Koncepcje teoretyczne a empiryczne podstawy analizy struktury regionalnej

Abstract

In a comprehensive outline the author examines the basic notions of structural and functional analysis, the transition from the descriptive interpretation of connections and interdependencies in anthropogeography to the concept of spatial structures and of function in economic geography. She presents the attitude adopted by the leading geographers to the theory of systems: different interpretations and applications of the structural and functional methods and the diversified interpretation of the two methodological trends both in geography itself and in the related sciences. Upon studying the existing publications on the subject, she discusses the relation in which these methods and trends of research are to historical and dialectical materialism, as an integrating research trend. Againts this background she discusses the basic theoretical premises of economic geography, among others the role of connecting links from one area to another, performed by the relations of production, labour and services, as well as three aspects of research: the static, the functional, and the dynamic aspect. On the basic of the discussed theoretical conceptions the Polish studies in economic geography are developing, their main trend after the second world war concerned with problems of regional structures, with analysing fragmentary elements of spatial structure, the complexity and diversity of regional structures and systems and their dynamics. Simultaneously spatial structure is being analysed from the standpoint of the function and type of the main principal centres: centres of production, transport, and services. Attempts have been already made to relate empirical research with the theory of systems in order to determine the systems typical of the spatial structure of the regions.