interactions in Latvian Changing Policy and Practice Context

Kūle

2013

European Planning Studies

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“…These boundaries are inherited from the Soviet period, and have not change in general since 1960s-1970s. There are no strict thresholds for urban and rural areas and these have been considered being with less importance as since 1994 all municipalities have equal rights and functions despite their formal status (Kule, 2010;Kūle, 2014). In 2009 as result of municipal reform, the merger left 118 local municipalities out of former 522 municipalities, and new pattern of rural and urban areas under joint local government frame was created -new amalgamated local-level municipalities have for types in relation to urban/rural status: -1) entirely urban or 2) rural area, 3) central urban (medium and small towns) with adjacent rural area, and 4) rural area with more than one urban centre (rural towns).…”

Section: Concept In Urban and Rural Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shrinking of Rural Territories in Latvia

Puzulis¹,

Kūle²

2016

EurInsStud

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Development in the last decade was characterized by economic, social and spatial shrinking. This phenomenon is observed in many Western and post-Soviet countries. In spite of the existence of wide-spread research and publications on shrinking the concept rarely are applied to rural areas outside metropolitan regions. Until now there is no national-level in-depth research or targeted policies towards shrinking phenomenon in Latvia. The aim of the study is to examine if and how the concept of population shrinkage is represented in Latvian rural ar eas, and how this phenomenon might be incorporated in spatial development of the country. The article explores the inconsistence of application of shrinking at the Latvian context. Theoretical concepts used in this research are the result of a review of the literature. Empirical research is carried out in seven local municipalities of the former Alūksne, Balvi and Gulbene districts in north-eastern Latvia by interviewing local government employees and analysing statistical data and policy documents. Spatial shrinking is wider concept than population decline by in corporating not only demographics but also drivers, outcomes and impacts of the process as well as governance, planning and policy response aspects. Our study indicates that whole Latvia, both its rural and urban spaces, has to be considered as shrinking territory that needs to prepare place-specific policies for different areas. The investigation results approve that Latvian countryside can be defined as typically shrinking. This process requires a change in attitude among decision-makers at both national and regional governmental levels. The scarcity and incompleteness of available data is reflective of the realities of regional policy implementation. Drivers of rural spatial shrinking are due to socio-economic structural changes and rescaling and consequent changes of former economic, social and cultural linkages. Shrinkage processes have an impact on rural social capital and services. Shrinking requires the need for a set of innovative; knowledge-, evidence-and place-based; coordinat ed; pro-active; multi-disciplinary; spatial; economic and socially-targeted policy measures.

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