Dynamik der Metropolisierung als Problem der räumlichen Entwicklung in Asien

Abstract Metropolization, i.e. the concentration process of demographic and functional primacy in a single metropolitan city is a recent phenomenon and to be understood as a direct consequence of the population explosion since 1950. Former research regarding the primacy pattern of metropolitan cities in the Third World revealed, firstly, that the extent of functional primacy in almost all spheres of life exceeds that of the metropolises of the industrialized countries. Secondly, this statement is valid independent of the politico-economic system of the country concerned. The outstanding functional primacy of the Third World metropolitan cities results in pronounced regional disparities. In the first chapter the interdependencies between these two phenomena are demonstrated in a worldwide context. In part two the different opinions about the role of the metropolitan cities in the development process are reviewed. The results lead to the general question of what measures have been taken after independence to reduce the overwhelming functional primacy of the metropolitan cities. Taking Bombay/Maharashtra as an example, the various obstacles to achieving these goals are investigated throughout the past three decades, 1960-1990. The findings lead us to a fundamental dilemma: Immediate results could be obtained only from the infrastructurally advanced, i.e. the metropolitan regions, first and foremost Bombay itself. In view of the limited financial resources its development therefore seems sensible and advisable. Such a regional policy, however, will not reduce the regional disparities in Maharashtra. The final chapter deals with the question: What role does the overall stage of development play in reducing these regional disparities in general and the metropolitan primacy in particular? Taking Seoul/South Korea and Manila/The Philippines as examples the author investigates how successful these countries have been in managing their regional conflicts in the past 25 years (1960-1985). Although the conditions in South Korea were less favourable than those in the Philippines, South Korea has been far more successful in reducing the regional disparities. Finally, the various reasons for this different regional development pattern are discussed.