Journal of the Korean Geographical Society (대한지리학회지)

The Korean Geographical Society (대한지리학회)
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The Politics of Space in the Municipal Mergers of Japan

일본의 시정촌 통합과 행정구역 재편의 공간정치

  • Cho, A-Ra (Institute for Japanese Studies, Seoul National University)
  • 조아라 (서울대학교 일본연구소)
  • Received : 2010.01.25
  • Accepted : 2010.03.09
  • Published : 2010.03.31
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Abstract

Local administrative districts in Japan have extensively reformed over the last 10 years and have decreased by 40 percent. This study examines the process of the municipal mergers in Japan from the perspective of the politics of space, in addition to a focus on the formation of Tobichi (enclaves). The background and progress of municipal mergers in Japan revealed that the reformation of administrative districts progressed under 'restruction' rather than 'decentralization' to manage a financial crisis of government. As a result, the municipal mergers of Japan have progressed in spatiotemporal inequality. The municipal mergers of the study areas are analyzed in multi-dimensional spatial politics composed of financial and demographic properties, locationality, territoriality, placeness, and the politics of decision making. Administrative districts have a spatial property; the reformation of them should be considered with the specialty and generality of the region.

지난 10년간 일본에서는 대대적인 행정구역 개편이 진행되어, 시정촌 수가 약 40% 감소하는 지각변동을 경험하였다. 이 연구는 월경지 형성에 주목하여, 일본의 시정촌 통합의 과정을 공간정치적 관점에서 밝혀보고자 하였다. 일본에서 시정촌 통합이 추진되어 온 배경과 경과는 행정구역 개편이 '지방분권' 보다는 국가의 재정적 위기를 극복하기 위한 '구조조정'의 성격을 띠고 있음을 보여주는데, 그 결과 일본의 시정촌 통합은 시 공간적으로 불균등하게 진행되었다. 연구지역의 시정촌 통합은 재정속성, 인구속성, 입지성, 영역성, 장소성, 의사결정의 정치성의 다각적인 공간정치로 분석된다. 행정구역은 기본적으로 공간적인 속성을 지니고 있다는 점에서, 행정구역의 재편은 지역의 특수성과 일반성을 동시에 고려하여 신중하게 접근할 필요가 있다.

Keywords

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