Contradicciones urbano-rurales. El papel de las pequeñas y medianas ciudades en un mundo global

Faced with the process of metropolisation, which leads to the strengthening of large cities to the detriment of rural areas, low-density territories can rely on a network of small and medium-sized cities that serve as anchors for new territorial development. However, depending on the country and the economic context, these cities are not all in the same situation. Firstly, the definition of the category of these cities depends on each country: in some highly urbanised countries, small and medium-sized cities merge with metropolises, while in others, small or medium-sized citiesmay appear more isolated, sometimes controlling a vast rural hinterland. Secondly, demographic, economic and social dynamics vary considerably from one country to another. The articles selected for this issue illustrate this diversity of situations well, but they also show the importance of studying these cities, their populations and their activities in order to develop more balanced planning policies that reduce the weight of metropolises.

• Main Author: García Martinez, José María (author)
• Other Authors: Taulelle, François (author)
• Format: article
• Language: spa
• Published: 2026
• Subjects: small and medium-sized towns; complementarities; between rural and urban areas; land use planning; rural populations; rural areas; Seleccionado:ciudades pequeñas y medianas; complementariedades; entre el medio rural y el urbano; ordenación del territorio; poblaciones rurales; zonas rurales
• Online Access: https://revistas.flacsoandes.edu.ec/eutopia/article/view/6-17