Zur Theorie der postsozialistischen Transformation in Ostdeutschland auf städtischer Ebene

OTT, Thomas (1997): Zur Theorie der postsozialistischen Transformation in Ostdeutschland auf städtischer Ebene. Geographische Zeitschrift 85 (4), 213-230

Kurzfassung

Although many researchers turned their attention to the transition states of Central and Eastern Eu-rope after the dramatic changes of the late 1980s, a comprehensive theoretical framework for the analysis of the transition process and its spatial impact is still missing. Urban development in gen-eral can be described as incessant structural change, depending on the economic, social, cultural and political conditions. Therefore the Theory of Regulation offers a theoretical background, as it allows to define the initial conditions before and the target conditions after the transition as well as the necessary steps of adaptation. The adaptation process itself is subject to a number of theoretical ap-proaches, both from the economic and social sciences. The most favored Theory of Modernization implies a ”catch-up modernization” of the transitional societies, which also includes a spatial adapta-tion to Western examples. On the large scale level the rent gap approach, initially applied to gentrifi-cation processes, offers a suitable explanation for the spatial development of transitional urban areas.