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The East-Central European region has undergone a unique urbanisation process during socialist and postsocialist periods. These peculiarities result from social and economic development delays, which the state has tried to remedy through massive interventions. One such intervention is urban reclassification, where the state promotes certain places it deems crucial, granting them urban status, often without actual development or urban characteristics. Due to its artificial character, this intervention is called formal urbanisation in our approach being a specific local feature of the urbanisation process. The visible result is the growth of the urban population, often only by administrative causes, with the reclassification of villages as towns. The emergence of numerous small towns, which we refer to as newest towns, has significantly influenced urbanisation, altered the concept of towns and cities3, and generated significant debates. In this paper, we compare the formal urbanisation of the socialist and post-socialist eras, trying to estimate the added value of formal urbanisation in the latter period. We compare the administrative backgrounds of formal urbanisation in selected ECE countries for similarities and differences. Throughout the research, we analyse their formal urbanisation involving approximately 800 municipalities promoted since 1990 in Poland, Czechia, Hungary, and Romania, trying to identify common and unique features in the processes. Based on historical determination, modernisation, and integration into new spatial processes, considering demographic and functional changes, we developed types of formal urbanisation. Our research has revealed several common factors in the reclassification process, such as local initiatives, while we have also identified disparities between principles and practices and varying levels of control from regional and national actors. The study has also led to a deeper understanding of formal urbanisation in the context of the urbanisation process as a whole.

This retrospective article points to a single aspect of József Tóth’s scientific work, to the thematic intersections that make it easier to interpret his oeuvre as a whole. Through secondary analyses of literature, as well as professional experiences and personal impressions gained as a student and colleague, it attempts to synthesize the professor’s scientific work related to urban reclassification and formal urbanisation. József Tóth’s influence extended beyond the academic sphere not only as a science organizer and rector, but also as a regional developer. This commemorative essay also points to the relationship between the scientist and politics, the never-ending struggles of the geographer in the formation of regional policies. József Tóth’s school-establishing activity in Pécs – also related to the practical aspects of formal urbanization – made a lasting contribution to the development of Hungarian human geography.

The East-Central European region has undergone a unique urbanisation process during socialist and postsocialist periods. These peculiarities result from social and economic development delays, which the state has tried to remedy through massive interventions. One such intervention is urban reclassification, where the state promotes certain places it deems crucial, granting them urban status, often without actual development or urban characteristics. Due to its artificial character, this intervention is called formal urbanisation in our approach being a specific local feature of the urbanisation process. The visible result is the growth of the urban population, often only by administrative causes, with the reclassification of villages as towns. The emergence of numerous small towns, which we refer to as newest towns, has significantly influenced urbanisation, altered the concept of towns and cities3, and generated significant debates. In this paper, we compare the formal urbanisation of the socialist and post-socialist eras, trying to estimate the added value of formal urbanisation in the latter period. We compare the administrative backgrounds of formal urbanisation in selected ECE countries for similarities and differences. Throughout the research, we analyse their formal urbanisation involving approximately 800 municipalities promoted since 1990 in Poland, Czechia, Hungary, and Romania, trying to identify common and unique features in the processes. Based on historical determination, modernisation, and integration into new spatial processes, considering demographic and functional changes, we developed types of formal urbanisation. Our research has revealed several common factors in the reclassification process, such as local initiatives, while we have also identified disparities between principles and practices and varying levels of control from regional and national actors. The study has also led to a deeper understanding of formal urbanisation in the context of the urbanisation process as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O centro da cidade de São Paulo passa, desde final da década de 1980, por um processo de transformação espacial a fim de requalificá-lo e dotá-lo de elementos modernizantes que possibilitem sua manutenção na rede de cidades mundiais, ou seja, espaços que controlam e comandam o processo de reprodução capitalista. Entretanto, essas transformações implicam mudanças na vida dos moradores que residem nesse espaço. As estratégias dos agentes (Estado e iniciativa privada especialmente) envolvidos no processo de renovação urbana tendem ao reforço da diferenciação socioespacial, com uma tentativa de mudança do perfil populacional aí existente, podendo seguir a tendência mundial de gentrificação das áreas centrais.Since the late 80's of the 20th century, downtown São Paulo has been through a process of spacial transformation which is intended to reclassify and endow it with elements of modernization in order to keep it in the network of world cities, i.e., spaces that control and command the process of capitalist reproduction. However, these transformations imply changes in the lives of the population living in that area. The strategies of the actors (primarily state and private) involved in urban renewal tend to reinforce social and spatial differentiation, with an attempt to change the population profile, which can follow the world trend of gentrification of central areas.

The article follows the trajectory of people with no access to housing (sem-teto) beginning with the occupation of the ruins of a prison in São Paulo's central area. From the "invasion" to the organization of a social movement of homeless people, from their disorganization to the insertion of drug dealing, we understand the occupations as practices of the state in its margins. Thus, the state not only creates the occupations by these homeless with its' practices, but it also establishes the degree of tolerance and the boundaries between political action, management methods and criminalization. The construction of these margins of the state, the legal and the illegal, the licit and the illicit, starts from the practice in the state and its margins as key places where these definitions are established and that also respond to the homeless' agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we use the case of Nepal to advance political geographic analyses of how, during moments of rupture, territory act as an important political technology in state restructuring, and how urban demarcation along with other territorial structures of the state will play a significant role in this process. Nepal has experienced more than three decades of state-restructuring characterized by consecutive political and constitutional crises, including close to ten years of violent conflict. Within the brief period between 2014 and 2017, more than 230 new municipalities were demarcated on top of the existing 58. In our analysis we unpack why and how the number of municipalities is quadrupled at that particular moment of time and how this is shaped by and have implications for re-configurations of Nepal's territorial structures. This is achieved through a historical analysis of how the state's politico-administrative system has been mapped, reasoned and challenged. The analysis is based on official documents, such as census data and reports, legislative acts, public debates and academic analyses of processes of administrative and political reforms and conflicts in Nepal since the early 1990s. It therefore engages with a rich literature on conflict, the post-conflict situation and the restructuring of the state. Based on our findings we argue that urban demarcation is an important part of a states' political technology complex, and warn against trends in studies of urbanization to question the analytical bearing of differentiating the rural and urban. Showing that Nepal's recent urban boundaries have been justified by the need to achieve a better geographical balance, we conclude by arguing for the need for studies of urban transformations that critically examine whether and how the new territorial structures in their implementation contribute to balance geographical and social inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the rapid urbanization in China related to the expansion envolvement of the middle class and the domestic consumption in Chinese economy. It analyzes the institutionalized rural and urban society and the function of the hukou system. It emphasizes Chinese urbanization and special industrialization strategy which provide estimates to the main sources of the urban population growth which benefits the recent urbanization in China.

Kulcsar L. J. and Brown D. L. The political economy of urban reclassification in post-socialist Hungary, Regional Studies. Urban reclassification is usually a statistical exercise, acknowledging that places have met certain development criteria. In some countries, though, it is also an important political game. Local leaders believe that the urban title is the key to future development, while national politicians perceive reclassification as a tool to increase political capital. This study examines the political economy of urban reclassification in Hungary in a historical perspective, discussing the pro-urban development legacy and reclassification dynamics. Contemporary political and development motives are also examined. Statistical analysis investigates the impact of reclassification on urbanization trends. [image omitted] Kulcsar L. J. et Brown D. L. L'economie politique du reclassement urbain dans la Hongrie des annees postsocialistes, Regional Studies. D'habitude, le reclassement urbain s'avere une exercice statistique, reconnaissant le fait que certains endroits ont satisfaits certains criteres de developpement. Cependant, dans certains pays il constitue aussi un jeu politique important. Les leaders locaux croient que etre considere urbain est la cle du developpement futur, tandis que les hommes politiques nationaux considerent le reclassement comme un outil qui sert a augmenter le capital politique. Cette etude cherche a examiner l'economie politique du reclassement urbain en Hongrie d'un point de vue historique, discutant l'heritage en faveur du developpement urbain et la dynamique du reclassement. On examine aussi les motifs politiques et de developpement contemporains. Une analyse statistique examine l'impact du reclassement sur les tendances a l'urbanisation. Reclassement urbain Amenagement du territoire Annees postsocialistes Urbanisation Kulcsar L. J. und Brown D. L. Die politische Okonomie der urbanen Reklassifizierung im postsozialistischen Ungarn, Regional Studies. Bei einer urbanen Reklassifizierung handelt es sich normalerweise um eine statistische Massnahme, mit der zur Kenntnis genommen wird, dass Orte bestimmte Entwicklungskriterien erfullt haben. In einigen Landern ist sie jedoch auch ein wichtiges politisches Spiel. Die Fuhrungspersonen vor Ort nehmen an, dass der urbane Titel den Schlussel zur kunftigen Entwicklung darstellt, wahrend die Politiker auf nationaler Ebene die Reklassifizierung als Mittel zur Erhohung des politischen Kapitals betrachten. In dieser Studie untersuchen wir die politische Okonomie der urbanen Reklassifizierung in Ungarn aus historischer Perspektive und erortern das Vermachtnis der prourbanen Entwicklung sowie die Dynamik der Reklassifizierung. Ebenso werden zeitgenossische politische und Entwicklungsmotive untersucht. In einer statistischen Analyse ermitteln wir die Auswirkung einer Reklassifizierung auf Urbanisierungstrends. Urbane Reklassifizierung Regionalentwicklung Postsozialismus Urbanisierung Kulcsar L. J. y Brown D. L. La economia politica de la reclasificacion urbana en la Hungria postsocialista, Regional Studies. La reclasificacion urbana es normalmente un ejercicio estadistico en el que se reconocen los lugares que han cumplido ciertos criterios de desarrollo. Sin embargo, en algunos paises tambien es un importante juego politico. Los lideres locales creen que el titulo urbano es la clave para el futuro desarrollo mientras que los politicos nacionales perciben la reclasificacion como una herramienta para aumentar el capital politico. En este estudio analizamos la economia politica de la reclasificacion urbana en Hungria desde una perspectiva historica y abordamos el legado de desarrollo prourbano y las dinamicas de reclasificacion. Tambien examinamos los motivos politicos y de desarrollo contemporaneos. Mediante analisis estadisticos investigamos el impacto de la reclasificacion en las tendencias de urbanizacion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]