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Geographical approaches to assessing the quality of housing in Czechia
Baxa, Jan ; Chromý, Pavel (advisor) ; Čermák, Zdeněk (referee) ; Szczyrba, Zdeněk (referee)
Choice of housing is one of the most important decisions of inhabitants. It is a relatively new process in Czechia which did not work absolutely freely till 1989.Inhabitants accustom to choice of housing and learn this process which is based on the relatively short experience. On the one hand, the importance of the choice of housing is conditional by low willingness of the Czech inhabitants to move and on the other hand, it is amplified by the high purchase price, which usually means the greatest investment in life of households. Thus, people consider many aspects in the wish to satisfy one of the basic life needs during the choice of housing. The place of future residence is one of the most important of them. Housing research is a relatively new topic in geography. Even though systematic research on housing and quality of housing in Czechia takes place more intensively (in the social sciences, for more than two decades), there were not performed territorial differentiation of the quality of housing assessment and comparison of municipalities according to suitability for. The concept of quality of housing has appeared almost exclusively in connection with the dwelling yet, the basic unit of housing. Housing permeates all basic areas of human and social life. Therefore the evaluation of the quality...
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The concept of regional identity in the research of socially constructed regions: a multiscale perspective
Nikischer, Richard ; Chromý, Pavel (advisor) ; Siwek, Tadeusz (referee) ; Daněk, Petr (referee)
It has been approximately three decades since "new" approaches to studying regions began to appear in the context of socio-cultural turn in geography. From the perspective of the so-called new regional geography, the region does not represent a naturally given spatial unit nor a semantically empty construction of the analysis of the society's spatial organization. The "new" regional geographer perceives regions as dynamic social structures linked to a collective consciousness. In this respect, the research of regions represents a study of the social organization of space. While research of the spatial (geographic) organization of society in Czech geography has a rather long tradition, a similar statement cannot be made regarding the research into the social organization of space (the other side of the relationship between space and society). Despite the fact that even in Czechia the number of academics interested in the process of the institutionalization of regions is gradually growing, i.e. about how and why regions are constructed/deconstructed as a part of social life, domestic research of the social organization of space is still only in its early stages. The present doctoral dissertation represents a relevant contribution to the current debate regarding the issues of the social organization...
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Regions through time and space: Problem of regionalization
Semian, Michal ; Chromý, Pavel (advisor) ; Anděl, Jiří (referee) ; Daněk, Petr (referee)
The thesis is rooted in the new regional geography paradigm that gained strength in geographical thought since the 1980s. This approach is characterized by emphasizing the socially constructed nature of regions; thus, regions are scrutinized as a historically contingent process. A region is formed, reproduced and eventually disappears in time. The thesis works with the assumption that a plurality of regions, that exists in changing time- space contexts of different mechanisms and meanings, can be experienced de facto in any particular area. In simpler terms, it can be understood as a plurality of regional images produced on the one side by regional actors to fulfil their particular goals and on the other regional images produced by inhabitants in and outside the region in order to understand the outside world and position themselves within it. Motivation for the production of images can vary, from a simple manifestation of one position in the regional system, through the attempt to attract attention towards the region to exploitation of the regional potential in order to fulfil particular power-oriented aims. The general idea of a region can be sought throughout the synthesis of the many regional images that can be understood as somewhat layers of a region. The thesis contributes to the discussion...
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CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN CZECHIA: SPATIAL ASPECTS AND IMPORTANCE TO REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Fiala, Marek ; Chromý, Pavel (advisor) ; Heřmanová, Eva (referee)
The thesis deals with the topic of corporate social responsibility emphasizing especially its spatial aspects and the impact on regional development. It aims to discover the spatial pattern of the so-called socially responsible firm activities in Czechia including the motivations for choosing this pattern, and to assess the importance of these activities for regional development. Particularly, it aims to present the concept of corporate social responsibility from a geographical point of view. The empirical research using the case of Czechia is structured into two phases. The first phase, based on an extensive research of internet-based sources and a questionnaire survey among selected corporations, explores the institutional context of corporate social responsibility in Czechia and follows the activities of particular firms including their spatial strategies. The second phase, using intensive research in two Czech micro- regions (Broumovsko and Červenokostelecko), particularly in-depth interviews with representatives of selected firms, provides deeper insight into the topic, reveals the motivations of firm behavior regarding social responsibility and sheds light upon the importance of these activities for development of the respective region. The thesis proved direct connection between geography and...
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Regional Elites Stability in Czechia (2000 - 2012): The Example of Karlovy Vary Self-governing Region
Dufková, Kateřina ; Chromý, Pavel (advisor) ; Jeřábek, Milan (referee)
Master's thesis focuses on a role of regional councillors in process of regional development at the case of Karlovy Vary region. The aim of the thesis is to determine how the process of regional development is influenced by the stability of regional elites in terms of their territorial distribution in the region and their time stability in the subsequent regional elections. The thesis is based on theoretical background related to regional development with emphasis of soft factors of development in context of institutional approaches. The important part of the thesis represents analysis of inner differentiation of the model area and explanation of its causes. The original research consists of two parts. The outcome of the first part is an extensive database of candidates elected into regional assemblies of the Czech Republic in periods of 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012; and analysis of changes in membership structure of those regional assemblies. In the second part regional identity, attitudes and motivation of current regional councillors of Karlovy Vary region and their influence on the development of the region were examined by a questionnaire. The research conclusively proved a relatively high stability of regional elites of Karlovy Vary region in time, but a very low stability of their territorial...
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The decision-making factors on the permanent place of residence in the selected Czechia's peripheries: the case study of the young families
Vrána, Petr ; Chromý, Pavel (advisor) ; Heřmanová, Eva (referee)
This thesis tries to find out the causes of the permanent residence location choice and decision-making within the potentially different peripheral area of the Czech Republic, respectively Moravia, with the continuous demographic development. In this case, it is focused on the young families which could explain the current issue of the permanent residence location choice with regard to the significant likelihood recently finalised or proceeding residential mobility. For the purposes of the master thesis, it has been carried out the questionnaire survey within the designated peripheries of the Midwestern Moravia and the Eastern Moravian Slovakia in 2012 and it has been carried out the analytical operations using the statistic programme on the basis of the data obtained. At first, this thesis analyses the variability of the decision-making factors preferences, examines common and differentiating latent features of the decision-making process on the basis of the factors explored and observes the modality level of decision-making process according to the the residential mobility theoretical concept developed by Ero (2002). The second part is focused on the potential causalities of the decision-making factors and socio-cultural features of the areas observed, respectively is about the causalities of the...
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The Importance of Graphical Symbols in the Region Formation Process: the Case of the Liberec Region
Šifta, Miroslav ; Chromý, Pavel (advisor) ; Siwek, Tadeusz (referee)
The Importance of Graphical Symbols in the Region Formation Process: the Case of the Liberec Region The thesis analyzes the role of symbols and graphic symbolism in the process of regional and spatial identity formation in the context of the theory of institutionalization of regions by A. Paasi. The goal of the thesis is to contribute to a scientific discussion of this topic using the example of a specific region - the Liberec Region. In the theoretical part of the thesis, general studies of spatial identities, mainly with regard to creating the symbolic shape of region, are discussed, and the importance of symbolism in forming the region, its spatial identity and power relations is assessed. This section aims to define the key concepts, terms and also types of symbols used in this study. In the research part of thesis, first, the selection of the studied area is justified (region with intensively changed landscape), and, second, its situational analysis is presented, focusing mainly on the social phenomena and elements which could play role of regional symbols. Next, the actual symbolism of the region, as presented in various sources and media, is evaluated. Subsequently, it is compared with the graphic symbols of regional and local institutions, classified and analyzed according to the form...
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The role of social capital in development of periphery areas: An example of local action groups in the Český Krumlov region
Čechová, Eva ; Chromý, Pavel (advisor) ; Hupková, Martina (referee)
This master thesis focuses on factors concerning the quality of cooperation between municipalities and regions with emphasis on the influence of local actors. The case study focuses specifically on the Local Action Groups (LAG)s within the Český Krumlov region. We applied the concept of social capital as a tool to clarify the importance of endogenous conditions of regions, and endogenous factors that influence the quality of cooperation between personalities and institutions. The concept of social capital has gained the attention of foreign and Czech researchers during the last twenty years and it is considered to be an important element of comprehensive regional development. The research was held in two phases. The first phase was a pilot analysis based on publicly available sources. We compared scores of LAGs based on various factors including their success in grant applications. Based on information collected from this, we continued the research in the form of structured interviews with key actors in concerned LAGs. The structure of these interviews followed chosen aspects of social capital, such as social networking and cooperation between personalities. The research demonstrated the importance of social capital in the process of regional development. The impact of collective form of social...
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Social capital and development of small and medium-sized towns: case study of towns in the South Bohemian Region
Beneš, Jan ; Matoušek, Roman (advisor) ; Chromý, Pavel (referee)
The main objective of thesis is to empirically assess the level of social capital in relation to the development of the city. First, the thesis discusses the theoretical framing of the concept of social capital; it also deals with the topic of regional development and its conditionality, including the issue of the development of small and medium-sized towns. The second part is devoted to a quantitative analysis of social capital and regional development in all Czech small and medium-sized towns. The last part presents detailed qualitative research on social capital, specifically the results of case studies observed at the level of comparable towns Týn nad Vltavou and Třeboň. In these case studies, key equalities and differences of social capital in connection with the formation of the city were identified. We also confirm the importance of social capital as one of many factors that determines the territorial development. Key words: social capital - regional development - small and medium-sized towns - Týn nad Vltavou - Třeboň
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Historic-geographical land border between Bohemia and Moravia: reconstruction, perception, meanings
Chalupa, Jan ; Chromý, Pavel (advisor) ; Šerý, Miloslav (referee)
Diploma thesis deals with relict land border between Bohemia and Moravia in the context of Moravistic movement which appeared in Czechia after 1989. Aim of the thesis is to assess the existence of relict land border in the minds of people and to reflect the role of the land border in relation to the revival of regionalism and nationalism. The first part of the thesis discusses the theory of relict border, regional identity and nation in the literature. The second part compares the course of the land border with territorial reach of declaring Moravian nationality by inhabitants of the districts adjacent to the border in contemporary censuses and also with the range of the success of Moravistic politic parties in elections. The objective is to compare the border with one of the possible contemporary zones which could delimitate Moravia. The third part of the thesis analyzes the forms and contexts of Moravian identity in two selected municipalities adjacent to the land border. These municipalities represent distinct types of the Czech-Moravian borderland which differ by declaring the nationality, achievements of Moravistic parties in elections, population change after 1945 and inclusion to administrative units in Bohemia or in Moravia. Finally, awareness of the course of the land border in these...
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