Michal Semian | Charles University, Prague (original) (raw)
Selected Papers by Michal Semian
The contemporary regional geography paradigm is characterized by emphasizing the socially constru... more 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.
In Czechia, over the span of two decades, we have witnessed an activity of creating new regions, ... more In Czechia, over the span of two decades, we have witnessed an activity of creating new regions, regional institutions, and regional organization. This process has brought many new names to Czech toponymy. The designation of a region is a unique symbol that fulfils a number of functions, including the identifying one, as the individual organizations can accept the identity of the region as their own via adopting its name. In this chapter, the attention will be paid to this aspect of the regional naming system. The core of the research is to find out what phenomena serve as sources for names of new regional organizations. The chapter is also focused on the word-formation characteristics of the names and on the productivity of the -sko suffix.
The article addresses the denominations of Local Action Groups (LAGs) in Czechia, contributing to... more The article addresses the denominations of Local Action Groups (LAGs) in Czechia, contributing to the academic debate about the relationship between the formation of regions and regional identity, and about the forming of regions by means of regional marketing. On the basis of an analysis of appellations of 179 newly emerging regions the paper examine the substance of the symbolic shape of regions. It affirms the importance of territorial approach towards regional appellations and identify four different strategies of the approach held by regional actors to the process of identity formation and institutionalization of regions. It has equally been affirmed that region naming strategies are spatially fragmented. Nevertheless, the territorial differentiation of LAG regions mirrors the elementary spatial patterns traditionally reproduced in the Czech context, namely the west-east gradient of development Ievel, the distinction between historical lands and the difference between areas with continuous development and areas recolonized after WWII.
Exonyms – i.e. toponyms of the type Rakousko, Benátky (‘Austria’, ‘Venice’) – were introduced to... more Exonyms – i.e. toponyms of the type Rakousko, Benátky (‘Austria’, ‘Venice’) – were introduced to the Czech landscape (along with foreign endonyms) in medieval times. During the 19th century, a new, specific application of foreign place names began to appear, and this development forms the focus of the present article. Such words began to feature in attributive structures of the type český, pražský (‘Czech’ or ‘Bohemian’, ‘Prague’s’) + exonym / foreign endonym; many of these structures came into widespread use referring to areas whose boundaries were not clearly delineated or defined, or they served the purposes of marketing and advertising. In the 1990s, the growing influence of a “new” European regionalism and the formation of new territorial entities was accompanied by a revival of some old regional identities – and, in turn, by the revival of their names. Attributive structures with foreign place names thus began to re-appear in toponymy, and also in advertising or journalism. The analysis presented in this article is based on the SYN PUB component of the Czech National Corpus, and it focuses on the collocations of the lemmas český/moravský/slezský (‘Czech’ or ‘Bohemian’/‘Moravian’/‘Silesian’) + exonym / foreign endonym, aiming to offer insight into the reasons underlying the use of such structures in contemporary journalism.
This paper is based on the conceptualization of region as a social construct and the existence of... more This paper is based on the conceptualization of region as a social construct and the existence of regional identity as two of the most critical aspects of the existence of region. Although these concepts originated in the 1980s, they are still very much alive in the contemporary paradigm of regional geography. Conceptualizing region in this way enables the researcher to go beyond the traditional static paradigm, and it makes the region a subject of study in historical geography meaning that the region is no longer a mere object or category. This paper is a part of the mosaic of ongoing research projects focusing on the conceptualization of “geosocial regionalization”. This paper deals with the historical regional discourse and context analyses of three different regions in Czechia. The influence of historical events and changes on the reproduction of these regions are discussed. In the conclusion, modern Czech history is periodized according to these influences. Furthermore, the importance of natural, landscape, and administrative features on reproduction of region is stressed, and related research on the perception of region by its inhabitants in the future is suggested.
DOI: 10.1080/00291951.2014.961540 The article contributes to the ‘new’ European regionalism by... more DOI: 10.1080/00291951.2014.961540
The article contributes to the ‘new’ European regionalism by discussing the role that regional identity can play in regional development. It is based on the concept of ‘regional identity’ as the keystone of the institutionalization of the region and as consisting of two intertwined and complementary components: the regional consciousness of the inhabitants and the identity of a region. Through the heuristic study of relevant scholarly articles, the authors critically discuss six case studies from European countries dealing with the relationship between regional identity and regional development and published in the first decade of the new millennium. To date, research has examined the role of regional identity as both a successful and unsuccessful driver in regional development. From the case studies, a third possible role of regional identity is identified: regional identity as a barrier to regional development. Further, the article discusses the relationship between these three roles and attempts to identify factors causing the differentiation of the effects of regional identity in the context of regional development.
Since 1980s, we can observe a changing paradigm within the approaches towards regions which under... more 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 influence of landscape features on the process of regional identity reproduction.
The concept of “region” as a social construction is discussed in this paper, as well as the quest... more The concept of “region” as a social construction is discussed in this paper, as well as the question of how such a conceived region can be defined. The discourse of different territorial delimitations and mental maps of respondents are used in a case study of Český ráj (Bohemian Paradise). With these methods, we are able to prove the possibility of defining a region and its loose boundaries through exploring regional identity.
The article addresses the concept of regional names and of their importance in regional studies. ... more The article addresses the concept of regional names and of their importance in regional studies. The first section tries to define the position of the name as a part of the symbolic shape of the region in the context of the “new” understanding of the region as a social construct. The subsequent section discusses the main problems, which must be taken into consideration in the study of regional
names. In addition,the article also offers methodological examples of how names of regions can be used in geographical research, primarily as a means for identifying the territorial shape of the region. Finally, it underscores the need to combine different interdisciplinary approaches in the study of regions.
The article presents a case study, in which the aim is to detect and assess the long-term trends ... more The article presents a case study, in which the aim is to detect and assess the long-term trends of the micro-regional differentiation of the demographic development in Vysočina Region. It looks into the issues within the context of broader connections of the regional development and its natural relations, and at the same time it focuses on the search of particular determinants of this development and clarifying the essence of the current state. The methodology is based on the analysis of the changes in the number of inhabitants and the population density of fifteen districts (SO ORP) within the period between 1869–2011 and its partial phases as follows 1869–1910, 1910–1950, 1950–1991, 1991–2011. For the purpose of quantification and comparison of the dynamics of the micro-regional development the so called index of change and the relative index of change were used. Based on the results from the analysis the micro-regions were divided, according to the prevailing tendency of their long-term population development, into four types: growth, stable, new peripheries and classic peripheries. In general, it can be said that within the observed period between 1869–2011 the biggest growth wasmainly in the micro-regions with big industrial districts situated in the Moravian part of its area.
ISBN: 978-80-210-7861-1; DOI: 10.5817/CZ.MUNI.P210-7861-2015-76
The article deals with the phenomenon of region, in the case of Bohemian Paradise. It presents an... more The article deals with the phenomenon of region, in the case of Bohemian Paradise. It presents an overview of the most important institutionalized regions that are known as Bohemian Paradise and discusses general views regarding the territorial extent of Bohemian Paradise. The article emphasizes the importance of an individual approach to the study of region, based on human-place relationships.
Selected Conference Presentations by Michal Semian
Always in flux, landscapes are never stabile. Mobilities of various objects and subjects are eith... more Always in flux, landscapes are never stabile. Mobilities of various objects and subjects are either inherent part or directly and indirectly contribute to these continual transformations. During the 20th century Czech landscapes have witnessed several transformations induced by political, cultural, economic and societal development. Thus the aim of the paper is to explore and discuss how changes in the mobilities of objects and subjects have been connected to and influenced transformations of landscapes, its character and functions, and regional identities in Czechia in the mentioned period. Attention will be given to the movements of tangible objects, major population flows as well as to the travelling landscape-objects, i.e. movable landscape representations that contribute to the formation of particular popular landscape and regional images on several scales (from local, over regional to national). The presentation will be based on the utilization of research outcomes of several projects that were conducted recently at The Research Centre for Cultural and Historical Geography, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague.
In this paper we would like to bring the attention to the role of history in the process of regio... more In this paper we would like to bring the attention to the role of history in the process of regional identity formation. We understand regional identity as social construct and one of the key aspect of the process of institutionalization of region. The socio-spatial continuity of development of the area is often stressed to support the idea of region. The regional history is selected, generalized and reinterpreted by regional actors according to their goals. Thus, the heritage both material and intangible is rearticulated and historical images of region are constructed and mediated in the form of narratives, events, periods, sites, symbols, etc. On the case of relatively new regions in Czech regional system, the Local Action Groups, we will examine in what extent and how the rearticulated history and historical features are present in the primary presentation of regions. We will also try to define the mechanisms used in the rearticulation of history using several specific case studies. We will conclude the rearticulated history has a very important role in regional identity formation. However because of possible ideological clashes parts of history may be omitted. Also the historical features will not be present in the primary presentation of regions in broader scale, because of the possible conflicting nature of history and its reinterpretation. In attempt to embed the new region into regional structures and regional consciousness the less conflicting and better perceived features such as landscape and natural symbols will be used much more.
This year is 25th anniversary of so called “Velvet revolution”, the event when the political disc... more This year is 25th anniversary of so called “Velvet revolution”, the event when the political discourse in Czechia has changed and settled the republic on the thorny way back to Europe. The entering of EU ten years ago, can be seen as very important milestone on this journey. The process of democratization as well as the process of entering the EU has a very strong influence on Czechia including the regional structure. Among other things, new regional initiatives Local Action Groups (LAG) have emerged in relation with these processes. Using their example, the poster is contributing to the discussion about relation between region and regional identity formation on the one hand and on the other hand to the discussion about region formation through the process of regional marketing and branding. The poster is exploring the basis of the symbolic shape of region using the analysis of 179 names of LAG active in Czechia in March 2014. We have proved the territorial approach to the process of the naming of regions and we have distinguished four different strategies of regional actors to the process of regional identity formation and institutionalization of new regional forms. We have also proved the spatial fragmentation of LAGs and their names in Czechia. Nevertheless, we are able to identify several spatial frameworks traditionally reproduced in Czech environment: west-east gradient of development; difference between historical lands and difference between areas with continual development and those affected by recolonization after WWII.
It has been almost 30 years since the term inner periphery was introduced to Czech geographical d... more It has been almost 30 years since the term inner periphery was introduced to Czech geographical discourse. The inner periphery refers to the areas that stretch along the borders of administrative regions and suffering from various disadvantages for their development. The areas on both sides of border usually experience the same development problems on the one hand and divided attitudes of regional governments to the vision of development strategy of these areas on the other. The politics of the “Europe of regions” brings into regional structures many ad-hoc regional initiatives that might be used to overcome the border effects. But is this the case of regional planning in Czechia or there is a strong influence of administrative borders even for the spatial organization of these regions? We will examine these in the specific case of Bohemian Paradise region. The area of Bohemian Paradise has been divided into at least two different administrative regions for more than 150 years. On the other hand Bohemian Paradise presents itself as a region with a strong identity that overcomes borders -- but does it?
The contemporary regional geography paradigm is characterized by emphasizing the socially constru... more 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.
In Czechia, over the span of two decades, we have witnessed an activity of creating new regions, ... more In Czechia, over the span of two decades, we have witnessed an activity of creating new regions, regional institutions, and regional organization. This process has brought many new names to Czech toponymy. The designation of a region is a unique symbol that fulfils a number of functions, including the identifying one, as the individual organizations can accept the identity of the region as their own via adopting its name. In this chapter, the attention will be paid to this aspect of the regional naming system. The core of the research is to find out what phenomena serve as sources for names of new regional organizations. The chapter is also focused on the word-formation characteristics of the names and on the productivity of the -sko suffix.
The article addresses the denominations of Local Action Groups (LAGs) in Czechia, contributing to... more The article addresses the denominations of Local Action Groups (LAGs) in Czechia, contributing to the academic debate about the relationship between the formation of regions and regional identity, and about the forming of regions by means of regional marketing. On the basis of an analysis of appellations of 179 newly emerging regions the paper examine the substance of the symbolic shape of regions. It affirms the importance of territorial approach towards regional appellations and identify four different strategies of the approach held by regional actors to the process of identity formation and institutionalization of regions. It has equally been affirmed that region naming strategies are spatially fragmented. Nevertheless, the territorial differentiation of LAG regions mirrors the elementary spatial patterns traditionally reproduced in the Czech context, namely the west-east gradient of development Ievel, the distinction between historical lands and the difference between areas with continuous development and areas recolonized after WWII.
Exonyms – i.e. toponyms of the type Rakousko, Benátky (‘Austria’, ‘Venice’) – were introduced to... more Exonyms – i.e. toponyms of the type Rakousko, Benátky (‘Austria’, ‘Venice’) – were introduced to the Czech landscape (along with foreign endonyms) in medieval times. During the 19th century, a new, specific application of foreign place names began to appear, and this development forms the focus of the present article. Such words began to feature in attributive structures of the type český, pražský (‘Czech’ or ‘Bohemian’, ‘Prague’s’) + exonym / foreign endonym; many of these structures came into widespread use referring to areas whose boundaries were not clearly delineated or defined, or they served the purposes of marketing and advertising. In the 1990s, the growing influence of a “new” European regionalism and the formation of new territorial entities was accompanied by a revival of some old regional identities – and, in turn, by the revival of their names. Attributive structures with foreign place names thus began to re-appear in toponymy, and also in advertising or journalism. The analysis presented in this article is based on the SYN PUB component of the Czech National Corpus, and it focuses on the collocations of the lemmas český/moravský/slezský (‘Czech’ or ‘Bohemian’/‘Moravian’/‘Silesian’) + exonym / foreign endonym, aiming to offer insight into the reasons underlying the use of such structures in contemporary journalism.
This paper is based on the conceptualization of region as a social construct and the existence of... more This paper is based on the conceptualization of region as a social construct and the existence of regional identity as two of the most critical aspects of the existence of region. Although these concepts originated in the 1980s, they are still very much alive in the contemporary paradigm of regional geography. Conceptualizing region in this way enables the researcher to go beyond the traditional static paradigm, and it makes the region a subject of study in historical geography meaning that the region is no longer a mere object or category. This paper is a part of the mosaic of ongoing research projects focusing on the conceptualization of “geosocial regionalization”. This paper deals with the historical regional discourse and context analyses of three different regions in Czechia. The influence of historical events and changes on the reproduction of these regions are discussed. In the conclusion, modern Czech history is periodized according to these influences. Furthermore, the importance of natural, landscape, and administrative features on reproduction of region is stressed, and related research on the perception of region by its inhabitants in the future is suggested.
DOI: 10.1080/00291951.2014.961540 The article contributes to the ‘new’ European regionalism by... more DOI: 10.1080/00291951.2014.961540
The article contributes to the ‘new’ European regionalism by discussing the role that regional identity can play in regional development. It is based on the concept of ‘regional identity’ as the keystone of the institutionalization of the region and as consisting of two intertwined and complementary components: the regional consciousness of the inhabitants and the identity of a region. Through the heuristic study of relevant scholarly articles, the authors critically discuss six case studies from European countries dealing with the relationship between regional identity and regional development and published in the first decade of the new millennium. To date, research has examined the role of regional identity as both a successful and unsuccessful driver in regional development. From the case studies, a third possible role of regional identity is identified: regional identity as a barrier to regional development. Further, the article discusses the relationship between these three roles and attempts to identify factors causing the differentiation of the effects of regional identity in the context of regional development.
Since 1980s, we can observe a changing paradigm within the approaches towards regions which under... more 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 influence of landscape features on the process of regional identity reproduction.
The concept of “region” as a social construction is discussed in this paper, as well as the quest... more The concept of “region” as a social construction is discussed in this paper, as well as the question of how such a conceived region can be defined. The discourse of different territorial delimitations and mental maps of respondents are used in a case study of Český ráj (Bohemian Paradise). With these methods, we are able to prove the possibility of defining a region and its loose boundaries through exploring regional identity.
The article addresses the concept of regional names and of their importance in regional studies. ... more The article addresses the concept of regional names and of their importance in regional studies. The first section tries to define the position of the name as a part of the symbolic shape of the region in the context of the “new” understanding of the region as a social construct. The subsequent section discusses the main problems, which must be taken into consideration in the study of regional
names. In addition,the article also offers methodological examples of how names of regions can be used in geographical research, primarily as a means for identifying the territorial shape of the region. Finally, it underscores the need to combine different interdisciplinary approaches in the study of regions.
The article presents a case study, in which the aim is to detect and assess the long-term trends ... more The article presents a case study, in which the aim is to detect and assess the long-term trends of the micro-regional differentiation of the demographic development in Vysočina Region. It looks into the issues within the context of broader connections of the regional development and its natural relations, and at the same time it focuses on the search of particular determinants of this development and clarifying the essence of the current state. The methodology is based on the analysis of the changes in the number of inhabitants and the population density of fifteen districts (SO ORP) within the period between 1869–2011 and its partial phases as follows 1869–1910, 1910–1950, 1950–1991, 1991–2011. For the purpose of quantification and comparison of the dynamics of the micro-regional development the so called index of change and the relative index of change were used. Based on the results from the analysis the micro-regions were divided, according to the prevailing tendency of their long-term population development, into four types: growth, stable, new peripheries and classic peripheries. In general, it can be said that within the observed period between 1869–2011 the biggest growth wasmainly in the micro-regions with big industrial districts situated in the Moravian part of its area.
ISBN: 978-80-210-7861-1; DOI: 10.5817/CZ.MUNI.P210-7861-2015-76
The article deals with the phenomenon of region, in the case of Bohemian Paradise. It presents an... more The article deals with the phenomenon of region, in the case of Bohemian Paradise. It presents an overview of the most important institutionalized regions that are known as Bohemian Paradise and discusses general views regarding the territorial extent of Bohemian Paradise. The article emphasizes the importance of an individual approach to the study of region, based on human-place relationships.
Always in flux, landscapes are never stabile. Mobilities of various objects and subjects are eith... more Always in flux, landscapes are never stabile. Mobilities of various objects and subjects are either inherent part or directly and indirectly contribute to these continual transformations. During the 20th century Czech landscapes have witnessed several transformations induced by political, cultural, economic and societal development. Thus the aim of the paper is to explore and discuss how changes in the mobilities of objects and subjects have been connected to and influenced transformations of landscapes, its character and functions, and regional identities in Czechia in the mentioned period. Attention will be given to the movements of tangible objects, major population flows as well as to the travelling landscape-objects, i.e. movable landscape representations that contribute to the formation of particular popular landscape and regional images on several scales (from local, over regional to national). The presentation will be based on the utilization of research outcomes of several projects that were conducted recently at The Research Centre for Cultural and Historical Geography, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague.
In this paper we would like to bring the attention to the role of history in the process of regio... more In this paper we would like to bring the attention to the role of history in the process of regional identity formation. We understand regional identity as social construct and one of the key aspect of the process of institutionalization of region. The socio-spatial continuity of development of the area is often stressed to support the idea of region. The regional history is selected, generalized and reinterpreted by regional actors according to their goals. Thus, the heritage both material and intangible is rearticulated and historical images of region are constructed and mediated in the form of narratives, events, periods, sites, symbols, etc. On the case of relatively new regions in Czech regional system, the Local Action Groups, we will examine in what extent and how the rearticulated history and historical features are present in the primary presentation of regions. We will also try to define the mechanisms used in the rearticulation of history using several specific case studies. We will conclude the rearticulated history has a very important role in regional identity formation. However because of possible ideological clashes parts of history may be omitted. Also the historical features will not be present in the primary presentation of regions in broader scale, because of the possible conflicting nature of history and its reinterpretation. In attempt to embed the new region into regional structures and regional consciousness the less conflicting and better perceived features such as landscape and natural symbols will be used much more.
This year is 25th anniversary of so called “Velvet revolution”, the event when the political disc... more This year is 25th anniversary of so called “Velvet revolution”, the event when the political discourse in Czechia has changed and settled the republic on the thorny way back to Europe. The entering of EU ten years ago, can be seen as very important milestone on this journey. The process of democratization as well as the process of entering the EU has a very strong influence on Czechia including the regional structure. Among other things, new regional initiatives Local Action Groups (LAG) have emerged in relation with these processes. Using their example, the poster is contributing to the discussion about relation between region and regional identity formation on the one hand and on the other hand to the discussion about region formation through the process of regional marketing and branding. The poster is exploring the basis of the symbolic shape of region using the analysis of 179 names of LAG active in Czechia in March 2014. We have proved the territorial approach to the process of the naming of regions and we have distinguished four different strategies of regional actors to the process of regional identity formation and institutionalization of new regional forms. We have also proved the spatial fragmentation of LAGs and their names in Czechia. Nevertheless, we are able to identify several spatial frameworks traditionally reproduced in Czech environment: west-east gradient of development; difference between historical lands and difference between areas with continual development and those affected by recolonization after WWII.
It has been almost 30 years since the term inner periphery was introduced to Czech geographical d... more It has been almost 30 years since the term inner periphery was introduced to Czech geographical discourse. The inner periphery refers to the areas that stretch along the borders of administrative regions and suffering from various disadvantages for their development. The areas on both sides of border usually experience the same development problems on the one hand and divided attitudes of regional governments to the vision of development strategy of these areas on the other. The politics of the “Europe of regions” brings into regional structures many ad-hoc regional initiatives that might be used to overcome the border effects. But is this the case of regional planning in Czechia or there is a strong influence of administrative borders even for the spatial organization of these regions? We will examine these in the specific case of Bohemian Paradise region. The area of Bohemian Paradise has been divided into at least two different administrative regions for more than 150 years. On the other hand Bohemian Paradise presents itself as a region with a strong identity that overcomes borders -- but does it?
Conference report from 16th International Conference of Historical Geographers 2015 in London
Conference report from the AAG annual meeting 2015 in Chicago focused on the historical-geographi... more Conference report from the AAG annual meeting 2015 in Chicago focused on the historical-geographical program.
SEMIAN, M. (2015): Tracing historical geography in the Windy City: AAG Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, April 21-25, 2015. Klaudyán 12 (1):15-17.
This thesis deals with the regional identity of the Bohemian Paradise. The main objective is to a... more This thesis deals with the regional identity of the Bohemian Paradise. The main objective is to analyse identity of the region and regional consciousness of its inhabitants and to determine how they reflex the existence of the tourist region Bohemian Paradise. Thesis is also trying to determine to what extent the county border are barrier to the development of relations and cooperation between people and between institutions in the region. The first part gives an overview of theoretical background of studies of regional identity, identity of region and space polarisation. The second part analyzes the regional identity of the Bohemian Paradise in discussion of literature and other sources and trying to determine whether researchers and institutions think the Bohemian Paradise as peripheral region. The third part deals with analysis and interpretation of results of field research. Methodologically the thesis is based on the construction of mental maps, questionnaire inquiry and interviews.
The research team is interested in cultural, historical and religious geography, environmental hi... more 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.
Title in English: Regional awareness and regional identity in Czechia: case study of the Bohemian Paradise, 2014
Exonyms – i.e. toponyms of the type Rakousko, Benátky (‘Austria’, ‘Venice’) – were introduced to... more Exonyms – i.e. toponyms of the type Rakousko, Benátky (‘Austria’, ‘Venice’) – were
introduced to the Czech landscape (along with foreign endonyms) in medieval times. During the
19th century, a new, specific application of foreign place names began to appear, and this development
forms the focus of the present article. Such words began to feature in attributive structures of the
type český, pražský (‘Czech’ or ‘Bohemian’, ‘Prague’s’) + exonym / foreign endonym; many of these
structures came into widespread use referring to areas whose boundaries were not clearly delineated
or defined, or they served the purposes of marketing and advertising. In the 1990s, the growing
influence of a “new” European regionalism and the formation of new territorial entities was accompanied
by a revival of some old regional identities – and, in turn, by the revival of their names.
Attributive structures with foreign place names thus began to re-appear in toponymy, and also in
advertising or journalism. The analysis presented in this article is based on the SYN PUB component
of the Czech National Corpus, and it focuses on the collocations of the lemmas český/moravský/
slezský (‘Czech’ or ‘Bohemian’/‘Moravian’/‘Silesian’) + exonym / foreign endonym, aiming to
offer insight into the reasons underlying the use of such structures in contemporary journalism.
SEMIAN, M., CHROMÝ, P. (2014): Regional identity as a driver or a barrier in the process of regio... more SEMIAN, M., CHROMÝ, P. (2014): Regional identity as a driver or a barrier in the process of regional development: A comparison of selected European experience, Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift - Norwegian Journal of Geography, DOI: 10.1080/00291951.2014.961540
Semian, M. & Chromý, P. 2014. Regional identity as a driver or a barrier in the process of regional development: A comparison of selected European experience. Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift – Norwegian Journal of Geography Vol. 68, 1–8. ISSN 0029-1951.
The article contributes to the ‘new’ European regionalism by discussing the role that regional identity can play in regional development. It is based on the concept of ‘regional identity’ as the keystone of the institutionalization of the region and as consisting of two intertwined and complementary components: the regional consciousness of the inhabitants and the identity of a region. Through the heuristic study of relevant scholarly articles, the authors critically discuss six case studies from European countries dealing with the relationship between regional identity and regional development and published in the first decade of the new millennium. To date, research has examined the role of regional identity as both a successful and unsuccessful driver in regional development. From the case studies, a third possible role of regional identity is identified: regional identity as a barrier to regional development. Further, the article discusses the relationship between these three roles and attempts to identify factors causing the differentiation of the effects of regional identity in the context of regional development.
Keywords: barriers to development, new regionalism, regional development, regional identity
![Research paper thumbnail of Regionální vědomí a regionální identita v Česku: případová studie Českého ráje [Regional Awareness and Regional Identity in Czechia: Case Study of the Bohemian Paradise]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/34978405/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](CHROMÝ, P., SEMIAN, M., KUČERA, Z. (2014): Regional Awareness and Regional Identity in Czechia: C... more 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 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 influence of landscape features on the process of regional identity reproduction.
Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Přírodovědecká fakulta, katedra sociální geografie a regionálního roz... more Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Přírodovědecká fakulta, katedra sociální geografie a regionálního rozvoje, Centrum pro výzkum v kulturní a historické geografii Seminář Vltavské ostrovy v Praze, Praha, 27. 11. 2014 • místo vs. lokalita vs. region vs. krajina • měřítko • kvalita a duch místa; častá idealizace vztahu k místu (harmonie, čitelnost, stabilita, tradice) • každodenně prožívané a vnímané všemi smysly • domov, vzpomínky, ztotožnění, identita (vymezení se prostřednictvím místa vůči svému okolí) • role představivosti a vzpomínání na místo vs. interpretace a výklad o místu • jedinečnost míst vs. unifikace prostřednictvím globalizace • místa jsou vztahově otevřená • role fyzické struktury místa • nestabilita a pomíjivost místa • estetika tradičního vs. estetika změny (ruiny) CO JE MÍSTO?