Transformation Tendencies Of Spatial Structures In Europe

ABSTRACT The paper follows up the spatial impact of the global evolution process from the epoch of “Classical Europe” until today with the help of a theoreticohistorical methodology elaborated by the author. It demonstrates the role of the structural elements in influencing the relation ship between towns and their rural areas in both the motion and the evolution of the process: the inner regularity that motivated the behavior of natural, social, economic and physical structural elements between each other and towards the processes: the characteristics of the natural course of the process and its main stages: and the factors which played the decisive role in changing its direction, the driving force of development and its supporting elements. The paper addresses the question concerning which factors determine perspectively the future of regional development in Europe and what kind of new spatial structures could be outlined on this basis? The strategies, which vary depending upon space, time, technological development level, sociopolitical superstructure and development conceptions, require a new kind of approach on behalf of regional scientists. In developing the structure analysis the author starts from classical spatial theories, underlining the classical roots of surviving theories, since there is also a need to continue their history of evolution. At the same time the analysis shows that there is a certain divergence with regard to the main elements of spatial processes, the difficulties of its recognition and the dangers this might involve.