Author: Human Geographies - Journal of Studies and Research in Human Geography

By Posted on Posted in Volume 8, Issue 2, 2014 Tagged with , , , , ,

his study focuses on one of the most important processes in our society: daily mobility. Its importance has grown over the last decades. From the geographical point of view, the growing level of mobility has a whole array of geographical causes and impacts.In the first phase, the study analyses the main features of daily mobility in the Czech Republic based on official statistics. In the second phase, it evaluates detailed daily mobility research in selected regions of the Czech Republic through case studies. The monitored regions were Písek and Bystrice nad Pernštejnem within their administrative regions. It brings new and original information about daily mobility, transport behaviour, modal split, average travel time, etc. and their differences evaluated by particular population groups (age, economic activity, gender, etc.) and by three main mobility measures. The study tries to fill a gap in the research of daily mobility and transport behaviour in the Czech Republic.

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Volume 8, Issue 2, 2014 Tagged with , , , , ,

Nigeria is a resource-rich country and has become extraordinarily dependent on the oil sector, which accounts for over 90 per cent of exports and government revenues, and contributes up to one third of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Evidences have shown that Nigeria’s resource wealth has not translated into meaningful development. For example, while other countries realised positive outcomes from mineral-based developments, Nigeria’s poor state of development is assumed to be a product of the pathologies that are collectively known as the ‘resource curse’. This paper examines various literatures about the resource curse thesis by focusing on the experience of Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil and gas producer and exporting country. The result shows that corruption, government complacency, the Dutch disease, lack of public accountability, neglect of education and excessive external debt/borrowing overhang are all hampering the development goals of the country. Whilst the measurements that support this conclusion were made at the national level, this paper opined and called for the Nigerian resource curse measurements to be looked at from the local scale (communities), where the resource economy hits the ground.

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Volume 8, Issue 2, 2014 Tagged with , , , ,

The present paper studies the spatial distribution of elementary and secondary schools in a particular Hungarian settlement, Debrecen, the second largest city of country. In the course of the analysis factors influencing spatial distribution and the differences among certain historical periods are discussed. In the period before World War II location of elementary and secondary schools was influenced primarily by religion. Following World War II the increase of the number of inhabitants outside the city centre and especially the construction of new housing estates resulted regarding elementary schools in a significant decentralization. Urban plans prepared after World War II also regarded spatial decentralisation important in the case of the secondary schools, however, this was realized only in the case of vocational secondary schools and vocational schools. In the period after 1990 the appearance of new institute maintainers can be regarded as a determinant factor and this also resulted in decentralization.

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Volume 8, Issue 2, 2014 Tagged with , , ,

The quantitative analysis of an opinion poll conducted in October 2013 in three Russian cities located near Finnish border (St-Petersburg, Kronstadt and Vyborg) explores European identity of their citizens. This area was chosen to illustrate the crucial importance of space interpretation in spatial identity formation by using critical geopolitical approach. The study shows how different images of space on the same territory act as intermediate variables between objective territorial characteristics and citizens’ identities. As the geographical position at the border of Russia provides the citizens with geopolitical alternatives to identify their location as a fortress defending the nation (as in the case of Kronstadt) or a bridge between cultures, the given study allows us to compare reasons for these geopolitical choices of inhabitants. Furthermore, the research aims at bridging the gap in the studies of European and multiple identity in Russian regions and provides Northwest Russian perspective on the perpetual discussion about subjective Eastern border of Europe.

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Volume 8, Issue 2, 2014 Tagged with , ,

Nowadays tourism has undoubtedly become essential to both national and international economies and each country is currently trying to face the challenges imposed by this industry. In this respect, Romania has introduced a new range of treatments in the spa tourism field which proved to be therapeutic for a significant number of patients. The article aims to assess the feasibility of spa tourism in Vâlcii Subcarpathians offering a clear analysis of the evolution of the material and technical base of the resort. Therefore, the study focused on the evaluation of both natural and man-made resources favourable to the emergence and development of the spa resorts from Vâlcea County, Romania. At the same time, the authors gave it a touch of originality by shaping the development perspectives of Vâlcea Subcarpathian region. The research has a solid theoretical background based on relevant papers and fundamental studies in spa tourism meant to offer a significant overview of the subject. The main results are based on a survey which was conducted in order to determine the quality degree of the accommodation and treatment in the region under study as well as the accessibility of the population to such services. At the same time, the paper outlines the main weaknesses and opportunities regarding the activities of spa tourism in Vâlcea Subcarpathians as a starting point for a further development strategy.

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Volume 8, Issue 1, 2014 Tagged with , , ,

Over the post-socialist period, residential mobility processes were very intense and took place on large areas. Flow intensity led to the emergence of new spatial and functional realities and created new relationships within the affected areas. During all this period, Bucharest’s metropolitan area was shaped by the spatial mobility of the city dwellers, as well as by the change of their social and residential aspirations. The majority of those who were registered as movers in Bucharest were actually residents of Bucharest (they only changed their domicile) and the share of people coming to the city from elsewhere has increased constantly over the last decade. Except for the early 1990s, a period when residential legal status was pending clarification, migrations from peri-urban area, especially from Ilfov County, to Bucharest had a low intensity. Situation is quite different in terms of moving out of Bucharest, to the communes and towns of Ilfov County, located in close proximity, which have been continuously increasing values. The correlation between housing stock features (real estate supply) and the demand of new dwellings (emphasized by the residential trajectories) prove both that current mobility flows taking place at this time in Bucharest are segmented based on economic-spatial criteria and that Markov chains are functional.

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Volume 8, Issue 1, 2014 Tagged with , , ,

Several media and research sources have recently have flagged a new process of concern to tourism planners in Bucharest. The Night of Bucharest Museums has initially been a quite isolated, museum focussed and rather individualistic event has progressively developed over the past very few years into a cultural process involving several cultural institutions among which museum are still predominant. Most of the participant members into the event have developed complex and dynamic programmes comprising sections of joint institutional events. A brief comparative analysis of this progressive event development also identifies changes in the extent and dimension with particular regard to the tourism development dimension and particularly to the cultural dimension of it. This paper is mainly attempting to answer the question regarding to what extent the public of such event has become tourist. The paper also aims to focus on more specific aspects and issues concerning the main aim by sketching a brief overview regarding the attitudes and perceptions of people regularly attending an event such the European Night of Museums in Bucharest. The paper attempts to determine the profile of participant to such event trying to identify the trends of this event on the Romanian wider market but particularly on the tourism market given the fact that museum visitor are mostly tourists. The study is making use of data collected during 2013 and 2014 editions of the event. The final aim of the paper is to emphasise issues regarding the wider concept of motivation in visiting museums how they are linked with the cultural dimension of tourism highlighting several difficulties faced by a multitude of institutions and how these are attempting to use tourism to overcome problematic situations.

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Volume 8, Issue 1, 2014 Tagged with , , , ,

The coal has been mined in the Karviná area for more than 150 years. During the course of time mining areas were continuously extended at the expense of the settled areas. At the beginnings the mining was limited, but later, namely under conditions of centrally planned economy in the period between 1950s and 1980s, it was heavily intensified. Then, as a result of economic restructuring of the Czech Republic mining was reduced in the region to be re-developed in the last decade again. The expansion of coal mining has been continuously affecting the socio-economic structure of local population (huge working immigration, industrialisation, construction of mass housing for miners – miners dormitories, later housing estates etc., displacement of settlements), surrounding landscape (subsidence of terrain, undermining, hydrological changes and formation of artificial lakes, occurrence of plenty of post-mining brownfields after the reduction of mining etc.), but also contemporary outward, image and socio-spatial structure of cities (dominance housing in housing estates, effects of communists spatial urban planning etc.). Currently, negotiations about expansion of coal mining are in progress in this region, namely the city parts of Karviná (Staré Město) and Orlová (Výhoda) should be affected. In the introductory parts of this paper social, economical and environmental aspects of coal mining on the development of regions and connected problems are discussed and both cities are shortly presented. The questionnaire survey focused on perceptions of after-mining renewal and potential expansion of mining in the area of cities of Karviná and Orlová was conducted (n=1000). As the most important predictor that influences perception of mining and renewal, employment in mining companies has been identified. The higher education respondents achieved, the higher level of opposition against mining was manifested. The correlation was also found between the level of income and the agreement with expansion of mining. It can be concluded that employees of mining company, less educated population and people with higher income agreed with economic development of the city that is based on mining.

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Volume 8, Issue 1, 2014 Tagged with , , , , ,

Economic development is an important consideration for a country like Pakistan, especially for the southern provinces; Sindh and Balochistan. Unequal economic development in these southern provinces creates regional disparities. These regional disparities enhance significant political and social issues like rural poverty and uneven economic growth. During the last several decades these provinces have been facing increasing problems of regional inequalities in economic development. Hence it is necessary to investigate the problem areas with poor use of resources by advance statistical techniques like Principal Component Analysis. The results will pin point those areas where development activity and planning can be directed towards improving economic infrastructure and prosperity of the people. The broad objective of economic development is to balance the inherent land resources and optimization of resource use towards achievements of productivity over a long period

Read more ›

By Posted on Posted in Volume 8, Issue 1, 2014 Tagged with , , ,

This article talks about the origin of Montenegrins in Vojvodina, their identity, development of their number and then about the age – gender structure. It gives the insight how old is the Montenegrins population and if it is in general older than population in Vojvodina. Particular attention was given to the period from the second half of 20th and at the begin-ning of 21st century. The main task of the paper was the identification of tendencies in the age structure of Montenegrins. Statistical methods and mathematics proceedings are used to compare different parameters of the age structure. The interviews were carried with the aim to find out the reply on question where the one third of Montenegrins had disap-peared during the last decade. The results of the study will enhance the knowledge about demographic characteristics of Montenegrins in Vojvodina and therefore might be useful for further research in the field.

Read more ›