ABSTRACT

‘Counter-urbanisation’ has attracted international attention for decades, as an elusive concept that runs against the overwhelming trend of an urbanising world. In Australia, interest in counter-urbanisation waned after the peak interest from the 1970s until the early 2000s, however a recent resurgence of interest has grown due to anecdotal evidence of rising migration out of major cities. Advances in the ability to telecommute, the impacts of COVID-19 and lockdowns in major cities, and the impact of climate change on migration movements are some contemporary changes prompting the need for a renewed critical and theoretical analysis of counter-urbanisation. This editorial introduces the special issue that offers renewed insights to counter-urbanisation in Australia. We present three arguments to ground the elusive concept of ‘counter-urbanisation’ that underpins this special issue. We argue (1) that the contemporary examples of counter-urbanisation we are witnessing presently in Australia involve migration from major cities to regional spaces; (2) counter-urbanisation is determined by geographical context, in this case Australia and places within, and (3) Australian counter-urban movements are strongly linked to amenity and lifestyle migration. This editorial then introduces the special issue papers which together define and challenge the concept of counter-urbanisation within the Australian context.

摘要

几十年来，“逆城市化”作为一个难以捉摸的概念，与世界城市化的压倒性趋势背道而驰，引起了国际社会的关注。在澳大利亚，从 1970 年代到 2000 年代初的兴趣达到顶峰后，人们对逆城市化的兴趣逐渐减弱，但由于有传闻表明，越来越多的人离开主要城市，最近兴趣又重新抬头。远程办公能力的进步、COVID-19 的影响和主要城市的封锁以及气候变化对移民流动的影响是一些当代变化，促使需要对反城市化进行新的批判性和理论分析。这篇社论介绍了特刊，它为澳大利亚的逆城市化提供了新的见解。我们提出了三个论点来支持这个特殊问题的“反城市化”这个难以捉摸的概念。我们认为 (1) 我们目前在澳大利亚目睹的反城市化的当代例子涉及从大城市向区域空间的迁移；(2) 逆城市化是由地理环境决定的，在这种情况下是澳大利亚及其内的地方，以及 (3) 澳大利亚的逆城市运动与舒适和生活方式移民密切相关。然后这篇社论介绍了特刊论文，这些论文共同定义和挑战了澳大利亚背景下的逆城市化概念。(2) 逆城市化是由地理环境决定的，在这种情况下是澳大利亚及其内的地方，以及 (3) 澳大利亚的逆城市运动与舒适和生活方式移民密切相关。然后这篇社论介绍了特刊论文，这些论文共同定义和挑战了澳大利亚背景下的逆城市化概念。(2) 逆城市化是由地理环境决定的，在这种情况下是澳大利亚及其内的地方，以及 (3) 澳大利亚的逆城市运动与舒适和生活方式移民密切相关。然后这篇社论介绍了特刊论文，这些论文共同定义和挑战了澳大利亚背景下的逆城市化概念。