The effects of membership in the Polish National Cittaslow Network

Abstract

Research background: Identification of the effects achieved by cities owing to their membership in the Cittaslow network plays a role not only in the development of every city, but also in the growth of national and international Cittaslow networks. Being a member of the Cittaslow network, and thereby adopting the slow city development model, affects the process of urban management by directing it towards such activities that agree with the assumed development concept. The achieved effects, manifested in the social, economic, and spatial spheres, contribute to the improved quality of life in a slow city, which in turn influences its development.

Purpose of the article: Identification of the effects of membership of Polish cities in the Polish National Cittaslow Network.

Methods: The study included a diagnostic survey method. The diagnostic survey based on a standardized survey questionnaire was used to identify the effects achieved by the Polish cities in the Cittaslow network. The survey was addressed to mayors of all member cities in the Polish National Cittaslow Network. The survey was conducted in May 2020.

Findings & value added: The most important effects to date of cities being members of the Polish National Cittaslow Network, and their scale, have been investigated. An attempt was made to determine in which areas of urban life the effects become observable in a relatively short time (a few years), and which effects are attainable after a longer period of time. Major barriers to obtaining the desired effects were also identified. The research fills in a gap in this scope, as it provides a complex analysis of the effects of the membership of cities in the national Cittaslow network as seen by the city authorities. The results can serve to make comparative analyses of the effects achieved on different levels of development in the national Cittaslow networks, particular-ly in view of the fact that the Polish National Cittaslow Network is the second largest network in the world with respect to the number of member cities.

Keywords

Cittaslow, slow city, network of cities, city development

References

1. Atkinson, R. (2019). The small towns conundrum: what do we do about them? Regional Statistics, 9(2), 3?19. doi: 10.15196/RS090201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15196/RS090201
   View in Google Scholar
2. Bartkowiak, P., & Koszel, M. (2017). Forms of relationships among local government units in Polish Metropolitan Areas. Procedia Engineering, 182, 76?82. doi: 10.1016/j.proeng.2017.03.121. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2017.03.121
   View in Google Scholar
3. Başarangil, ?., & Ulaş, Ş. (2017). A research on the perceptions, attitudes and life satisfaction of the Cittaslow citizens sample of Vize County. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 8(1), 107?116.
   View in Google Scholar
4. Batyk, I., & Woźniak, M. (2019). Benefits of belonging to the Cittaslow network in the opinion of residents of member cities. Economic and Regional Studies, 12(1), 56?67. doi: 10.2478/ers-2019-0006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ers-2019-0006
   View in Google Scholar
5. Blakely, E. J., & Green Leigh, N. (2013). Planning local economic development: theory and practice. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
   View in Google Scholar
6. Bouncken, R. B., Gast, J., Kraus, S., & Bogers, M. (2015). Coopetition: a systematic review, synthesis, and future research directions. Review of Managerial Science, 9(3), 577?601. doi: 10.1007/s11846-015-0168-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-015-0168-6
   View in Google Scholar
7. Capello, R. (2000). The city network paradigm: measuring urban network externalities. Urban Studies, 37(11), 1925?1945. doi: 10.1080/713707232. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/713707232
   View in Google Scholar
8. Cittaslow International Charter (2017). Retrieved from https://www.cittaslow.org /sites/default/files/content/page/files/257/charter_cittaslow_en_05_18.pdf (15.05.2020).
   View in Google Scholar
9. Cittaslow ? International network of cities where living is easy. Innovation by tradition (2019). Retrieved from https://www.cittaslow.org/sites/default/files/ content/page/files/246/cittaslow_2019_brochure_1.pdf (18.05.2020).
   View in Google Scholar
10. Cittaslow List (2019). Retrieved from https://www.cittaslow.org/sites/default/ files/content/page/files/246/cittaslow_list_november_2019.pdf (15.05.2020).
    View in Google Scholar
11. Çiçek, M., Ulu, S., & Uslay, C. (2019). The impact of the slow city movement on place authenticity, entrepreneurial opportunity, and economic development. Journal of Macromarketing, 39(4), 404?414. doi: 10.1177/0276146719882767. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0276146719882767
    View in Google Scholar
12. Coşar, Y., Timur A., & Kozak, M. (2015). The influence of slow city in the context of sustainable destination marketing. Marketing Places and Spaces, 10, 209?220. doi: 10.1108/S1871-317320150000010015. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/S1871-317320150000010015
    View in Google Scholar
13. Donaldson, R. (2018). Cittaslow: going nowhere slowly? In R. Donaldson (Ed). Small town tourism in South Africa. Cham: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-68088-05. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68088-0_5
    View in Google Scholar
14. Drobniak, A. (2012). The urban resilience ? economic perspective. Journal of Economics & Management, 10, 5?20.
    View in Google Scholar
15. Drobniak, A. (2019). Resilience and hybridization of development of small and medium towns in Poland. Olsztyn Economic Journal, 14(1), 47?62. doi: 10.316 48/oej.3644. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31648/oej.3644
    View in Google Scholar
16. Erdogan, M. (2016). Local community perception towards slow city: Gokceada sample. Asian Social Science, 12(5), 241?246. doi: 10.5539/ass.v12n5p241. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v12n5p241
    View in Google Scholar
17. Evans, G. (2015). Rethinking place branding and place making through creative and cultural quarters. In M. Kavaratzis, G. Warnaby, & G. J. Ashworth (Eds.). Rethinking place branding. Comprehensive brand development for cities and regions. Switzerland: Springer. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12424-7_10
    View in Google Scholar
18. Farelnik, E. (2019). Areas of cooperation between Cittaslow cities. In A. P. Balcerzak & I. Pietryka (Eds.). Proceedings of the 10th international conference on applied economics contemporary issues in economy: economics. Olsztyn: Institute of Economic Research. doi: 10.24136/eep.proc.2019.1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24136/eep.proc.2019.1
    View in Google Scholar
19. Farelnik, E. (2020a). Determinants of the development of slow cities in Poland. Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wrocławiu, 64(7), 18?36. doi: 10.15611/pn.2020.7.02. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15611/pn.2020.7.02
    View in Google Scholar
20. Farelnik, E. (2020b). Cooperation of slow cities as an opportunity for the development: an example of Polish National Cittaslow Network. Oeconomia Copernicana, 11(2), 267?287. doi: 10.24136/oc.2020.011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24136/oc.2020.011
    View in Google Scholar
21. Farelnik, E., & Stanowicka, A. (2016). Smart city, slow city and smart slow city as development models of modern cities. Olsztyn Economic Journal, 11(4), 359?370. doi: 10.31648/oej.2938. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31648/oej.2938
    View in Google Scholar
22. Farelnik, E., Stanowicka, A., & Wierzbicka, W. (2017). International cooperation between cities based on the example of the Cittaslow network. Olsztyn Economic Journal, 12(4), 415?425. doi: 10.31648/oej.2842. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31648/oej.2842
    View in Google Scholar
23. Grzelak-Kostulska, E., Hołowiecka, B., & Kwiatkowski, G. (2011). Cittaslow International Network: an example of a globalization idea? In The scale of globalization. Think globally, act locally, change individually in the 21st Century. Ostrava: University of Ostrava.
    View in Google Scholar
24. Hauke, J., & Kossowski, T. (2011). Comparison of values of Pearson?s and Spearman?s correlation coefficient on the same sets of data. Quaestiones Geographicae, 30(2), 87?93. doi: 10.2478/v10117-011-0021-1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10117-011-0021-1
    View in Google Scholar
25. Jaszczak, A., & Kristianova, K. (2019). Social and cultural role of greenery in development of Cittaslow towns. IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 603(3), 1?9. doi: 10.1088/1757-899X/603/3/032028. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/603/3/032028
    View in Google Scholar
26. Karatosun, M., & Çakar, D. (2017). Effects of Cittaslow movement on conservation of cultural heritage: case of Seferihisar & Halfeti, Turkey. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 5(3), 71?82. doi: 10.13189/cea.2017.050301. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13189/cea.2017.050301
    View in Google Scholar
27. Kavaratzis, M. (2004). From city marketing to city branding: towards a theoretical framework for developing city brands. Place Branding, 1(1), 58?73. doi: 10.1057/palgrave.pb.5990005. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.pb.5990005
    View in Google Scholar
28. Konecka-Szydłowska, B. (2017). Differences in Polish network of Cittaslow towns in the socio-economic aspect. In E. Strzelecka (Ed.). Alternative models of urban development. Cittaslow network. Lodz: Publishing Office of the Lodz University of Technology.
    View in Google Scholar
29. Landry, Ch. (2008). The creative city. A toolkit for urban innovators. London: Earthscan.
    View in Google Scholar
30. Local Data Bank. (2020). Retrieved from https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/BDL/dane/pod grup/tablica (20.11.2020).
    View in Google Scholar
31. Mayer, H., & Knox, P. (2006). Slow cities: sustainable places in a fast world. Journal of Urban Affairs, 28(4), 321?334. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9906.2006.00 298.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9906.2006.00298.x
    View in Google Scholar
32. Meloun, M., & Militký, J. (2011). Statistical data analysis. A practical guide. Woodhead: Woodhead Publishing. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1533/9780857097200
    View in Google Scholar
33. Özmen, A., & Can, M. C. (2018). The urban conservation approach of Cittaslow Yalvaç. Megaron, 13(1), 13?23. doi:10.5505/MEGARON.2017.67689. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5505/megaron.2017.67689
    View in Google Scholar
34. Pike, A., Rodriguez-Pose, A., & Tomaney, J. (2006). Local and regional development. London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315767673. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203003060
    View in Google Scholar
35. Presenza, A., Abbate, T., & Alibrandi, A. (2014). From conservation to valorization of heritage assets: the contribution of Cittaslow certification. Proceedings of the International Conference Heritage, Tourism and Hospitality. Istanbul, Turkey.
    View in Google Scholar
36. Presenza, A., Abbate, T., & Perano, M. (2015). The Cittaslow certification and its effects on sustainable tourism governance. Enlightening Tourism. A Pathmaking Journal, 5(1), 40?64. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.2827705. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2827705
    View in Google Scholar
37. Radstrom, S. (2011). A place-sustaining framework for local urban identity: an introduction and history of Cittaslow. Italian Journal of Planning Practice, 1(1), 90?113.
    View in Google Scholar
38. Roma, G., Fioretti, C., Sampaolo, S., & Coletta, V. (2012). Cittaslow: from Italy to the world international network of cities where living is easy. Milano: FrancoAngeli.
    View in Google Scholar
39. Rowe, J. E. (2009). Towards an alternative theoretical framework for understanding local economic development. In J. E. Rowe (Ed.). Theories of local economic development. Linking theory to practice. London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315236315. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315236315
    View in Google Scholar
40. Senetra, A., & Szarek-Iwaniuk, P. (2020). Socio-economic development of small towns in the Polish Cittaslow Network ? a case study. Cities, 103, 1?15. doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2020.102758. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2020.102758
    View in Google Scholar
41. Strzelecka, E. (2018). Network model of revitalisation in the Cittaslow cities of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodship. Barometr Regionalny, 16(3), 53?62. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56583/br.350
    View in Google Scholar
42. Supralocal revitalisation program of the cities of the Cittaslow network of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship (2019). Annex to the Resolution of the General Meeting of the members of the Association ?Polish Cittaslow Towns?, 17.
    View in Google Scholar
43. Tocci, G. (2018). Slow and intelligent cities. When slow is also smart. In M. Clancy (Ed.). Slow tourism, food and cities. London: Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315686714-8
    View in Google Scholar
44. Wichowska, A. (2019). Shrinking municipalities and their budgetary revenues on the example of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in Poland. Oeconomia Copernicana, 10(3), 419?432. doi: 10.24136/oc.2019.020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24136/oc.2019.020
    View in Google Scholar
45. Wierzbicka, W. (2020). Socio-economic potential of cities belonging to the Polish National Cittaslow Network. Oeconomia Copernicana, 11(1), 203?224. doi: 10.24136/oc.2020.009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24136/oc.2020.009
    View in Google Scholar
46. Wierzbicka, W., Farelnik, E., & Stanowicka, A. (2019). The development of the Polish National Cittaslow Network. Olsztyn Economic Journal, 14(1), 113?125. doi: 10.31648/oej.3672. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31648/oej.3672
    View in Google Scholar
47. Wilson, G. A. (2012). Community resilience and environmental transitions. London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780203144916. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203144916
    View in Google Scholar
48. Yurtseven, H. R., & Kaya, O. (2011). Slow tourists: a comparative research based on Cittaslow principles. American International Journal of Contemporary Research, 1(2), 91?98.
    View in Google Scholar
49. Zadęcka, E. (2018). Slow city as a local development model. Economic and Regional Studies, 11(3), 84?106. doi: 10.2478/ers-2018-0027. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ers-2018-0027
    View in Google Scholar
50. Zawadzka, A. K. (2017). Making small towns visible in Europe: the case of Cittaslow network ? the strategy based on sustainable development. Transylvania Review of Administrative Sciences, Special Issues, 90?106. doi: 10.24193/tras. SI2017.6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24193/tras.SI2017.6
    View in Google Scholar