Keywords
city
urban systems
planning of development
spatial land use
How to Cite
Abstract
Formulated by Ludwig von Bertalanffy, the general systems theory was quickly put to use in many other fields of science and technology, as well as in geography and spatial management, including urban and regional planning, but on a relatively modest scale. This article, theoretical and methodological in character, presents selected aspects of the application of this theory in planning the development and spatial land use of territorial units with particular emphasis on cities1. A city, which is the subject of the research, and also the sets of cities gaining global importance called world cities, creating an urban system, are treated as a system, and specifically, a territorial social system. Next to the presentation of a general system model, systems approaches, the conception of a territorial social system which is a city, as well as an organicist systemic model of a city and the related functioning of it, understood as its life, a systems approach was referred to the urban system, the elements of which are cities–territorial systems. The study also invokes other theories and concepts that allow determining the structure and functioning of territorial units (Leontief’s input–output; gravity and potential models) and operation of systems (Prigogine’s self-organisation). In addition, next to theoretical and methodological, the publication also includes a practical aspect, which is the possibility of using a systems approach in planning the development and spatial land use of cities and solving occurring problems.
References / Bibliography
Allen P.M., 1982. Self-organization in the urban systems. In: Schieve C., Allen P.M. (eds), Self-organization and dissipative structures. University of Texas Press, New York: 132-158. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7560/703544-008
Allen P.M., Sanglier M., 1981. Urban evolution, self-organization and decision-making. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space 13: 167-183. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1068/a130167
Banaszak M., Dzięcielski M., Nikamp P., Ratajczak W., 2015. Self-organization and spatial systems: From fractal chaos to regular patterns and vice versa. Plos One 10(9): e0136248. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0136248
Batty M., 2009a. Urban modeling. Elsevier, London. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-008044910-4.01092-0
Batty M., 2009b. Cities as complex systems: Scaling, interaction, networks, dynamics and urban morphology, UCL Working Paper Series, 131. University College, London: 62.
Berry B.J.L., 1964. Cities as systems within systems of cities. Papers and Proceedings of the Regional Science Association, XIII, 147-163. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1435-5597.1964.tb01283.x
Bourne L., 1975. Urban systems. Clavendon Press, London.
Chojnicki Z., 1971. Model wzajemnych zależności między systemem społeczno-ekonomicznym a środowiskiem przyrodniczym (Model of interrelations between the socio-economic system and the natural environment). Poznańskie Roczniki Ekonomiczne 24: 57-67. PTPN, Poznań.
Chojnicki Z., 1985. Realistyczna koncepcja systemu (A realistic conception of the system). Sprawozdania Poznańskiego Towarzystwa Przyjaciół Nauk 104: 20-24.
Chojnicki Z., 1988. Terytorialny system społeczny (Territorial social system). Biuletyn KPZK PAN 138: 29-49.
Chojnicki Z., 1989. Koncepcja terytorialnego systemu społecznego (Conception of the territorial social system). Przegląd Geograficzny 60(3): 491-510.
Chojnicki Z., 1996. Region w ujęciu geograficzno-systemowym (Region in the geographic-system approach). In: Czyż T. (ed.), Podstawy regionalizacji geograficznej (Basics of geographic regionalisation). Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Poznań: 7-44.
Chojnicki Z., 1999. Koncepcja terytorialnego systemu społecznego (Conception of the territorial social system). In: Czyż T. (ed.), Podstawy metodologiczne i teoretyczne geografii (Methodological and theoretical basics of geography). Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Poznań: 309-326.
Chojnicki Z., 2011. Systemy społeczne jako przedmiot geografii społeczno-ekonomicznej (Social systems as a subject of socio-economic geography). In: Mierzejewska L., Wdowicka M. (eds), Współczesne problemy rozwoju miast i regionów (Contemporary problems of urban and regional development). Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Poznań: 31-47.
Christaller W., 1933. Die Zentralen Orte in Süddeutschland: eine Ökonomisch-Geographische Untersuchung Über die Gesetz Massigkeit der Verbreitung und Entwicklung der Siedlungen mit Städitschen Funktionen (The central places in Southern Germany). Fischer Verlag, Jena.
Czyż T. (ed.), 1996. Podstawy regionalizacji geograficznej (Basics of geographic regionalisation). Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Poznań.
Derudder B., Taylor P.J., 2016. Changing in the world city network 2000-2012. The Professional Geographers 68(4): 624-637. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00330124.2016.1157500
Derudder B., Taylor P.J., 2018. Central flow theory: Comparative connectivities and the world city network. Regional Studies 52(8): 1029-1040. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2017.1330538
Desouza K.C., Flanery T.H., 2013. Designing, planning, and managing resilient cities: A conceptual framework. Cities 35: 89-99. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2013.06.003
Dietzenbacher E., Lahr M.N., 2004. Wassily Leontieff and input-output economics. Cambridge University Press, New York. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511493522
Dzięcielski M., Kourtit K., Nijkamp P., Ratajczak W., 2021. Basins of attraction around large cities. A study of urban interaction space. Cities 119: 103366. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2021.103366
Friedmann J., 1986. The world city hypothesis. Development and Change 17: 69-84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7660.1986.tb00231.x
Friedmann J., 1995. Where we stand: A decade of the world city research. In: Knox P.L., Taylor P.J. (eds), World cities in a world system. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 21-47. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511522192.003
Fujita M., Krugman P., Mori T., 1999. On the evolution of hierarchical urban systems. European Economic Review 43(2): 209-251. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0014-2921(98)00066-X
Funck R.H., Blum U.H., 1987. Urban change: A changing process. In: van der Berg L., Burns L.S., Klassen L.H. (eds), Spatial cycles. Gower, Aldershot. .
Gánti T., 1986. Podstawy życia (The principles of life). Wiedza Powszechna, Warsaw.
Ganti T., 2003. The principles of life. Oxford University Press, New York. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198507260.001.0001
Haken H., 1993. Synergetic as a theory of creativity and its planning. In: Andersson A.E., Batten D.F., Kobayashi K., Yoshikawa K. (eds), The cosmo-creative society: Logistical networks in dynamic economy. Springer Verlag, Berlin.
Hall P., 1996. The global city. International Social Science Journal 147: 15-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2451.1996.tb00052.x
Hall P., Hay D., 1980. Growth centres in the European urban systems. Heineman Educational Books Ltd, London.
Kim T.J., 1989. Integrated urban systems modeling: Theory and applications. Kluwer Academic Publishers, London. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2405-5_5
Klir G.J., 1969. An approach to general system theory. Van Nostrand Reihold, New York.
Klir G.J., 1972. Trends and general system theory. John Wiley & Sons Inc, New York.
Knox P.L., 1995. World cities in a world system. In: Knox P., Taylor P.J. (eds), World cities in a world system. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 3-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511522192.002
Knox P.L., 2002. World cities and the organization of global space. In: Johnston R.J., Taylor P.J., Watts M.J. (eds), Geographies of global change. Remapping the world. Blackwell, Oxford: 328-339.
Leontieff W., 1966. Input-output economics. Oxford University Press, New York.
Liu X., Wang M., 2016. How polycentric is urban China and why? A case study of 318 cities. Landscape and Urban Planning 151: 10-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2016.03.007
Lösch A., 1956. Location and the space economy. Yale University Press, New Haven.
Maik W., 2008. Ewolucje teoretyczno-metodologiczne studiów miejskich w świetle zmieniających się konceptualizacji miasta (Theoretical-methodological evolution of urban studies in the light of changing conceptualisations of the city). In: Parysek J., Stryjakiewicz T. (eds), Region społeczno-ekonomiczny i rozwój regionalny (Socio-economic region and regional development). Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Poznań: 77-90.
Massey D., 2007. World city. Polity Press, Cambridge.
Mierzejewska L., 2009. Rozwój zrównoważony miasta: Aspekty poznawcze i praktyczne (Sustainable development of a city: Cognitive and practical aspects). Adam Mickiewicz University Press, Poznań.
Mierzejewska L., 2017. Sustainable development of a city: Systemic approach. Problems of Sustainable Development 12(1): 71-78.
Mierzejewska L., 2020. Urban substructures as a way to build a balanced spatial and functional structure of cities. In: Johnsen M.S. (ed.), Urban space: An overview. Nova Science Publisher, Hauppauge, New York: 1-42.
Mierzejewska L., 2021. Policentryczność jako model struktury przestrzennej miasta (korzyści, problemy, dylematy) (Polycentricity as a model of the city’s spatial structure (advantages, problems, dilemmas). In: Szafranek E. (ed.), W poszukiwaniu optymalnego modelu miasta (In search of an optimal city model). Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Opolskiego, Opole: 243-260.
Mierzejewska L., Sikorska-Podyma K., Wdowicka M., Lechowska E., Modrzewski B., 2020. City resilience – aspekty planistyczne (City resilience – Planning aspects). Rozwój Regionalny i Polityka Regionalna 50: 85-101. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14746/rrpr.2020.50.06
Neuman M., Hull A., 2009. The future of the city region. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00343400903037511
Regional Studies 43(6): 777-787.
Ng M.K., Hills P., 2003. World cities or great cities? A comparative study of five Asian metropolises. Cities 20: 151-165. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0264-2751(03)00003-9
Nicolis G., Prigogine I., 1977. Self-organization and non-equilibrium systems. New York.
Nijkamp P., Banaszak M., Dzięcielski M., Ratajczak W., 2019. Hexagonal spatial systems in fuzzy gravitation. Environment and Planning 51(2): 393-402. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0308518X18790249
Nijkamp P., Ratajczak W., 2021. Gravitational analysis in regional science and spatial economics: A vector gradient approach to trade. International Regional Science Review 44(3-4): 400-431. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0160017620980519
Parr J., 2010. Perspectives on the city-region. Regional Studies 39(5): 555-556. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00343400500151798
Parysek J., 1986. Planowe kształtowanie środowiska człowieka (Planned development of the human environment). In: Kamzowa A. (ed.), Ochrona zabytków a gospodarka przestrzenna Polski (Protection of historical sites vs spatial management in Poland). Biuletyn Informacyjny. Problem międzyresortowy “Podstawy Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania Kraju”: 52: 33-45.
Parysek J., 1997. Podstawy gospodarki lokalnej (Basics of local management). Adam Mickiewicz University Press, Poznań.
Parysek J., 2002. Metropolises and the process of metropolitanisation. Geographia Polonica 75(1): 25-42.
Parysek J., 2006. Wprowadzenie do gospodarki przestrzennej (Introduction to spatial management). Adam Mickiewicz University Press, Poznań.
Parysek J., 2007. Metropolitanisation from a Central-European perspective at the turn of the 21st century. In: Parysek J., Toelle A. (eds), Urban development and urban governance. Quaestiones Geographicae 26B: 85-96.
Parysek J., 2014. Life of the city. In: Mierzejewska L., Parysek J. (eds), Cities in a complex world: Problems, challenges and prospects. Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Poznań: 213-224.
Parysek J., 2015. Miasto w ujęciu systemowym (City in a systems approach). Ruch Prawniczy, Ekonomiczny i Socjologiczny 77(1): 27-53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14746/rpeis.2015.77.1.3
Parysek J., Mierzejewska L., 2013. Życie miasta: Studium Poznania. Miasto i jego mieszkańcy (Life of a city: The case study of Poznań. The city and its inhabitants). Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Poznań.
Parysek J., Mierzejewska L., 2014. Życie miasta: Studium Poznania. Infrastruktura miejska (Life of a city: The case study of Poznań: Urban infrastructure). Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Poznań.
Petrişor A.I., Petrişor L.E., 2013. The shifting relationship between urban and spatial planning and the protection of the environment: Romania as a case study. Present Environment and Sustainable Development 7(1): 268-276.
Portugali J., 1997. Self-organizing cities. Futures 29(4-5): 353-380. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-3287(97)00022-0
Prigogine I., 1978. Time, structure and fluctuation. Science 201: 777-785. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.201.4358.777
Prigogine I., Stengers I., 1984. Order out of Chaos. Man’s new dialogue with nature. Heineman, London.
Reif H., 2014. Metropolises: History, concepts, methodologies. In: Brantz D., Disco S., Wagner-Kyora G. (eds), Thick space. Approaches to metropolitanism. Transcript Verlag (Urban Studies), Bielefeld.
Rozenblat C., Pumain D., 1993. The location of the multinational firms in the European Urban System. Urban Studies 30(10): 1691-1709. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00420989320081671
Rozenblat C., Pumain D., 2006. Firm linkages, innovation and the evolution of urban systems. In: Taylor P., Derudder B., Saey P., Witlox F. (eds), Cities in globalization: Practices, policies and theories. Routledge, London: 124-149.
Sassen S., 1992. The global cities. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Taylor P.J., 1997. Hierarchical tendencies among world cities: A global research proposal. Cities 14(6): 323-332. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0264-2751(97)00023-1
Taylor P.J., 2015. Global city network. In: LeGates R.T., Stout F.(eds.), The city reader. Routledge, London.
Taylor P.J., Derudder B., 2015. World city network. Routledge, London. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315730950
Taylor P.J., Hoyler M., Verbruggen R., 2010. External urban relational process: Introducing central flow theory to complement central place theory. Urban Studies 47(13): 2803-2818. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098010377367
Taylor P.J., Walker D.R.R., 2001. World cities: A first multivariate analysis of their service complexes. Urban Studies 38(1): 23-47. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00420980125400
Taylor P.J., Walker D.R.F., Catalano G., Hoyler M., 2002. Diversity and power in the world city network. Cities 19(4): 231-241.
von Bertalanffy L., 1950. An outline of general system theory. British Journal of the Philosophy of Science 1: 134-165. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjps/I.2.134
von Bertalanffy L., 1968. General system theory: Foundations, development, application. Braziller, New York.
Wang M., 2021. Polycentric urban development and urban amenities: Evidence from Chinese cities. Urban Analytics and City Science 48(3): 400-416. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2399808320951205
Wang M., Derudder B., Liu X., 2019. Polycentric urban development and economic productivity in China: A multiscalar analysis. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space 51(8): 1622-1643. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0308518X19866836
Wdowicka M., 2016. Miasta światowe jako węzły w sieci powiązań gospodarki globalnej (World cities as nodes in the global economy network). Problemy Rozwoju Miast 14(4): 107-117.
Wdowicka M., 2017. Miasta w globalnej sieci korporacji transnarodowych (Cities in the global network of transnational corporations). Adam Mickiewicz University Press, Poznań.
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Jerzy J. Parysek, Lidia Mierzejewska
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.