Bulletin of Geography. Socio–economic Series No. 21 (2013): 111–124 Bulletin of GeoGraphy. Socio–economic SerieS journal homepages: http://www.bulletinofgeography.umk.pl http://versita.com/bgss ISSN 1732–4254 quarterly The upper-Silesian conurbation on the path towards the “Silesia” metropolis alicja Szajnowska-Wysocka1, CDFMR, elżbieta Zuzańska-Żyśko2, CDFMR University of Silesia, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Department of Economic Geography, Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland; 1e- mail: [email protected]; 2e-mail: [email protected] (corresponding author) Szajnowska-Wysocka, A. and Zuzańska-Żyśko, E., 2013: The Upper-Silesian conurbation on the path towards the “Silesia” metrop- olis. In: Szymańska, D. and Chodkowska-Miszczuk, J. editors, Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series, No. 21, Toruń: Nico- laus Copernicus University Press, pp. 111–124. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/bog-2013-0025 abstract. In its methodological context, the article, expands on the idea of the or- article details: ganization of the “Silesia” superstructure. The idea of establishing a common urban Received: 20 June 2012 organism emerged with the local governments of the Upper Silesian conurbation Revised: 18 April 2013 cities and was dictated by the need to find a way to change the traditional image of Accepted: 29 May 2013 the Silesian region and its post-industrial role in the economic space of the coun- try, as well as Europe. Therefore, in 2009, the Metropolitan Association of Upper- Silesia, an association for the initial institutionalization of “Silesia”, was registered, because “Silesia” does not hold any administrative or legal force. Such an organiza- tional “revolution” of the Upper Silesian conurbation initiated a wide social debate, in which the arguments of both supporters and opponents of such an enterprise in the Silesian region became apparent, together with misunderstandings related to the term “metropolis”, and the idea of establishing “Silesia”. Representatives of local governments chose the more prestigious term “metropolis” as if a complex metropolisation had taken place in the Upper Silesian conurbation. It would be Key words: adequate, however, to look only for the first features of metropolitan functions in urbanisation, metropolisation, this de-industrialized and restructured region, which are going to shape the long- metropolis, regionalism, lasting metropolisation process under the influence of globalisation. government. © 2013 Nicolaus Copernicus University Press. All rights reserved. contents: 1. Introduction . 112 2. Materials . 112 3. The Upper Silesian conurbation among Polish metropolitan centres . 114 4. An attempt to empower the Upper Silesian conurbation . 116 5. Social perception of the “Silesia” undertaking . 117 6. Research results: the metropolitan potential of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Area (GOM) . 119 7. Conclusions . 122 112 A. Szajnowska-Wysocka, E. Zuzańska-Żyśko / Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series 21 (2013): 111–124 Notes . 122 References . 122 1. Introduction 3) join the international structure of dependency, connections and cooperation, and the network of cities with metropolitan functions; Metropolisation, metropolis and metropolitan area 4) change the nature of the centre-periphery rela- are commonly used terms to illustrate contemporary tionship, where, with the dominating role of the urbanization processes. The omnipresent and centre, a clear synergy of functional connections progressive globalisation of human activity leading is taking place; to an increased spatial mobility of people, goods and 5) transform the use of urban and suburban space capital, as well as the diffusion of ideas, technological into a large and complex settlement system, fre- innovations and cultural models influences the form quently of polycentric character with unclear and dynamics of urbanisation processes. These borders between the city and its suburban zone; terms are used to describe new spatial phenomena. 6) export the urban model shaped in metropo- In order to avoid discrepancies and controversies, lises (Markowski, Marszał, 2006; Jałowiecki, the definitions of these terms should be recalled. Szczepański, 2002). Metropolisation, known for a long time (ancient The metropolis is the main component of the metropolises) and currently highly dynamised metropolitan ar ea that shall be understood as the by globalisation, is probably a new phase of metropolitan settlement system (mono-centric or po- urbanization, since it differs in quantity and quality ly-centric) consisting of many settlement units and from the previous urbanization stages because: highly urbanized areas (Markowski, Marszał, 2006). 1) the principle of hierarchical spatial organization According to S. Liszewski (2008), it is a form of a large is disappearing (according to Christaller), urban agglomeration comprising two poles of diverse 2) the impact force of the “potential” of physical spatial and functional scale: 1) the centre, where met- proximity of the centre is weakening, ropolitan functions are concentrated, and 2) the exter- 3) network connections between remote metropo- nal area, where metropolisation processes take place. lises are increasing (Jałowiecki, 2000). The research aim of this article is to highlight As J. Turowski states, “metropolisation is a fea- the process of metropolisation of the Upper-Silesia ture of contemporary urbanization, i.e. gaining conurbation in its methodological context. There- a dominating significance in economy and culture fore, study aims to: of a given country by large complexes and structures 1) analyse the location of the Upper-Silesia conur- of towns and various settlement units also referred bation in the typology of Polish metropolises; to as agglomerations, together with their main cen- 2) present an attempt to empower the Upper-Sile- tre – metropolitan city” (Szymańska, 2009). sian conurbation; Metropolisation of space is a peculiar reaction 3) present the social perception of the “Silesia” en- of the settlement system to the phenomenon of terprise; globalisation. It is, therefore, a complex process of 4) monitor the emergence of metropolitan func- shaping a new type of spatial structure due to the tions – their institutionalisation. concentration in fragments in space of large cities (centres, regions), which: 1) gather the economic, financial, administrative, 2. Materials academic, cultural and media world potential; 2) concentrate the superior (managerial) functions in economy management on the supranational The empiric material for reconstructing the social scale; regional discourse and the analysis of the institu- A. Szajnowska-Wysocka, E. Zuzańska-Żyśko / Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series 21 (2013): 111–124 113 tional base of the origin of metropolitan functions presence of certain metropolitan features. These in- is, next to subject literature, statistics and carto- cluded: 1) embassies and consulates, 2) four- and graphic material, as well as numerous articles in five-star hotels, 3) sports events of international the regional press, regional radio broadcast and tel- range, 4) international clothing stores, 5) exclusive evision programmes, and also the proceedings of car showrooms, 6) banks (headquarters, branches meetings and conferences. Moreover, it has been or local offices exceeding 10 in a city), 7) higher complemented and revised by authorized websites. education, 8) technology parks, business incuba- The analysis of the metropolitan potential in the tors and innovation centres, 9) entertainment and GOM has been made on the basis of the institu- sports institutions (entertainment parks – amuse- tional basis identified with 11 institution categories, ment parks, large shopping centres (1), aqua parks which were metropolitan features, determining the and golf courses), 10) hospitals and specialized clin- level of metropolisation (Table 1). A point-based ics or rehabilitation institutes of national range, 11) evaluation has been applied, following Kaminski motorway junctions (existing or in progress) and (1971), based on which the degree of centrality of junctions of more important national roads and ex- cities has been calculated, taking into account the press-ways, as well as international airports. table 1. Metropolitan institutions in the cities of the GOM (Upper Silesian Metropolitan Area) total metro- GOM of services/ Total The Borough 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 politan Structure /institu- of C C j i index functions tions Katowice + + + + + + + + + + + 11 737 1.00 A Gliwice + + + + + + + + 8 482 0.65 B Chorzow + + + + + + 6 371 0.50 B Tychy + + + + + 5 271 0.37 C Sosnowiec + + + + + 5 265 0.36 C Zabrze + + + + + 5 260 0.35 C Central Dabrowa Gornicza + + + + 4 171 0.23 D metropolitan Ruda Slaska + + + 3 144 0.20 D complex Myslowice + + + 3 144 0.20 D Bytom + + + 3 127 0.17 D Siemianowice Sl. + + 2 105 0.14 D Swietochlowice + 1 78 0.11 D Piekary Slaskie + + 2 77 0.10 D Jaworzno + 1 33 0.04 E Tarnowskie Gory + + + 3 138 0.19 D External Czeladz + 1 78 0.11 D metropolitan Bedzin + 1 33 0.04 E zone Mikołow + 1 33 0.04 E TOTAL 1 3 3 4 4 4 5 6 10 12 12 65 n Cj INDEX 94 83 83 78 78 78 72 61 44 33 33 ∑C j = 737 j=1 Explanation: 1 – Bank headquarters, 2 – Sports events of international range, 3 – Shops, salons of exclusive foreign brands, 4 – Embassies, consulates, 5 – Technology parks, business incubators, innovation centres, 6 – Hotels of ***** and ****, 7 – Exclusive car showrooms, 8 – Amusement parks, golf courses, operas,