URBAN NETWORK AND RETICULATED TERRITORY (Hierarchical transformations, flows and functions in the urban system of Paraná)

Abstract

This article analyzes the urban network of Paraná in light of the transformations driven by the techno-scientific-informational milieu and the consolidation of the reticulated territory as the dominant spatial form in contemporary globalization. From a theoretical and methodological perspective that integrates the concepts of flows, urban hierarchy, spatial structure, territorial division of labor, and functional specialization, the study seeks to understand the reconfiguration of connections among cities of different hierarchical levels. It argues that the selectivity of connections and the intensification of immaterial flows make the urban system more complex and flexible, challenging classical hierarchical models. The analysis draws upon IBGE studies on the Regions of Influence of Cities and theoretical contributions from Milton Santos, Roberto Lobato Corrêa, and Tânia Maria Fresca.