EVOLUTION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION OF GERMANY: SPATIAL PATTERNS
https://doi.org/10.7868/S2587556618030044
Abstract
This article presents the historical and geographical analysis of evolution of administrative division of Germany at the levels of lands, provinces of Prussia and administrative districts for 1871–2017. Spatial patterns of changing administrative division are revealed, the assessment of stability of administrative units of the country is carried out. The article answers to the question whether the pulsation occurred: alternately increasing and decreasing the number of units. Three indicators were taken into account to quantify the change in the administrative grid: number of units, their median area and an index of shape. The lands remained stable during the period of the federative state and were reformed constantly during the centralization of the country and during its occupation after the Second World War. There are three waves of consolidation of lands, the wave of breaking up into smaller units is not revealed. Borders of lands remained the most stable in the center of Germany, they are the least stable in the West and the East of the country. There is a small pulsation in changing of the number of provinces of Prussia and districts. The consolidation of units was evoked by economic crises, under the influence of which the authorities created administrative units with great economic and demographic potential. Breaking up into smaller units took place during the rapid economic development of the country. Despite the pulsation, many districts and provinces remained stable. It is explained by the established structure of administrative and economic relations and the settlement system.
About the Author
A. P. Vasilyev
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Faculty of Geography,
Moscow
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Graphical Abstract
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1. Устойчивость границ земель Германии | |
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2. Stability of German lands’ borders | |
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- German Lands’ (states’) boundaries remained stable during the federal periods. Federative structure, broad powers of the Lands’ authorities and traditional communities prevented their reformation.
- Lands were reformed constantly during the period of centralization in 1930s and the occupation time in 1946–1949.
- Borders of the Lands remained stable mainly in the central Germany, while they could be changed in the West and the East of the country.
- There is a small pulsation trend in changing of the system of the country’s governmental districts and of provinces of Prussia.
- In spite of the pulsation, many of them remained stable for more than 200 years. Their stability is explained by the established structure of administrative and economic relations and the settlement system.
Review
For citations:
Vasilyev A.P. EVOLUTION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION OF GERMANY: SPATIAL PATTERNS. Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk. Seriya Geograficheskaya. 2018;(3):26-36. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.7868/S2587556618030044
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