Beschreibung:
<jats:p>During the last months the discussion on a strategy for the Danube Region as
a new approach for a European macro-region has been intensified,
predominantly within the area of Central and South-Eastern Europe. Evidently
the territory of the Danube Region is characterized by a divergent group of
countries concerning the process of integration and the preconditions in
geographic, economic, cultural and socio-demographic terms. Besides, the
region?s spatial development shows divergent trends causing increasing
regional disparities. Therefore, territorial cohesion - understood as
intensified functional interrelations and strategic cooperation - is
jeopardized in manifold ways. Hence, the main objective of this paper is to
discuss the basic features of a strategy aiming at strengthening the
polycentric development on different spatial levels. We start by assuming
that the development of every city (as an element of the urban system)
depends on its territorial capital and relevant assets providing location
based advantages regarding its competitiveness on different spatial levels.
Therefore we uncover what we understand as assets driving urban development.
In this context the meaning of polycentric development and the importance of
polycentric structures as an asset of a city?s territorial capital is being
revealed. Based on these conceptual considerations we examine some relevant
features of the urban polycentric system in the Danube region and finally
argue that a multilevel and evidence based approach should be evolved facing
the differences in the preconditions and already existing assets of spatial
development.</jats:p>