Towards a Periodization of Urbanization in the Alpine Rhine Valley
Project Description
Urbanization and ruralization as well as centrality and periphery are two of the central binaries in Contemporary research on the uneven geographies of capitalist urbanization. Whilst commonly perceived as sets of two opposites, academic endevour brings to the fore how socio-spatial and socio-material configurations for many decades are blends of these binaries that dynamically reconfigure the urban fabric (Roy 2016; Flowe 2022a; Gündogan 2021; Gillen et al. 2022; Krause 2013). On hand of the trinational region Alpenrheintal, this research project hence investigates two research objectives: First, we aim to uncover processes of urbanization in the trinational region Alpenrheintal and the specific socio-spatial constellations that have been produced and reconfigured during the past 200 years. Our second research interest revolves around the local and regional socio-spatial processes that (re-)produce centralities and peripheriesin the Alpenrheintal and how these are influenced by global processes. With this project we can build on work from within the Urbanism and Society research group and consequently lay the foundaition for further research in this extended urban region.
Relevance to Liechtenstein
By looking at the Alpine Rhine Valley as well as its neighboring regions, historical and current interconnections of Liechtenstein in the urbanization process of the region are to be worked out.
Scientific, Economic and Societal Impact
The project is intended to contribute to the establishment of a network of academic and practical partners in the Alpine Rhine Valley and its immediate surroundings. In doing so, the discussion about urbanization processes in the region should be put on a scientific foundation and long-term processes should be included in the discussion.
