The global community is experiencing an increasing number of disasters that ranges from earthquakes, floods, storms, epidemics, fires, landslides, hurricanes, tsunamis and social conflicts that result to loss of life and properties. South Africa is dominated by localised incidents, such as wild fires, seasonal flooding, droughts and accidents in the mining industry. Resource-poor communities such as those residing in many parts of South African informal settlements, currently live with a range of stresses and risks including climate risks, HIV/AIDS and access to insecure land. While disaster relief has been at the forefront for quite a long time, communities are increasingly looking at disaster risk reduction as the best solution to safeguard human lives and property. Scholars and policy makers are relying on disaster preparedness and resilience as strategies to ensure disaster risk reduction. Disaster education has emerged as a pinnacle for both the preparedness and resilience by teaching communities about the prevalence of hazards and associated vulnerabilities. The aim of this investigation was to determine how education in particular, curriculum and instructional design contributes to learners’ awareness of hazards and disasters. A mixed method research was used to address the question combining questionnaires, interviews and document study as data collection strategies. The questionnaires were distributed to 150 educators from schools located in informal settlements of Ivory Park in Gauteng, Brits in North West Province, Isipingo in KwaZulu-Natal, Bizana in the Eastern Cape and Khayelitsha in the Western Cape. Interviews were conducted with 5 curriculum specialists, 3 disaster specialists and 2 disaster lectures. The findings of the investigation is that the South African National Curriculum Statements explicitly prescribe hazards and disaster learning outcomes only for Grade 7 Social Science and is silent in other grades and learning areas. Some scholars pointed out that there is no adequate translation of curriculum policy provisions to classroom practice in South Africa, which raises questions on the extent to which learners from South African schools are taught about hazards and disasters as prescribed in the National Curriculum Statements. The investigation also found that educators are overburdened with administrative work and would not be in the position to collaborate with one another to develop learning programmes and to teach indigenous knowledge or hazards and disasters. In this study, it is argued that for education to make effective contribution to learners’ awareness of hazards and disasters, the national curriculum should focus on the broad learning outcomes used as guideline to develop learning programmes for disasters and hazards that are provincial, district and local areas specific. The development and teaching for hazards and disasters should be specified in all grades across all learning areas. Another argument presented in this study is that the National Disaster Management Centre should play a crucial role in mobilising other stakeholders involved in disaster risk reductions to develop learning programmes as they have hands-on experience of managing disasters so that alleviate the burden for educators to be gathering data for learning programme development. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Humanities Education / unrestricted

The University of Pretoria offers the course <i.Use of the Internet in Education and Training (RBO 880) since 1997. This module is presented as an online course with minimum face to face interaction between facilitator and learners. The research documents and analyses the activities, cyber artefacts, documentation, interactions and challenges, constructed and designed by the facilitator and learners’ that formed part of this module. This literature review comprises an exploration into five different aspects of online learning under different headings specifically: learning theories, eLearning, virtual communities, adult Learning characteristics adult motivation and instructional design principles. This research reports only on one main research question: What can be learnt from the continuous presentation of the module Use of the Internet in Education and Training (RBO 880)? The research design and the methodology that will be followed during a properly development research approach is functional in this particular context (RBO 880) and enables the researcher to address the research question, that falls within the scope of this research study. The researcher explores multiple perceptions, to ensure trustworthiness of data and analyses of the module that is presented and analysed. The researcher analyses selected aspects of the design, development and implementation of the RBO 880 module from an exploration of a selection of its artefacts. As a prelude to each facet of this analysis, the researcher will present and explore a cyber artefact retrieved from the cyber archives. In this archive is stored a great variety of electronic source documents representative of the six years during which the module RBO 880 were presented. The substantive reflection combines the findings with the literature review. The researcher attempts to construct a balance by providing some critique against the presentation of the RBO 880 module as part of the conclusions. The conclusions reached in this research answers the research question and might prove useful in future research, for researchers’ organisational specialist, readers, online facilitators and curriculum designers, into training and learning that takes place through the medium of the Internet. / Dissertation (MEd (Computer Intergrated Education))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Curriculum Studies / MEd / unrestricted

Housing delivery and issues relating to housing delivery have long been a complicated subject for most SA municipalities and government departments tasked with these responsibilities. The aforementioned complications stem from our inherited apartheid planning that was mainly focused on inequality, racial segregation and spatial fragmentation of land use. Corruption, lack of skills, financial constraints and lack of resources are issues further considered to be contributors to the complications related to housing delivery. The study to be conducted seeks to play a part in dealing with the complicated nature of housing delivery through being a toolof assessment. The study is in the form of an evaluation as it mainly deals with obtaining answers relating to the views of the respondents on the sustainable human settlement program implemented as part of the DVRI in the BCMM. In doing so it, seeks to provide answers to some of the challenges faced by municipalities and other government departments so as to ensure that going forward, best practices are adopted in the housing delivery process. The findings from the study revealed primarily that, what is planned on paper is not often what is implemented on the ground. In evaluating the aims and objectives of the two sustainable human settlement pilot projects implemented as the BNG pilot projects through the DVRI, a considerable number of the objectives of the projects have not been met according to the beneficiaries. The reasons for the lack of satisfaction relating to the two projects as cited by the respondents included, amongst other things; dissatisfaction with the quality of the structure, lack of adequate services, lack of employment opportunities, lack of recreational facilities, lack of social facilities, lack of safe and reliable transportation and the general maintenance of the settlement. Solutions to the identified issues include; improved and meaningful participation between government, planners and the beneficiaries of such housing projects, so as to ensure that the views of the beneficiaries are considered and that they have a considerable influence on the decisions taken, thus promoting a bottom-up approach to the housing delivery process. The provision of key recreational and social amenities and the improved maintenance of the general settlement were also identified by the respondents as solutions.

The South African government has endeavored to provide settlement to citizens and policies have been formulated since 1994 to guide these efforts. The South African Constitution (1996, section 26) stated that everyone has the right to have access to adequate housing. Furthermore the African National Congress’s Freedom Charter (1955) made it clear that: “there shall be houses, security and comfort for all, everybody shall have the right to live where they choose, to be decently housed, and to bring up their families in comfort and security. Slums shall be demolished and new suburbs built, where all shall have transport, roads, lights, playing fields, crèches and social centers”. However, after 19 years of democracy the state of housing is still a critical issue that addresses whether development has served to further the cause of sustainable development with respect to the pillars of human settlement such as shelter, infrastructure and economic opportunities. The study was conducted in the Litchis Bay settlement in East London, Eastern Cape Province. Mixed approaches of quantitative and qualitative methods were used to solicit data. Random Sampling techniques were conducted to select the sample population. Data was captured on Excel sheets to generate graphs. Findings of the study and conclusions were drawn. Therefore when measuring the term ‘sustainable human settlement’ against the findings on RDP houses in Litchis Bay, one can conclude that sustainable human settlement is not fully absorbed in defining the sustainability of RDP houses in Litchis Bay. Moreover the majority of houses have defects, and social amenities are not easily accessible.

This study sought to explore the perceptions of violence by the youth and to investigate the causes and consequences of violence amongst the youth. Specifically, the study aimed at exploring why the youth are predisposed to violence and violent crimes in informal settlements. A qualitative research design was used in this study. The researcher made use of the qualitative design because it allows for the richness of the personal experiences and meanings of the respondents to be explored, allowing the researcher to uncover variations between respondents. Based on the qualitative design, the study utilised the in-depth interview to solicit the views of young people living in New Brighton Township in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape Province. The objectives of the study were - To identify consequences of violence.- To assert if violence is normalised within a particular social environment.- To explore what predisposes the youth to violence.- To find out if parenting styles influence youth violence.- To explore the role of models in youth violence and crime. The respondents were selected through purposive sampling as the researcher sought typical and divergent data from the respondents. Data was collected through focus group interviews with nine young people aged nineteen to twenty- four years. The study established the following: Firstly, that violence is high in South African communities. It also found the following factors to be contributing to these high levels of violence: socialisation, unemployment, and family structures. The findings also indicated that some kinds of violence are normalised within the societies in which young people grow up in. Findings also indicate that, as a result of these violent behaviours, many South African youth lose their lives while others are imprisoned. This study also found that the environment in which a child grows up in has a greater impact on the child’s later behaviour in life. Overall, the study concluded that violence amongst the young people is a major problem facing South African communities. As one of the recommendations, the researcher indicated that punishing young people through imprisonment is not the solution, especially in a country where so many people are living in wretched poverty. Rather, the researcher recommended that minimising the levels of violence to which young people are exposed to on a daily basis could be one of the effective intervention strategies for decreasing this pandemic. This can be achieved by involving families, schools and communities in minimising this kind of exposure.

The second world war is no doubt one of the most important milestone to the whole history of human being. In the border area of Czechoslovakia was this milestone moreover followed by expulsion of German population and resettlement by Czech inhabitants. This thesis deals with the immediate aftermath of forced displacement of Sudeten Germans after 1945 and resettlement of the border areas of Czechoslovakia. It focuses specifically on area of Jablonec nad Nisou where the entire structure of the population has changed significantly during a short period. Specific events are complemented by testimonies of eyewitnesses. The postwar development of Jablonec nad Nisou district differs from other towns resettled in the border region especially due to prevailing glass and jewelery industry with its specific characteristics. Therefore, the part of the thesis is devoted to analysis of industrial conditions of this area and development of leading local companies.

Archaeologically site catchment analysis produces valuable information regarding prehistoric subsistence strategies and social organization. Incorporating archaeological data into catchment analyses is an effective strategy to develop regional models of prehistoric site selection and settlement patterns. Digital access to data permits the incorporation of multiple layers of information into the process of synthesizing regional archaeology and interpreting corresponding spatial patterning. GIS software provides a means to integrate digital environmental and archaeological data into an effective tool. Resultant environmental archaeology maps facilitate interpretive analysis. To fulfill the objectives of this thesis, GIS software is employed to construct site catchment areas for archaeological sites and to implement multivariate statistical analyses of physical and biological attributes of catchments in correlation with assemblage data from sites. Guided by ecological, anthropological and geographical theories hypotheses testing evaluates patterns of prehistoric socio-economic behavior. Analytical results are summarized in a model of prehistoric settlement patterns in North Central Texas.

Schistosomiasis is a water-borne disease caused by Schistossoma Mansoni and its clinical evolution can vary from asymptomatic forms to severe conditions. Schistosomiasis mansoni is a global endemic disease, occurring in 74 countries and territories of three continents. To verify through a parasitological examination of fecal samples the occurrence of Schistossoma Mansoni among landless rural workers and their families in settlements in riverside cities from the south region of the State of Sergipe. Materials and Methods: It is a quantitative cross-sectional approach study conducted on landless rural workers from the south region of the State of Sergipe. A physical examination was performed on 822 landless rural workers and 601 of them had a parasitological examination of fecal samples to confirm the infection. A 4.3 % prevalence of Schistosomiasis among landless rural workers was found with a positive result for the infection in 61.5 % among the 13 settlements studied. In a 100% of positive cases the clinical form of the disease found was the chronic intestinal. The population portrayed is a low-income community, living in floor soil ground four-room households (living-room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen). The literacy level in these communities is low. In these populations 73.3% of the citizens had attended elementary school, 16.3 % of them are illiterate and 10 10.4% attended high school or higher education. In all the settlements there is poor sanitary condition, no tap water and sewer system. Occurrences of Schistosomiasis mansoni were evidenced in 8 (61.5%) of the Landless Rural Workers settlements studied and 26 (4.3%) of them had a positive result for the disease, although the prevalence of Schistosomiasis among landless rural workers from the south region of the State of Sergipe is relatively low in comparison to the whole state rates and in some cases from the south region. The predominant form of the disease is the chronic intestinal possibly due to the short period of exposure to this environment and to the characteristics of the migratory population. The socio environmental condition of the population is practically the same: low literacy level, predominance of rural work, lack of sanitation or sewer system and few of the rural workers have access to tap water. It was evidenced a very distinct prevalence between the settlements despite the resemblance of the socio environmental conditions, possibly due to differences concerning the deposit water to which this population is currently exposed. / A esquistossomose é uma doença de veiculação hídrica causada pelo Schistossoma mansoni, com evolução clínica que pode variar desde formas assintomáticas até quadros graves, é uma endemia mundial, ocorrendo em 74 países e territórios de três continentes. Objetivos: Verificar através do exame parasitológico de fezes a prevalência da infecção pelo Schistosoma mansoni em famílias de Sem Terra assentadas localizadas em cidades ribeirinhas da região Sul do Estado de Sergipe. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, realizado em treze assentamentos de trabalhadores rurais sem terra da região sul do estado de Sergipe. Foi realizada uma avaliação clínico epidemiológica em um total de 822 trabalhadores rurais sem terra, destes 601 realizaram o exame parasitológico de fezes para confirmação da infecção. A prevalência total da esquistossomose em trabalhadores rurais sem terra foi de 4.3%, dos treze assentamentos 61,5% apresentaram resultado positivo para a infecção. A forma clinica encontrada foi a intestinal em 100% dos casos positivos, a população estudada é pobre, as casas possuem quatro cômodos (sala, 01 quarto, banheiro e cozinha), o piso é de chão batido. O nível de escolaridade baixo 73,3% possui ensino fundamental, 16,3% são analfabetos e 10,4% possuem ensino médio incompleto ou mais. Todos os assentamentos encontram-se em condições sanitárias precárias, sem saneamento básico, rede de esgotos e poucos possuem água encanada. A esquistossomose mansônica esteve presente em 8 (61,5%) dos assentamentos de Sem Terra estudados, 26 (4,3%) dos trabalhadores rurais sem terra apresentaram resultado positivo para a doença, embora a prevalência da esquistossomose em Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra da região sul de Sergipe seja relativamente baixa, quando comparada à do Estado e em alguns casos da própria região sul. Há o predomínio da forma clínica intestinal, possivelmente devido ao pequeno tempo de exposição e este ambiente e pelas características da população migratória. A população possui condição sócio ambiental muito semelhante, com baixa instrução, predomínio do trabalho agrícola de onde extrai recursos para subsistência, não dispõem de saneamento básico, rede de esgotos e poucos usufruem de água encanada. Constatou-se uma prevalência bem distinta entre os assentamentos, apesar da condição sócio ambiental semelhante, possivelmente devido a diferença na fonte hídrica em que a população está exposta e do aspecto focal da doença.

This dissertation examines the emergence, survival, performance, and national impact of rebel parties following negotiated settlements. Building on a growing literature examining the environmental and organizational factors affecting insurgent-to-party transformations, this dissertation asks why some insurgent organizations thrive as political parties in post-conflict environments and others fail to make such a transformation. I propose that foreign actors play a pivotal role in the formation of what I call “protégé parties,” which are better equipped to make the transformation into political parties than other rebel groups. Further, different kinds of sponsors have varying effects on transformation. Empirical analysis supports these propositions, finding that protégé parties with authoritarian sponsorship are better equipped to develop than those backed by democracies or no one.

<p>Предмет истраживања докторске дисертације под називом Системи насеља у&nbsp;<br />Срему јесте детерминисање просторне и функцијске&nbsp; организације Срема на&nbsp;<br />основу степена развијености просторно-функцијских веза и односа у мрежи&nbsp;<br />насеља Срема. Циљ истраживања је да се идентификују, сагледају и научно&nbsp;<br />објасне проблеми развоја просторно-функцијских односа и веза, односно&nbsp;<br />просторне и функцијске организације система насеља у Срему. Задатак&nbsp;<br />истраживања је да се истражи утицај природне основе на настанак, распоред и&nbsp;<br />развој насеља у мрежи, сагледа развој, размештај и динамика становништва,<br />утврде законитости развоја система насеља, утврде карактеристике система<br />насеља и типологије насеља, одреди хијерархија насеља у мрежи, утврди стање,&nbsp;односи и процеси у мрежи насеља, истраже ставови становништва о просторно-функционалним карактеристикама и квалитету живота у Срему, утврде&nbsp;потенцијали као основа&nbsp; развоја и предвиди скуп мера и инструмената којима ће&nbsp;се у будућности утицати на уравнотежен развој насеља у систему.</p><p>Методолошки поступци примењени у овом раду базирани су на научном<br />објашњењу фактора настанка и развоја урбане мреже, феномена урбано-руралних веза и односа између насеља, утврђивању њихове хијерархије и<br />квалитативне оцене задовољства животом у тим насељима. Методолошки<br />инструменти који су примењени у овом истраживању базирали су се најпре на<br />општим научним методама са посебним освртом апликације комплексног<br />географског метода и ГИС методологије. Поред дескриптивних статистичких<br />метода у раду су коришћени и Пирсонов коефицијент корелације, &chi;2&nbsp; &ndash;&nbsp; тест, Ман<br />&ndash;&nbsp; Витнијев тест и Тест хомогености. За приказивање мултиваријантних података<br />примењена је метода Чернофових лица.</p><p>Разултати анализе су показали да је систем насеља Срема подсистем мреже<br />насеља Војводине, који има сложену и динамичну просторно-функцијску<br />структуру, а чија је организација израз интеракције бројних унутрашњих и<br />спољашњих фактора произашлих из природно-географских, урбано-историјских,<br />насељских, демографских и социоекономских специфичности територије, те<br />ближег и даљег окружења. Физичкогеографске детерминанте су имале незнатан<br />утицај на савремени развој система насеља у Срему, док су друштвеногеографски фактори били одлучујући у формирању савремене мреже насеља. Мрежа насеља је хијерархијског типа без изражене урбане примарности једног града. У систему насеља је изражена хијерархијска доминација централих насеља видљива на основу дневне покретљивости становништва. Теренска истраживања и спровођење упитника су показала да становништво Срема није задовољно својим животним стандардом, а као главни проблеми наводе се незапосленост и ниски приходи.</p><p>Приказане анализе објашњавају ток социјалногеографских процеса и<br />структурних промена у систему насеља, подразумевајући при том временску и<br />просторну димензију. С тим у вези, концепт примењен у овој докторској<br />дисертацији, који се зазнива на демографско-социјалним и просторно-функционалним односима, а поготово због укључивања мишљења локалног<br />становништва, омогућава комплексно сагледавање, планирање и усмеравање<br />укупних развојних процеса у датом простору и времену.</p> / <p>Predmet istraživanja doktorske disertacije pod nazivom Sistemi naselja u&nbsp;<br />Sremu jeste determinisanje prostorne i funkcijske&nbsp; organizacije Srema na&nbsp;<br />osnovu stepena razvijenosti prostorno-funkcijskih veza i odnosa u mreži&nbsp;<br />naselja Srema. Cilj istraživanja je da se identifikuju, sagledaju i naučno&nbsp;<br />objasne problemi razvoja prostorno-funkcijskih odnosa i veza, odnosno&nbsp;<br />prostorne i funkcijske organizacije sistema naselja u Sremu. Zadatak&nbsp;<br />istraživanja je da se istraži uticaj prirodne osnove na nastanak, raspored i&nbsp;<br />razvoj naselja u mreži, sagleda razvoj, razmeštaj i dinamika stanovništva,<br />utvrde zakonitosti razvoja sistema naselja, utvrde karakteristike sistema<br />naselja i tipologije naselja, odredi hijerarhija naselja u mreži, utvrdi stanje,&nbsp;odnosi i procesi u mreži naselja, istraže stavovi stanovništva o prostorno-funkcionalnim karakteristikama i kvalitetu života u Sremu, utvrde&nbsp;potencijali kao osnova&nbsp; razvoja i predvidi skup mera i instrumenata kojima će&nbsp;se u budućnosti uticati na uravnotežen razvoj naselja u sistemu.</p><p>Metodološki postupci primenjeni u ovom radu bazirani su na naučnom<br />objašnjenju faktora nastanka i razvoja urbane mreže, fenomena urbano-ruralnih veza i odnosa između naselja, utvrđivanju njihove hijerarhije i<br />kvalitativne ocene zadovoljstva životom u tim naseljima. Metodološki<br />instrumenti koji su primenjeni u ovom istraživanju bazirali su se najpre na<br />opštim naučnim metodama sa posebnim osvrtom aplikacije kompleksnog<br />geografskog metoda i GIS metodologije. Pored deskriptivnih statističkih<br />metoda u radu su korišćeni i Pirsonov koeficijent korelacije, &chi;2&nbsp; &ndash;&nbsp; test, Man<br />&ndash;&nbsp; Vitnijev test i Test homogenosti. Za prikazivanje multivarijantnih podataka<br />primenjena je metoda Černofovih lica.</p><p>Razultati analize su pokazali da je sistem naselja Srema podsistem mreže<br />naselja Vojvodine, koji ima složenu i dinamičnu prostorno-funkcijsku<br />strukturu, a čija je organizacija izraz interakcije brojnih unutrašnjih i<br />spoljašnjih faktora proizašlih iz prirodno-geografskih, urbano-istorijskih,<br />naseljskih, demografskih i socioekonomskih specifičnosti teritorije, te<br />bližeg i daljeg okruženja. Fizičkogeografske determinante su imale neznatan<br />uticaj na savremeni razvoj sistema naselja u Sremu, dok su društvenogeografski faktori bili odlučujući u formiranju savremene mreže naselja. Mreža naselja je hijerarhijskog tipa bez izražene urbane primarnosti jednog grada. U sistemu naselja je izražena hijerarhijska dominacija centralih naselja vidljiva na osnovu dnevne pokretljivosti stanovništva. Terenska istraživanja i sprovođenje upitnika su pokazala da stanovništvo Srema nije zadovoljno svojim životnim standardom, a kao glavni problemi navode se nezaposlenost i niski prihodi.</p><p>Prikazane analize objašnjavaju tok socijalnogeografskih procesa i<br />strukturnih promena u sistemu naselja, podrazumevajući pri tom vremensku i<br />prostornu dimenziju. S tim u vezi, koncept primenjen u ovoj doktorskoj<br />disertaciji, koji se zazniva na demografsko-socijalnim i prostorno-funkcionalnim odnosima, a pogotovo zbog uključivanja mišljenja lokalnog<br />stanovništva, omogućava kompleksno sagledavanje, planiranje i usmeravanje<br />ukupnih razvojnih procesa u datom prostoru i vremenu.</p> / <p>The research subject of the doctoral dissertation entitled Settlement systems Srem is&nbsp;spatial and functional organization determination of Srem based on the development&nbsp;degree of spatial and functional relations and connections within the &nbsp;Srem region&nbsp;settlement network. The aim of&nbsp; the research is to identify, consider and &nbsp;explain the&nbsp;development problems of spatial and functional relationships and connections, ie the&nbsp;spatial and functional organization of the settlement system in Srem. The task of&nbsp;research is to investigate the influence of the natural base of the formation,&nbsp;development and arrangement of settlements in the network, to examine the&nbsp;development, deployment and dynamics of the population, to determine the legality of&nbsp;the development of the settlements system, to identif y the features of the settlements&nbsp;system and settlements typology, to determine the hierarchy of settlements in the&nbsp;network, to determine the condition, relationships and processes in the settlements&nbsp;network, to explore the attitudes of the population on spatial-functional &nbsp;characteristics&nbsp;and quality of life in Srem, to identify resources as a basis for further development and&nbsp;to provide a set of measures and instruments that will influence the balanced&nbsp;development of settlements in the system in the future.</p><p>The methodological procedures applied in this research are based on the scientific&nbsp;explanation of the factors of origin and development of urban networks, the&nbsp;phenomenon of urban-rural relations, determining their hierarchy and a qualitative&nbsp;assessment of life satisfaction in these settlements. Methodological tools &nbsp;applied in this research are based primarily on general scientific methods with special &nbsp;eference to applications of complex geographical methods and GIS &nbsp;methodology. In addition to&nbsp;descriptive statistical methods, the Pearson correlation coefficient, &chi;2&nbsp; -&nbsp; test, Man&nbsp; -Whitney test and the Test of homogeneity were used. &nbsp;Chernoff faces method was&nbsp;applied to display multivariate data.</p><p>The results of the analysis indicated that the settlement system of Srem presents &nbsp;ojvodina‟s subsystem settlements, which has a complex and dynamic spatial and &nbsp;functional structure, where organization is a consequence of the interactions of many &nbsp;internal and external factors arising from natural-geographic, urban and historical, &nbsp;demographic and socioeconomic specifics of the territory, as well as closer and &nbsp;further environment. Physical determinants had little impact on the modern &nbsp;development of the settlement system of Srem, while the socio-geographical factors &nbsp;were crucial in the formation of the modern settlement network. Settlement network &nbsp;has a hierarchical type without expressed urban primacy of one city. In the settlement &nbsp;system is expressed the hierarchical dominance of the central settlements visible on the basis of daily commuting. Field research and conduction of the questionnaire &nbsp;have come to the conclusion that the population of Srem is not satisfied with their living standards, and the main issues are unemployment and low income.</p><p>The presented analysis explains the course of socio-geographic processes and&nbsp;structural changes in the settlement system, assuming at the same time temporal and&nbsp;spatial dimensions. In this regard, the concept applied in this doctoral thesis, which is&nbsp;based on the demographic and social and spatial-functional relationships, especially&nbsp;due to the inclusion of opinions of the local population, provides a complex&nbsp;understanding, planning and directing the overall development process in a &nbsp;given space and time.&nbsp;</p>