Small town research in Germany - status quo and recommendations

Abstract: Urban studies in Germany are traditionally oriented towards large cities. The structures, meanings and functions of small towns are not sufficiently perceived and differentiated in scientific or political debates. Adequate research on small towns requires systematic, comparative, inter- and transdisciplinary approaches. Traditional attributions should be questioned critically and small towns should be examined empirically in their diversity and differentiation. This involves paying attention to external influences and heterogeneous internal structures as well as to regional functions and interdependencies. The availability and generation of statistical data, which also make small-scale analyses possible, are just as necessary as more comprehensive studies, which go beyond limited case studies. Finally, also research funding and academic teaching should address small towns more systematically than it has been the case in the past. This position paper presents recommendations for res

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource, 13 S.
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Veröffentlichungsversion ; begutachtet

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Positionspapier aus der ARL ; Bd. 114

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Mannheim
• (who): SSOAR, GESIS – Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften e.V.
• (when): 2019
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Hannover
• (who): Verl. d. ARL
• (when): 2019
• Creator: Beetz, Stephan ; Dehne, Peter ; Fina, Stefan ; Großmann, Katrin ; Leibert, Tim ; Maaß, Anita ; Mayer, Heike ; Milbert, Antonia ; Nadler, Robert ; Porsche, Lars ; Sondermann, Martin ; Steinführer, Annett
• Contributor: Akademie für Raumforschung und Landesplanung - Leibniz-Forum für Raumwissenschaften

Further information

• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-65634-2
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 11:01 AM CEST