Sociologie Românească, Vol. IX, no. 3/2011, pp. 20-34.
Urban Shrinkage as a problem of post-socialist transformation. The Case of Eastern Germany
Dieter Rink
Author Adress: Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung GmbH – UFZ, Department Stadt und Umweltsoziologie Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig.
Abstract (Rezumat în limba engleză): This article follows the shrinkage phenomenon into the Eastern German cities, as a post socialist transformation that has occurred during mostly during the 1990s. Furthermore the case of East Germany is particular since different shrinkage processes already occurred here in GDR times. The shrinkage after 1990 linked to those already existing, shrinking cities; shrinking cities are thus not a new city type in East Germany, but instead accompany its development.
Keywords: urban shrinkage, population decline, vacant houses, Eastern German cities.
Cuvinte-cheie: restrângere urbană, depopulare, locuinţe vacante, oraşe din Germania de Est.