The process of metropolization in megacity-regions

The process of metropolization in megacity-regions

Viseu Cardoso, Rodrigo (TU Delft Spatial Planning and Strategy)
Meijers, E.J. (TU Delft Urban Studies)

Labbé, Danielle (editor)
Sorensen, André (editor)

2020

This chapter presents the concept of metropolization, defined as the dynamics of interaction between spatial-functional, political-institutional and cultural-symbolic integration processes across city-regions, which transform these fragmented territories into coherent metropolitan systems. The authors first discuss the arguments in favour of metropolization as a strategic policy aim, as integrated city-regions become able to jointly reap the benefits of scale through mechanisms of borrowed size, and review some significant barriers. They then illustrate, through the case of the Dutch Randstad, the long-term process of interaction between the three dimensions of integration, operating in conjunction to become either barriers or incentives to a potentially virtuous cycle of city-regional integration. The metropolization concept contributes to debates on whether city-regional economies should be defined by agglomerations or networks, the importance of historical legacies at the city-region scale, and the role played by governance arrangements and identity-building efforts, alongside functions and infrastructure, in city-regional integration.

metropolisation
city-regional integration
extensive urbanisation
Randstad
borrowed size
metropolitan identity

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:6e3ca7e2-723c-4942-8e72-3808013994a8

https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788972703.00034

Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK/Northampton, MA

2021-03-04

9781788972697

Handbook of Megacities and Megacity-Regions

Research Handbooks in Urban Studies series

Accepted Author Manuscript

Institutional Repository

book chapter

© 2020 Rodrigo Viseu Cardoso, E.J. Meijers