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A. Doernberg and T. Weith
such as causes, effects and feedback loops. The analysis of causes in particular can
provide useful information for land use policy and management (Liu et al. 2019). One
major feature of the telecoupling concept is that it offers a structured and processual
perspective on urban-rural relations and widens the perspective “from rural-urban
interactions to wider human–environment interactions” (Friis 2019: 58).These two
analytical perspectives can be also found in approaches that are used in ecosystem
research (Liu et al. 2019). The concept by Liu et al. (2013) provide a kind of checklist
for analysing land change (Friis et al. 2016). This makes it possible to describe the
components and entities of telecoupling, enabling different entry points for analysis.
Finally, the model can be used for multiple scales and to study temporal dynamics
and system changes.
However, the model’s explanatory features focus primarily on distant interactions
in the original concept of telecoupling. Potential expansions of the concept arise from
the possibility to combine local couplings and telecoupling (Liu et al. 2019). This
could be very useful when studying urban-rural relations or land change processes
in peri-urban spaces.
The urban telecoupling (UT) concept offers another possibility “to link decision
making, actions, government, agency and land (use) changes at both urban and rural
ends of the pathway” (Haase 2019, p. 263). We therefore state that the telecoupling
approach can be applied to show the complex interactions and interdependencies
between urban and nearby rural spaces. In our opinion, the concept is ideal for
application to study urban-rural linkages at the local and global scale where not only
the social and spatial distance, but also and the complex interplay of social processes
and effects at land level play a significant role.
We assume that the combination of local couplings and telecouplings may bring
additional valuable insight when studying urban-rural interrelations in Germany,
Europe and elsewhere. The effects of distant actions or of high-level policy decisions
and discourses (e.g. EU and national bioenergy strategies) can also be observed in
cities and their hinterlands (e.g. renewable energy production, which competes with
food production and other land uses that address local needs, land grabbing). On
the other hand, this increases the complexity of approaches that are already quite
complex.
Finally, we want to highlight the importance of distinguishing between analytical
and conceptual approaches. Following Kasper and Giseke (2017), we recommend
using the term “analytical approaches” for theories and models that aim to describe,
analyse and explain specific phenomena, including relations, functions and underlying rules, and to create a better understanding and common knowledge base. The
term “conceptual approaches” should be reserved for principles, plans or strategies
that operationalise the procedure for achieving policy or planning objectives, for
instance, and that are more actor and action-oriented.
A. Doernberg and T. Weith
such as causes, effects and feedback loops. The analysis of causes in particular can
provide useful information for land use policy and management (Liu et al. 2019). One
major feature of the telecoupling concept is that it offers a structured and processual
perspective on urban-rural relations and widens the perspective “from rural-urban
interactions to wider human–environment interactions” (Friis 2019: 58).These two
analytical perspectives can be also found in approaches that are used in ecosystem
research (Liu et al. 2019). The concept by Liu et al. (2013) provide a kind of checklist
for analysing land change (Friis et al. 2016). This makes it possible to describe the
components and entities of telecoupling, enabling different entry points for analysis.
Finally, the model can be used for multiple scales and to study temporal dynamics
and system changes.
However, the model’s explanatory features focus primarily on distant interactions
in the original concept of telecoupling. Potential expansions of the concept arise from
the possibility to combine local couplings and telecoupling (Liu et al. 2019). This
could be very useful when studying urban-rural relations or land change processes
in peri-urban spaces.
The urban telecoupling (UT) concept offers another possibility “to link decision
making, actions, government, agency and land (use) changes at both urban and rural
ends of the pathway” (Haase 2019, p. 263). We therefore state that the telecoupling
approach can be applied to show the complex interactions and interdependencies
between urban and nearby rural spaces. In our opinion, the concept is ideal for
application to study urban-rural linkages at the local and global scale where not only
the social and spatial distance, but also and the complex interplay of social processes
and effects at land level play a significant role.
We assume that the combination of local couplings and telecouplings may bring
additional valuable insight when studying urban-rural interrelations in Germany,
Europe and elsewhere. The effects of distant actions or of high-level policy decisions
and discourses (e.g. EU and national bioenergy strategies) can also be observed in
cities and their hinterlands (e.g. renewable energy production, which competes with
food production and other land uses that address local needs, land grabbing). On
the other hand, this increases the complexity of approaches that are already quite
complex.
Finally, we want to highlight the importance of distinguishing between analytical
and conceptual approaches. Following Kasper and Giseke (2017), we recommend
using the term “analytical approaches” for theories and models that aim to describe,
analyse and explain specific phenomena, including relations, functions and underlying rules, and to create a better understanding and common knowledge base. The
term “conceptual approaches” should be reserved for principles, plans or strategies
that operationalise the procedure for achieving policy or planning objectives, for
instance, and that are more actor and action-oriented.