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A Research Agenda for Small and Medium-Sized Towns
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Exploring current debates on the topic, this book maps out an agenda for theory, research and practice about the role and function of small and medium-sized towns in various contexts and at different territorial scales. Chapters highlight new insights and approaches to studying small and medium-sized towns, moving beyond the ‘urban bias’ to provide nuanced thought on these spaces both in terms of their relation to larger cities, and in terms of implications related to their size.
Exploring current debates on the topic, this book maps out an agenda for theory, research and practice about the role and function of small and medium-sized towns in various contexts and at different territorial scales. Chapters highlight new insights and approaches to studying small and medium-sized towns, moving beyond the ‘urban bias’ to provide nuanced thought on these spaces both in terms of their relation to larger cities, and in terms of implications related to their size.
More Information
Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
More Information
Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary.
Exploring current debates on the topic, this book maps out an agenda for theory, research and practice about the role and function of small and medium-sized towns in various contexts and at different territorial scales. Chapters highlight new insights and approaches to studying small and medium-sized towns, moving beyond the ‘urban bias’ to provide nuanced thought on these spaces both in terms of their relation to larger cities, and in terms of implications related to their size.
Contributions from top scholars in the field across a number of disciplines cover a broad range of relevant areas of study, including: socio-spatial identities, urbanization, suburbanization, resilience, innovation, entrepreneurship, industrial and tourism development and digitalization. The book concludes with an outline of the road ahead and a call for further theorizing.
Urban planning and human geography scholars will find this to be an invigorating read with contributions from scholars across urban planning, economic geography, tourism and public policy providing a holistic understanding of the topic.
Exploring current debates on the topic, this book maps out an agenda for theory, research and practice about the role and function of small and medium-sized towns in various contexts and at different territorial scales. Chapters highlight new insights and approaches to studying small and medium-sized towns, moving beyond the ‘urban bias’ to provide nuanced thought on these spaces both in terms of their relation to larger cities, and in terms of implications related to their size.
Contributions from top scholars in the field across a number of disciplines cover a broad range of relevant areas of study, including: socio-spatial identities, urbanization, suburbanization, resilience, innovation, entrepreneurship, industrial and tourism development and digitalization. The book concludes with an outline of the road ahead and a call for further theorizing.
Urban planning and human geography scholars will find this to be an invigorating read with contributions from scholars across urban planning, economic geography, tourism and public policy providing a holistic understanding of the topic.
Critical Acclaim
‘I’m so excited about this book! Small towns have long been an understudied topic in geography, sociology, economics and other disciplines. This book is an important step forward as it moves beyond the case-study approach to consider broader implications of technology, culture, and sustainability in these places.’
– Jennifer Mapes, Kent State University, US
‘There is considerable life, dynamism, opportunities and much potential to be tapped beyond the big city. But academic scholars have mostly overlooked this potential and ignored the role of towns. Mayer and Lazzeroni redress this wrong and provide the ultimate agenda for researching small and medium-sized towns.’
– Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, London School of Economics, UK
‘This volume shows that while big cities often steal the limelight – either because of their national economic importance or the intensity of their social, economic and environmental problems – small and medium-sized towns are an important dimension of urbanization, with significant implications for economic development, quality of life, sustainability, and environmental quality.’
– Paul Knox, Virginia Tech, US
– Jennifer Mapes, Kent State University, US
‘There is considerable life, dynamism, opportunities and much potential to be tapped beyond the big city. But academic scholars have mostly overlooked this potential and ignored the role of towns. Mayer and Lazzeroni redress this wrong and provide the ultimate agenda for researching small and medium-sized towns.’
– Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, London School of Economics, UK
‘This volume shows that while big cities often steal the limelight – either because of their national economic importance or the intensity of their social, economic and environmental problems – small and medium-sized towns are an important dimension of urbanization, with significant implications for economic development, quality of life, sustainability, and environmental quality.’
– Paul Knox, Virginia Tech, US
Contributors
Contributors: Timothy Beatley, David Bole, Martijn Burger, Christophe Demazière, Dimitri Ioannides, David Kaufmann, Michela Lazzeroni, Heike Mayer, Chiara Rabbiosi, Evert Meijers, Arnault Morisson, Koen Salemink, Annett Steinführer, Stefan Wittwer
Contents
Contents:
1 Introduction to A Research Agenda for Small and
Medium-Sized Towns 1
Heike Mayer and Michela Lazzeroni
2 Between urban and rural: socio-spatial identities
in small and medium-sized towns 9
Annett Steinführer
3 Small and medium-sized towns: out of the dark
agglomeration shadows and into the bright city lights? 23
Evert Meijers and Martijn Burger
4 Urbanisation, suburbanisation and territorial
development: research issues for small and
medium-sized towns 39
Christophe Demazière
5 The resilience of small and medium-sized towns
in times of crisis and recovery 57
Michela Lazzeroni
6 Innovation and entrepreneurship in small and
medium-sized towns 73
Heike Mayer
7 (Re)discovering the small and medium-sized
industrial town and its development potential 87
David Bole
8 Cultural tourism as a tool for transformation in
small and medium-sized towns 105
Chiara Rabbiosi and Dimitri Ioannides
9 Digital and smart places: ensuring a rural fit in
times of urban-biased technological push 125
Koen Salemink
10 The important role of nature in planning for small cities 141
Timothy Beatley
11 Public policy and small and medium-sized towns 161
David Kaufmann and Stefan Wittwer
12 Agents of change in small and medium-sized towns 177
Arnault Morisson
13 The road ahead: advancing our research agenda
for small and medium-sized towns in a world of
uneven development 193
Heike Mayer and Michela Lazzeroni
Index
1 Introduction to A Research Agenda for Small and
Medium-Sized Towns 1
Heike Mayer and Michela Lazzeroni
2 Between urban and rural: socio-spatial identities
in small and medium-sized towns 9
Annett Steinführer
3 Small and medium-sized towns: out of the dark
agglomeration shadows and into the bright city lights? 23
Evert Meijers and Martijn Burger
4 Urbanisation, suburbanisation and territorial
development: research issues for small and
medium-sized towns 39
Christophe Demazière
5 The resilience of small and medium-sized towns
in times of crisis and recovery 57
Michela Lazzeroni
6 Innovation and entrepreneurship in small and
medium-sized towns 73
Heike Mayer
7 (Re)discovering the small and medium-sized
industrial town and its development potential 87
David Bole
8 Cultural tourism as a tool for transformation in
small and medium-sized towns 105
Chiara Rabbiosi and Dimitri Ioannides
9 Digital and smart places: ensuring a rural fit in
times of urban-biased technological push 125
Koen Salemink
10 The important role of nature in planning for small cities 141
Timothy Beatley
11 Public policy and small and medium-sized towns 161
David Kaufmann and Stefan Wittwer
12 Agents of change in small and medium-sized towns 177
Arnault Morisson
13 The road ahead: advancing our research agenda
for small and medium-sized towns in a world of
uneven development 193
Heike Mayer and Michela Lazzeroni
Index
