New Regional Geography

Protected areas around the world attract people. Due to beautiful nature, landscape and suitable geomorphological conditions, leisure time activities are often concentrated in these areas. It can be in opposite to aims of nature conservation. Therefore, we mapped recreational infrastructure and areas across all Large Protected Areas within Czechia for four periods (1950s, around 1990, 2004-2006, 2016-2020). We included all forms of recreational land-use on the edges of built-up areas and outside of them. During our study period of approximately seventy years , their area and length increased significantly. Now, representation of recreational areas within protected areas varied from 0 to 1 % of whole area. Ski slopes and golf courses are among the biggest new recreational structures; playgrounds and sports fields are almost in each protected areas. Despite the relatively small portion of area, recreation created fragmentation features within the landscape and can generate other anthropogenic activities harmful for biodiversity and nature.

Tourism and recreation, as presented and perceived as an integral part of the life of present-day society now, were created in the period of industrialisation and urbanisation. Their manifestations (tourism infrastructure, their participants’ behaviour in time and space, etc.) have considerably influenced urban and ruralenvironments. This related not only to landscape structure changes—regulations of river banks and water reservoirs, terrain for sport grounds (such as golf courses, skiing trails)—, but also to the building of mass recreation facilities and second homes. This was primarily changing the character of rural settlements and
creating new settlements with the specific recreational function. Just the change from the primarily agricultural and later industrial functions to the recreational one, taking place on various size levels (landscape, settlement, building and even a population group or individual), considerably altered the life environment in the broadest sense.

The work deals with the criteria determination of qualitative rating of greenery as the basis for the protection and regeneration of greenery in areas with monumental values-urban conservation zones. Attention was turned to analysing the previous development of the whole territory as well as individual components (function, position in the settlement structure, ground plan shape, composition, architectural style of buildings, traffi c arrangement, utilization). Selected urban conservation zones of Central Bohemian and Moravian-Silesian Region were used as model areas for verifi cation. We present the results of a qualitative rating of their current green areas concerning the above-mentioned characteristics.

The work deals with the criteria determination of qualitative rating of greenery as the basis for the protection and regeneration of greenery in areas with monumental values – urban conservation zones. Attention was turned to analysing the previous development of the whole territory as well as individual components (function, position in the settlement structure, ground plan shape, composition, architectural style of buildings, traffic arrangement, utilization). Selected urban conservation zones of Central Bohemian and Moravian-Silesian Region were used as model areas for verification. We present the results of a qualitative rating of their current green areas concerning the above- mentioned characteristics.

The article is a response to the discussion on the concept of landscape in Czech geography initiated in No. 1 of Geografie–Sborník ČGS in 2008. This discussion has drawn attention on some possibilities for the future development of human geographic research on landscape in Czechia inspired by Anglo-American human geography. The aim of this article is to contribute to this discussion by presenting own place, time, culture and subject specific views of the conception of landscape in Anglo-American human geography and its past development as well as to suggest possible sources of inspiration for landscape research in Czech geography.

This paper analyses the historical cultural landscapes in Czechia and their preservation and regional distribution. The regional distribution of existing and proposed landscape conservation zones and natural parks is analysed by division into peripheral, core and neutral zones. The most protected historical cultural landscapes are in the neutral area where land use/land cover changes in past decades were less intensive. In contrast, core area landscapes are affected by intensification and those in peripheral areas are influenced by extensification. While correlations were identified between the spatial distribution of protected landscape distribution and areas with predominantly German speaking inhabitants prior to 1945, more protected historical cultural landscapes are located in the core area where long-term Czech-speaking inhabitants prevailed. Finally, although the proportions of existing landscape conservation zones are almost equal, proposed landscape conservation zones prevai...

The article focuses on geoparks as areas with a specific form of local heritage protection. It contributes to a research into two interconnected fields: firstly, the research into local people's participation in local development; secondly, the research into tourism sustainability. Discussion of foreign publications reveals that in the context of Czechia geoparks are misunderstood concept. This argument is supported by a case study from one part of the National Geopark Železné hory. The field research proved that there are significant barriers to meeting the purpose of geoparks. Two conditions are required in geoparks: the possibility of cooperation among local actors and the ability to be competitive through a diverse offer of services and products. The paper discusses factors affecting the actual state of society and their operation in the local development. The aim of the paper is to identify the obstacles to the development of geoparks as a reflection of the problems in local and regional development. In addition, the article deals with possible instruments for the management of geoparks and their utilization for effective coordination of local development.

The purpose of the article is to examine the ways in which regional geography textbooks are used in elementary education, using northwest Bohemia as a case study. The authors analysed 18 textbooks published since the beginning of the 20th century, in two steps: (1) the construction of geographical names frequency maps indicating which parts of the case region are accentuated or suppressed in individual textbooks, and (2) a qualitative analysis of the textbooks' content. The study revealed that a complex image of northwest Bohemia in interwar period in Czechoslovakia and in the period of accession to the European Union is presented in the textbooks. The textbooks published during communist era are imbued with the adoration of local industries, whereas those published later, in the period of political and socioeconomic transformation, accentuate the risks of excessive environmental exploitation. At any time since the beginning of the 20th century, the places and regions that represent the values preferred by the governing ideology are emphasized within the studied textbooks. Thus, the geography textbooks, that reflect the society-wide discourse, disseminate not only knowledge but also dominant values. In this way, a desired image of reality is created that legitimates the aims and stances of those in power.

Zubr (Bison bonasus) je živočich adaptovaný na život v zalesněné a člověkem nepříliš využívané krajině, což jsou v České republice zejména armádou plně nevyužívané, případně opuštěné vojenské újezdy (Řezáč, 2017). S tím se pojí zásadní otázka, zda v podmínkách České republiky může zubr žít volně, nebo s ohledem na možná rizika připadají v úvahu pouze oborní chovy. Na základě této spekulace vznikla tato studie, ve které je zjišťováno teoretické přijetí zubra do české krajiny. Avšak vzhledem k tomu, že po několika staletích nepřítomnosti zubra (přesné datum jeho exterminace v české a moravské krajině není známo) zcela chybí zkušenosti s jeho chováním, vychází se z empirií polských kolegů, kteří mapovali teoretické přijetí zubrů před jejich reintrodukcí do regionu Augustowské a Knyszynské pusty. Z dotazníkového šetření je patrné, že výstupy polských i českých respondentů jsou značně ovlivňovány jejich věkem, dosaženým vzděláním, typem zaměstnání a v neposlední řadě také vztahem ke zkoumané oblasti. Anotace Návrat velkých savců je obvykle provázen různými obavami, což se neliší ani u zvažovaného návratu zubra do krajiny, který vyvolává potřebu obyvatel příslušného regionu vyrovnat se s jeho potenciálně obnovenou přítomností. Postoj, který k zubrovi veřejnost aktuálně zaujímá, souvisí s jeho dlouhodobou nepřítomností a nedostatkem informací o jeho chování, zejména ale s potenciálním rizikem spojeným s jeho trvalou a neomezenou přítomností v krajině.

Geografie-Sbornfk CGS, 101, 2, pp. 180-189 (1996).-The article deals with the historical aspects and current trends in nature conservation and landscape protection in the Czech Republic. The internal structure of this branch is described as are some societal and economic contexts. The legal framework of environmental protection and basic legal terms are mentioned. The current trends are shown on four sub-branches: protection of species, protection of dispersed greenery, regional protection, and geological protection. The analysis of concrete data allows to judge the state environmental policy and its negative and positive impacts on the nature conservation and landscape protection. KEY WORDS: nature conservation and landscape protection-environmental legislationhistorical aspects and current state of the environmental policy.

This article focuses on the experience of Czech customers with the purchase of products labelled by the Association of Regional Brands and Bohemian Paradise Association. The aim of this paper is to evaluate selected indicators associated with purchasing certified regional products. The studied characteristics focus on the knowledge and perception of several chosen microregional brands and on the purchase of a certified product itself. The article presents the results of research conducted through a questionnaire survey, whose 1390 respondents are residents as well as visitors of eight different micro‑regions in the Czech Republic. Awareness of regional brands within the sample surveyed is around 46 %. The relationship between awareness of regional brand and respondents’ age, education and status towards the region has been identified. The perception of consumers considered, a brand is most often associated with tangible products, namely food and agricultural produce. Consumers view ...

This article seeks to contribute to discussion concerning the concept of countryside in geographical sciences. In the first section it discusses selected approaches for assessing rural areas and presents key stimulants from the new regional and cultural geography (rural areas as a socio-spatial process and as living space). The second section presents examples of empirical findings from a field survey, the respondents to which were mayors of rural municipalities – with up to 3,000 inhabitants – in Czechia. We empirically explore the truthfulness of a thesis concerning the existence of several distinct types of rural areas in Czechia: rural areas with differing development potential and diverse problems, calling for the use of different instruments in overcoming the problems in question. The results of the survey make it possible to assess the territorial differences of so-called soft factors of ruralmunicipality development (perceptions regarding rural areas, inhabitants’ relationsh...

This article addresses the analysis of theoretical and methodological concepts of the quality of human and social capital and their relation to the theory of spatial polarisation. Selected conditions for the development of human and social capital and their territorial differentiation in Czechia are evaluated. On the basis of an evaluation of component indicators of human capital (the ratio of university educated residents in the population over 15 years of age as well as an economic burden index) and social capital (voter participation in municipal elections and the number of candidates divided by the number of offices to be filled in the 2006 municipal elections) problematic areas are identified at a micro-regional level (the network of municipalities having a certified municipal authority).

Support for regional production along with its certification and labelling can be understood more broadly as regional development initiatives. Accordingly, the declared objectives of many certification schemes include environmental, economic, social, and cultural aspects. However, to bring benefits for the region, a certification scheme must be used efficiently. Key actor interviews combined with an assessment of the activities of thirty Czech certification schemes, all members of the Association of Regional Brands, helped us identify positive and negative factors affecting the initiatives’ success and potential for enhancing regional development. In line with current institutional approaches to regional development, the engagement and creativity of actors as well as creating networks, which help them overcome various constraints, were found to be essential.

Key words: regional production, labelling schemes, certification, regional development, soft factors, human geography, Czechia

Sú to približne tri desaťročia, čo sa v súvislosti so sociokultúrnym obratom v geografii začali objavovať "nové" prístupy k štúdiu regiónu. Z perspektívy tzv. novej regionálnej geografie región nepredstavuje naturálne danú priestorovú jednotku ani významovo prázdnu konštrukciu analýzy priestorovej organizácie spoločnosti. "Nový" regionálny geograf vníma regióny ako dynamické sociálne konštrukcie naviazané na kolektívne vedomie. Z tohto pohľadu predstavuje výskum regiónov štúdium sociálnej organizácie priestoru. Zatiaľ čo má výskum priestorovej (geografickej) organizácie spoločnosti v českej geografii pomerne bohatú tradíciu, o výskume sociálnej organizácie priestoru (druhej strany vzájomného vzťahu priestor-spoločnosť) podobné konštatovanie vysloviť nemožno. I napriek tomu, že aj v Česku postupne narastá počet akademikov, ktorí sa zaujímajú o proces inštitucionalizácie regiónov, tj. o to, ako a prečo sú regióny konštruované/dekonštruované ako súčasť spoločenského...

Support for regional production along with its certification and labelling can be understood more broadly as regional development initiatives. Accordingly, the declared objectives of many certification schemes include environmental, economic, social, and cultural aspects. However, to bring benefits for the region, a certification scheme must be used efficiently. Key actor interviews combined with an assessment of the activities of thirty Czech certification schemes, all members of the Association of Regional Brands, helped us identify positive and negative factors affecting the initiatives’ success and potential for enhancing regional development. In line with current institutional approaches to regional development, the engagement and creativity of actors as well as creating networks, which help them overcome various constraints, were found to be essential.

En los últimos veinte años, el proceso de formación de las divisiones territoriales subestatales de algunos países de Europa y América Latina ha sido objeto de estudios geohistóricos profundos y novedosos. En el marco de las transformaciones político-territoriales recientes y, en estrecha relación con ellas, del renacer de la geografía política y de la geografía regional, el conocimiento del mapa administrativo contemporáneo no sólo ha recobrado actualidad y una atención abandonada durante muchas décadas, sino que también ha experimentado una renovación teórica y metodológica significativa. En este artículo se revisan algunos de esos logros y planteamientos: en primer lugar, el entendimiento de las divisiones político-administrativas como procesos y construcciones sociales, así como poderosos agentes de organización y de cambio socio-espacial; a continuación, el notable interés dedicado a las identidades, imaginarios y narrativas territoriales; por último, las conexiones entre la hi...

This paper analyses the historical cultural landscapes in Czechia and their preservation and regional distribution. The regional distribution of existing and proposed landscape conservation zones and natural parks is analysed by division into peripheral, core and neutral zones. The most protected historical cultural landscapes are in the neutral area where land use/land cover changes in past decades were less intensive. In contrast, core area landscapes are affected by intensification and those in peripheral areas are influenced by extensification. While correlations were identified between the spatial distribution of protected landscape distribution and areas with predominantly German speaking inhabitants prior to 1945, more protected historical cultural landscapes are located in the core area where long-term Czech-speaking inhabitants prevailed. Finally, although the proportions of existing landscape conservation zones are almost equal, proposed landscape conservation zones prevai...

This paper analyses the historical cultural landscapes in Czechia and their preservation and regional distribution. The regional distribution of existing and proposed landscape conservation zones and natural parks is analysed by division into peripheral, core and neutral zones. The most protected historical cultural landscapes are in the neutral area where land use/land cover changes in past decades were less intensive. In contrast, core area landscapes are affected by intensification and those in peripheral areas are influenced by extensification. While correlations were identified between the spatial distribution of protected landscape distribution and areas with predominantly German speaking inhabitants prior to 1945, more protected historical cultural landscapes are located in the core area where long-term Czech-speaking inhabitants prevailed. Finally, although the proportions of existing landscape conservation zones are almost equal, proposed landscape conservation zones prevai...

Although the second home tourism is considered to be an element of the lifestyle of a predominantly urban population, it has a strong influence on rural life. Thus, research on the relations within both urban and rural communities that share the transforming space seems crucial for future rural development. This article focuses on second home owners and users as significant agents in the transformation of the Czech countryside. Available statistical data indicates a high number of second homes with an uneven location pattern in the landscape. Primary data, based on our own field surveys, in-depth interviews and observations, show the significant social impact of second home tourism on the local social environment. The models of conflicts, coexistence and cooperation are investigated in selected peripheral areas in Czechia. Our own contribution to the research is in the specific focus on community development in municipalities with a significant tourist and recreational function. The major aim is to demonstrate and discuss linkages between second home owners and users and territorial identity with the use of empirical data. Our crucial findings contradict statements about conflicts in relations between the local population and incomers from cities. Especially long-term cottage users are no longer considered as outside invaders in rural areas, which used to cause social conflicts. The differences between second homes and primary residences seem to be more blurred than in the past. The conclusion outlines the possible future directions of research with focus on social capital, multiple dwelling and semi-migration concepts.

Support for regional production along with its certification and labelling can be understood more broadly as regional development initiatives. Accordingly, the declared objectives of many certification schemes include environmental, economic, social, and cultural aspects. However, to bring benefits for the region, a certification scheme must be used efficiently. Key actor interviews combined with an assessment of the activities of thirty Czech certification schemes, all members of the Association of Regional Brands, helped us identify positive and negative factors affecting the initiatives’ success and potential for enhancing regional development. In line with current institutional approaches to regional development, the engagement and creativity of actors as well as creating networks, which help them overcome various constraints, were found to be essential.

Since 1980s, we can observe a changing paradigm within the approaches towards regions which understand and deconstruct the “region” as a social process. Instead of understanding the region as an object or a category, this change transforms the region into a subject of interest for scholars. The study of regions is from now on considered a research topic which requires a holistic understanding of geography, broad interdisciplinary approaches as well as local and historical sensitivity. The paper is using a conceptual understanding of a region based on the combination of territorial, symbolic and institutional configurations. Regional identity that permeates through all of these layers is viewed as one of the most important elements of the very existence of the region and its recognition in the regional system. This paper contributes to the discussion on the importance of regional identity in regional development. The case study of the Bohemian Paradise region proves the significant i...

Among consequences of the new regional geography, marginality is not perceived as only the economic phenomenon. This article focuses on the socio-cultural dimension of marginality, using the concept of regional identity in a periphery, specifically in Sušice near Czechia’s borderlands. This means that both the consciousness of inhabitants in the region as well as the identity of the region itself are explored. Elements and processes involved in the formation of regional identity are discussed as a consequence of the regional development of the peripheral borderlands. The concept of regional identity seems to be crucial to any endogenous regional development strategy and can be successfully used in regional planning and territorial marketing as well as tourism management. In particular, any unique traits in peripheries, at the local or regional level, provide resources for future development amidst the generally limited development potential of peripheries and their communities. The ...

This article seeks to contribute to discussion concerning the concept of countryside in geographical sciences. In the first section it discusses selected approaches for assessing rural areas and presents key stimulants from the new regional and cultural geography (rural areas as a socio-spatial process and as living space). The second section presents examples of empirical findings from a field survey, the respondents to which were mayors of rural municipalities – with up to 3,000 inhabitants – in Czechia. We empirically explore the truthfulness of a thesis concerning the existence of several distinct types of rural areas in Czechia: rural areas with differing development potential and diverse problems, calling for the use of different instruments in overcoming the problems in question. The results of the survey make it possible to assess the territorial differences of so-called soft factors of ruralmunicipality development (perceptions regarding rural areas, inhabitants’ relationsh...

The aim of the paper is to provide the overview of the spatial development confl icts linked with the existence of Military training areas (MTA) in the regional system. Only several places in the Central European space can be called new wilderness. Above all these are the MTA. The environmental history of these spaces went through a deep reversion. Changes in their cultural, political as well as social-economic profi le can be compared with the specifi c belt of the former Iron Curtain zones only. Last two decades were essential for the physical existence of the MTAs. Because of the weak local political power, social capital and wide public support, are most of the decommitted MTAs in a deep conceptual crisis. The presented study fi nds solutions based on a long lasting research.

CHROMÝ, P., SEMIAN, M., KUČERA, Z. (2014): Regional Awareness and Regional Identity in Czechia: Case Study of the Bohemian Paradise. Geografie, 119, No. 3, pp. 259–277. – Since 1980s, we can observe a changing paradigm within the approaches towards regions which understand and deconstruct the “region” as a social process. Instead of understanding the region as an object or a category, this change transforms the region into a subject of interest for scholars. The study of regions is from now on considered a research topic which requires a holistic understanding of geography, broad interdisciplinary approaches as well as local and historical sensitivity. The paper is using a conceptual understanding of a region based on the combination of territorial, symbolic and institutional configurations. Regional identity that permeates through all of these layers is viewed as one of the most important elements of the very existence of the region and its recognition in the regional system. This ...

CHROMÝ, P., JANČÁK, V., MARADA, M., HAVLÍČEK, T. (2011): Rural Areas – Living Space: Regional Differences in the Perceptions of Representatives of Rural Municipalities in Czechia Regarding Rural Areas. Geografie,116, No.1, pp. 23–45. – This article seeks to contribute to discussion concerning the concept of countryside in geographical sciences. In the first section it discusses selected approaches for assessing rural areas and presents key stimulants from the new regional and cultural geography (rural areas as a socio-spatial process and as living space). The second section presents examples of empirical findings from a field survey, the respondents to which were mayors of rural municipalities – with up to 3,000 inhabitants – in Czechia. We empirically explore the truthfulness of a thesis concerning the existence of several distinct types of rural areas in Czechia: rural areas with differing development potential and diverse problems, calling for the use of different instruments in ...

Regional product labelling can be described as a part of 'alternative food networks' since both of them share the idea of 're-connecting' spatially and socially separated production and consumption. This article situates the issue of regional products in the broader context of region formation. It aims to the factors essential for the implementation of a labelling scheme in a given region in order to cast light on the relationship between regional labelling and the process of a region's institutionalisation. By analysing a set of 22 labelling schemes of the Association of Regional Brands we seek to ind answers to the following questions: Which regions have been introducing regional labelling schemes and what do they have in common from the geographic point of view?; What is the place of a regional product label in the process of the region's institutionalisation? Data on individual regions obtained through an analysis of electronic and printed sources was confronted with specialised literature and thematic maps. We studied spatial characteristics as well as features determining a region's place in the process of institutionalisation. The most striking common features of regions, which are decisive factors in the implementation of a labelling scheme, include the rural character and a certain degree of problem occurrence the motivate regional stakeholders to overcome those diiculties, but do not impede further development. Another important factor is an attractive natural landscape. Labelling schemes become involved in the institutionalisation process both at its early and later stages, having part in building the identity of a region.

Language is a key element in the perception, formation, and reproduc- tion of landscapes and group boundaries. It is effective in at least three dimensions, namely, the inner/cognitive, the outward/appropriative, and the collective/identitarian. The inner dimension refers to the fact that our perception of landscape and our spatial cognition are determined, to a large extent, by the linguistic terms and grammatical structures specific to our language. The outward dimension refers to the capacity of language to project linguistically- and culturally-determined understandings into the physical world and create and appropriate places and landscapes by the act of naming. Finally, the collective dimension points to the importance of the linguistic delimitation of landscapes and their association with group identities. The article summarizes crucial recent findings in all three of the aforementioned dimensions and suggests possibilities for further research

The article develops general theoretical discussion on researches on second housing as well as concepts of the new regional, new cultural and behavioral geographies. The major focus is given on theoretical and methodological background of the process of formation of regional identity and identity of regions in the areas with considerable concentration of settlements and municipalities with prevailing tourist function. It deals with identification of the inner development potential of localities and regions from socioeconomic and sociocultural views. Both identity of regions (their outer and inner image) and appurtenance of residents and tourists (second home owners) with the territory is emphasized. The key objective is to support and explain possible behavioral approaches in the research of the impact of second housing and tourism activities in the forming of regional identity and identity of the regions.

The main goal of this article is to assess and compare the various understandings of the concept of the region. The aim is to characterize the concept of a region as well as how its meaning has changed through geographical history, to mention the most important personalities and how they understood the concept of region. The article presents two different ways of looking at a region: 1) the region in the sense of traditional regional geography; 2) the region in the new regional geography (region understood as a social construct). The article then compares the two approaches and outlines both their advantages and their disadvantages. The first section presents a brief overview of how the understanding of the concept of region developed. The following part focuses on development of the concept of region as a social construct, especially in the context of the development of new regional geography, cultural turn and new regionalism. Finally, the article emphasizes the essential complementarity of the two approaches and briefly proposes a more complex scheme of analysis of a region.

Over the past 100 years Dessau has changed radically due to industrialization, war damage, socialist reconstruction and unoccupied buildings, which result from the shrinking of the city. Two third of the city were destroyed beyond recognition. Many historical buildings were ruined. The situation arose with the fact from the consequence with the effect of former GDR style and subsequent radical changes in all sphere of the society. This upheaval was accompanied by a loss of identity. The beginning of deindustrialization in the city caused mass unemployment and a devaluation of the city. The proposals/scenarios to overcome the situation comes up with the fact that architecture and city planning influence each other and are mutually dependent, much concern with organic and functional. These various elements should tied together and give it a historical legitimization, tracing its root back to the tradition of medieval, renaissance and baroque architecture and to the nineteenth century technological development. The proposed scenario is intended to realize the objective potentials of the domains from their esortic forms.

The study examines the relationship of the inhabitants of socially and geographically distinct areas (regions) of Czechia and their relation to regional identity. That is understood as identifying oneself with the region where the inhabitants live, however, we also examine the relationship to hierarchically differing territorial levels. The research was conducted at a regional level, by means of a questionnaire survey, demographic and sociological analyses. Four regions are defined in the study, according to the nature of their environment (devastated, recreational, suburban, and landscape types). The study monitored the population's identification with a region, or regions of higher orders (NUTS, Czechia, EU, etc.). It was found that the type of landscape has an important role for regional identity, together with some other socioeconomic and cultural aspects of the population. The research results have generally confirmed the hypothesis about the impact of selected variables on regional identity. However, the hypothesis about the impact of the natives has not been fully confirmed. The highest values of the identification with the region have been detected in agricultural and suburban landscapes. The devastated landscape turned out to be the worst. When monitoring the hierarchy, it is possible to see the decrease of identity with a growing scale. Therefore, Europe and the EU ended up being the worst. The research is carried out on the example of Northwest Bohemia-Ústí Region, which represents a significantly differentiated space with different types of landscape.

This article focuses on the experience of Czech customers with the purchase of products labelled by the Association of Regional Brands and Bohemian Paradise Association. The aim of this paper is to evaluate selected indicators associated with purchasing certified regional products. The studied characteristics focus on the knowledge and perception of several chosen microregional brands and on the purchase of a certified product itself. The article presents the results of research conducted through a questionnaire survey, whose 1390 respondents are residents as well as visitors of eight different micro‑regions in the Czech Republic. Awareness of regional brands within the sample surveyed is around 46 %. The relationship between awareness of regional brand and respondents’ age, education and status towards the region has been identified. The perception of consumers considered, a brand is most often associated with tangible products, namely food and agricultural produce. Consumers view ...

Regional branding is one of several ways to promote rural regions and support development of socially, culturally and environmentally oriented economies in areas that are interesting due to their natural and cultural heritage. The article attempts to review the conceptual and theoretical underpinnings of branding as conveyed by leading authors in the marketing field. The aim of this paper is to define brand as a broad complex of variables, which are used in building of its identity as a basis for creating value proposition and the position of a brand. Article briefly describes the most comprehensive labeling system for regional products at the micro-regional level is the one guaranteed by Association of Regional Brands (ARB). The main contribution of this article is a theoretical model of strategic management of a regional brand, which captures the interdependence of the individual steps of brand building as well as stakeholders. The starting point for building of brand value is a strategic analysis of the brand, including analysis of customer and competitors. The analysis of external factors is followed by analysis of the brand itself. The resulting relationship between the brand and the customer is based on value proposition representing benefits (functional, emotional, self-expression). The concept of total product is connected with the concept of total brand and it is offered to the customer as a regional product. Finally it suggests possibilities for further research.

The main purpose of the paper is to point out the significance of the discussion about the character of historical geography, its form and future development. One of the basic problems which bother historical geography from its very beginning as a field of science is its insufficient definition in relation to other disciplines, specifically geography and historiography. What is, or what should be, the subject matter of historicalgeographic research? Unless we are able to answer this basic question, we can not define a competitive field of science featuring sufficient internal integrity and identity. Thus several deficiencies of current historical geography are being identified and discussed. And in conclusion, after the discussion of selected literature, several statements regarding future development of historical geography are being formulated.

This article seeks to contribute to discussion concerning the concept of countryside in geographical sciences. In the first section it discusses selected approaches for assessing rural areas and presents key stimulants from the new regional and cultural geography (rural areas as a socio-spatial process and as living space). The second section presents examples of empirical findings from a field survey, the respondents to which were mayors of rural municipalities – with up to 3,000 inhabitants – in Czechia. We empirically explore the truthfulness of a thesis concerning the existence of several distinct types of rural areas in Czechia: rural areas with differing development potential and diverse problems, calling for the use of different instruments in overcoming the problems in question. The results of the survey make it possible to assess the territorial differences of so-called soft factors of ruralmunicipality development (perceptions regarding rural areas, inhabitants’ relationsh...

The article develops general theoretical discussion on researches on second housing as well as concepts of the new regional, new cultural and behavioral geographies. The major focus is given on theoretical and methodological background of the process of formation of regional identity and identity of regions in the areas with considerable concentration of settlements and municipalities with prevailing tourist function. It deals with identification of the inner development potential of localities and regions from socioeconomic and sociocultural views. Both identity of regions (their outer and inner image) and appurtenance of residents and tourists (second home owners) with the territory is emphasized. The key objective is to support and explain possible behavioral approaches in the research of the impact of second housing and tourism activities in the forming of regional identity and identity of the regions.

A main goal of my paper is to give a perspective of a future position of the Slovak industry in the coming information-age society. Disadvantageous sectoral structure is a main problem but there is also a chance for the better future development in the human potential (knowledge as well as cheap labour), established infrastructure and other developmental possibilities. In the paper I deal some theoretical (global world-economy, long waves of the world economy, product life cycles) as well as experiential (new international division of labour, Slovak cultural preconditions, experiences of similar newly industrialized countries...) preconditions inevitable for the optimal (sectoral) structure of Slovakian economy in a coming information age.

The article presents results of research on preference of the regional food in Vysočina Region in the Czech Republic, with main focus on awareness analysis of Vysočina regional labels. Presented findings are a part of longitudinal research that aims to analyse the evolution of Czech regional labels and their impact on regional development. The questionnaire survey was conducted between January and March 2015 on the sample of 819 respondents from the Vysočina Region. The data have been processed with correspondence analysis and showed that half of respondents prefer regional food, but the results differ in each district, the highest preferences were reported in Jihlava and Třebíč districts. Awareness of the regional labels is rising in comparison with results of the research in 2012. To test respondents’ knowledge they were asked to identify regional labels: two existing - VYSOČINA Regional Product®, Regional Food Vysočina Region and also nonexistent label From Our Region Vysočina. T...

History is a construct based on the reselection, reconstruction and reinterpretation of past events in order to validate former, present, as well as future actions of actors. Therefore, there is no single history but rather many histories based on different ways of reinterpretation. The reinterpretation of history plays an important role in the process of regional identity formation. In this paper we aim to examine how and to what extent the relatively new ad hoc regions -Local Action Groups (LAGs) -in Czechia use history and historical and historicizing elements to present the region's image, and how LAGs reinterpret history in order to foster a sense of territorial togetherness among inhabitants. The research had two phases. In the first phase, we evaluated the primary presentation of all 180 LAGs. While in the second one, more detailed analysis was performed on the strategies of selected LAGs towards the reinterpretation of history. In general, we can conclude that LAGs work with history and historical themes only to a limited extent. However, some LAGs use actively history. The paper identifies three ways of reinterpretation of history engaged in the process of regional identity formation: regional patriotic, critical and conciliatory.

This paper analyses the historical cultural landscapes in Czechia and their preservation and regional distribution. The regional distribution of existing and proposed landscape conservation zones and natural parks is analysed by division into peripheral, core and neutral zones. The most protected historical cultural landscapes are in the neutral area where land use/land cover changes in past decades were less intensive. In contrast, core area landscapes are affected by intensification and those in peripheral areas are influenced by extensification. While correlations were identified between the spatial distribution of protected landscape distribution and areas with predominantly German speaking inhabitants prior to 1945, more protected historical cultural landscapes are located in the core area where long-term Czech-speaking inhabitants prevailed. Finally, although the proportions of existing landscape conservation zones are almost equal, proposed landscape conservation zones prevail in the core area.

The main goal of this article is to assess and compare the various understandings of the concept of the region. The aim is to characterize the concept of a region as well as how its meaning has changed through geographical history, to mention the most important personalities and how they understood the concept of region. The article presents two different ways of looking at a region: 1) the region in the sense of traditional regional geography; 2) the region in the new regional geography (region understood as a social construct). The article then compares the two approaches and outlines both their advantages and their disadvantages. The first section presents a brief overview of how the understanding of the concept of region developed. The following part focuses on development of the concept of region as a social construct, especially in the context of the development of new regional geography, cultural turn and new regionalism. Finally, the article emphasizes the essential complementarity of the two approaches and briefly proposes a more complex scheme of analysis of a region.

Japan has taken its place as a significant example in the world with the modern world theory which analyzed by Wallerstein and the application of the concept of incorporation examined also in this theory. Japan, which has an important military strength in the interwar period, was subjected to heavy embargoes by US and European countries due to its aggressive policies. Japan, which had finished the World War 2 with a terrible defeat, has re-incorporated in a more powerful way, then Japan has made economic miracle.

ŠIFTA, M., CHROMÝ, P. (2017): The importance of symbols in the region formation process. Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift–Norwegian Journal of Geography Vol. 71, 98–113. ISSN 0029-1951.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00291951.2017.1317285
The aim in the article is to conceptualize the general foundations of research on the importance of regional symbolism in the process of region and regional identity formation. The article is founded on a critical analysis of works pertaining not only to the field of the new regional geography, but also to the field of regional marketing and/or branding, sociology, and semiology. The authors focus on meanings attributed to symbols and symbolism in literature, and observe which elements are viewed as regional symbols and how these symbols contribute to the process of regional development and institutionalization, especially in the formation of its symbolic shape. They examine the thematic and theoretical grounds, looking at identity, regional identity, and regional institutionalization. Next, regional symbols are defined and classified according to their types and forms, and their importance in the process of regional formation and institutionalization is discussed. The results show that symbols of any type can play an important role in a region’s marketing, and become the key image associated with a region. The authors conclude that regional symbols are a significant feature of the formation of a region and its identity, both outwardly (the external image of a region) and inwardly (concerning the inhabitants’ relationships with their region).

The contemporary regional geography paradigm is characterized by emphasizing the socially constructed nature of regions. However, the discussion on the conceptualization of region is very rich, it does not reach universal conclusion. Such a universal conceptualization is probably neither possible nor desirable. This paper aims to contribute to the ongoing discussion. It examines the various approaches towards region with special focus on the conceptualization of the institutionalization of the region based on the heuristic literature review and it attempts to propose more complex (but not ultimate) theoretical conceptualization of region that should enable to bridge the dual-ity of region; addressed as an " animate " , constantly changing, phenomenon which also makes it a resource for regional actors to meet their particular goals, one that people may perceive and feel attached to while further mediating their images thereof. The paper builds upon the Lefebvre's theory of the societal production of space and the Paasi's theory of the institutionalization of region and presents the idea of the societal production of region. It argues that any complex approach to region must incorporate three levels of region: " given " (practice of region), " made " (representation of region) and " perceived " (idea of region). Better understanding of the concept of region is still more necessary and relevant especially due to the increasing pressure on the applicability of regional research. Thus, the paper suggests the closer insight into the interrelation of three mentioned levels of region is crucial from the view of the contemporary state of art. This text is also published in Czech as the official on-line supplement of the article.

The research team is interested in cultural, historical and religious geography, environmental history and their overlapping with regional geography, focusing particularly on issues of: • regional identity, image formation and mediation and place branding • heritage, culture, and religion • landscape and settlement transformations • institutionalization of regions and regional development • boundaries, borderland, cross-border and peripheral areas Mission We aim to utilize our expertise for exploration, explanation , and teaching about issues of identity, heritage, religion, and landscape, regions and places. We aim to use our theoretical knowledge and practical skills to contribute to the public debate on formation of regions and regional identities in relation to political decision processes and local and regional governance; to enhance public awareness regarding the protection and management of landscape and both cultural and natural heritage; to help to formulate regional development strategies, especially in peripheral, rural and cross-border areas.