The dynamics of regional port cities. A transdisciplinary research field

Abstract

In the last decades, a new field has been opened por the comprehension of the impact of ports in territorial transformations, due to the renewal of different historiographic schools and approaches, especially those that have been permeable to interdisciplinary perspectives coming from economy, urbanism, geography, and logistics: the study of the historical dynamics of the relationship between port cities and regions, and its effects in the characteristics of the existing development in a region; subject that by its complexity has required a transdisciplinary investigation. This paper presents the theoretical construction process that allowed to define this new field, the methodology used, and its challenges. Likewise, the conformation of the Núcleo de las Ciudades Portuarias Regionales (Core of the Regional Port Cities) IDEHESI-CONICET, the activities carried out and the experiences derived from it, will be outlined.