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City branding in polycentric urban regions: identification, profiling and transformation in the Randstad and Rhine-Ruhr

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  • Simon Goess
  • Martin de Jong
  • Evert Meijers

Abstract

In polycentric urban regions several distinct cities, none of which is dominant, cooperate and compete with each other to attract inhabitants and firms. In such settings city branding strategies do not solely affect one city, but the entire region. We examined how city branding in the face of ecological modernization, that is, delivering higher added economic value, while lowering environmental impacts, is playing out in the Dutch Randstad and the German Rhine-Ruhr. Our findings show that regional identity formation occurs at the sub-polycentric urban region level, coinciding more with (historical) economic profiles than with planning imaginaries. The Dutch cities profile themselves more along the lines of ecological modernization than their German counterparts. Differences between subregions within each polycentric urban region are also noticeable, where more industrialized regions, such as the Ruhr or southern Randstad focus on ‘green’, ‘liveable’ and ‘knowledge-oriented’, while cities with stronger knowledge-intensive sectors portray themselves as ‘smart’ or ‘sustainable’. Cities generally substantiate their profiles through projects, but a significant gap persists between reality and aspirations for improved environmental conditions. This is especially true for the Dutch cities, where many claims, but little visible action can be observed.

Suggested Citation

  • Simon Goess & Martin de Jong & Evert Meijers, 2016. "City branding in polycentric urban regions: identification, profiling and transformation in the Randstad and Rhine-Ruhr," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(11), pages 2036-2056, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:eurpls:v:24:y:2016:i:11:p:2036-2056
    DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2016.1228832
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Meiling Han & Martin De Jong & Zhuqing Cui & Limin Xu & Haiyan Lu & Baiqing Sun, 2018. "City Branding in China’s Northeastern Region: How Do Cities Reposition Themselves When Facing Industrial Decline and Ecological Modernization?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-25, January.
    2. Niels Wäckerlin & Thomas Hoppe & Martijn Warnier & W. Martin Jong, 2020. "Comparing city image and brand identity in polycentric regions using network analysis," Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 16(1), pages 80-96, March.
    3. Volkmar Keuter & Sebastian Deck & Heidi Giesenkamp & Denise Gonglach & Victor Takazi Katayama & Sica Liesegang & Finn Petersen & Sandra Schwindenhammer & Heidrun Steinmetz & Andreas Ulbrich, 2021. "Significance and Vision of Nutrient Recovery for Sustainable City Food Systems in Germany by 2050," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-23, September.
    4. Angelika Münter & Kati Volgmann, 2021. "Polycentric regions: Proposals for a new typology and terminology," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(4), pages 677-695, March.
    5. Stella Kostopoulou & Paraskevi-Kali Sofianou & Konstantinos Tsiokanos, 2021. "Silk Road Heritage Branding and Polycentric Tourism Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, February.
    6. Martin De Jong & Thomas Hoppe & Negar Noori, 2019. "City Branding, Sustainable Urban Development and the Rentier State. How Do Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai Present Themselves in the Age of Post Oil and Global Warming?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-26, April.
    7. Silvia Cerisola & Elisa Panzera, 2022. "Cultural cities, urban economic growth, and regional development: The role of creativity and cosmopolitan identity," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 101(2), pages 285-302, April.
    8. Evangelos Asprogerakas & Kiki Mountanea, 2020. "Spatial strategies as a place branding tool in the region of Ruhr," Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 16(4), pages 336-347, December.
    9. Haiyan Lu & Erik Braun & Martin de Jong & Yun Song & Miaoxi Zhao, 2023. "‘Thin’ Regional Identities: Economic Instrumentality or Pathway to Thickness? The Case of the Pearl River Delta," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 114(2), pages 94-116, April.
    10. Negar Noori & Martin De Jong, 2018. "Towards Credible City Branding Practices: How Do Iran’s Largest Cities Face Ecological Modernization?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-16, April.

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