Resumen

ARROYO, Mercedes. La contraurbanización: un debate metodológico y conceptual sobre la dinámica de las áreas metropolitanas. Pap. poblac [online]. 2001, vol.7, n.30, pp.93-129. ISSN 2448-7147.

This paper is organized about the counterurbanization phenomenon and with regard on the conceptual and methodological debate since his definition by the american geographer Brian Berry in 1976. Counterurbanization is observed as a clean break in the population models in strongly industrialized countries. Different causes were attributed to counterurbanization wich lead to diverse conclusions. Depending on the assumed viewpoint, counterurbanization can be considered a mere prolongation of previous urbanization processes or, on the contrary, by a change of way in the urban population models, still scarcered studied. From the geographical viewpoint, it has introduced a reasonable question over the urban hierachie and the centre-periphery notions characteristics of the metropolitan areas traditional valorations which should be replaced by a multipolarity concept, linked with a less hierarchical urban structure, and more explanatory of a new territorial organization based upon cities's systems.