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The term rural is well known and understood by the general public, but generally usable definition does not exist. The precise definition of rural areas is indispensable for the central state administration, a number of experts, or the public administration, as well as for the European Union institutions. Unfortunately, results are not always consistent and are not always clear and homogeneous. Approaches to rural delineation are mostly based on a quantitative or qualitative indicator, or a combination of multiple indicators (population, population density, or various socio-economic indicators) to define rural and urban settlements or areas. However, rural differentiation is increasingly the result of soft factors and subjective definitions, which can differ considerably. Nonetheless, some common indicators can be identified, with common approaches shared. This is the aim of the dissertation – to use data from the census 2011 and try to create a methodology by which the Moravian countryside could be typified. Work is primarily looking for a solution to a research problem: What is the current Moravian countryside? Moravia was defined by maps, which record the historical border and territorial division of the Czech Republic and professional publications, which were synthases. The countryside was categorized by the statistical data obtained from the census 2011, which was categorized into 3 types according to the greatest similarity in the surveyed variables. According to the most significant differences in the variables between groups and the linking of the variables to the development of the area, the rural area categories were identified as progressive, deficit and suburban areas. The empirical research was carried for a more detailed description of the Moravian country typology. The subjective techniques (questionnaire survey) and soft indicators (photo documentation in the field, non-attended observation) were applied. This part of the research was carried out in selected case model areas. This more detailed analysis of the territory was also aimed at the validation of the specified typology.

This thesis deals with the comparison of methodological approaches of Czech urban sociology and social geography. The aim of the thesis is to ascertain whether sociologists have maintained their specific view on urban issues different from that of other disciplines. Currently, it is rather difficult to distinguish between purely sociological and socio- geographic research activities. Therefore, the research part of this thesis is focused on the analysis of diploma and dissertation theses. In the case of students, it is clear which discipline their theses represent. The comparison of theses is based on observation of their topics, theoretical assumptions, methods, techniques and the nature of conclusions. The concluding part of the thesis summarizes the results of the research, supplementing them with the comment on the current state of urban sociology in the Czech Republic. Key words: urban sociology, social geography, city, methodology

Pohyb a věková struktura obyvatel kraje, okresů, SO ORP, POU a obcí k 31.12.2012. Publikace je doplněna věkovým složením obyvatel Plzeňského kraje v letech 2000 - 2012.