Szczecin (Poland) and Berlin (Germany) – outline of mutual relations between cities

Abstract

The main goal the article is the search for mutual relations between two cities, which in the past were united by nationality (Weimar Republic, German Reich), socio-economic and cultural dependence despite their different place in the settlement hierarchy. Berlin (Germany) as a much larger urban centre with broadly understood capital and metropolitan functions, and Szczecin (Stettin), once the capital of the Pommern province and currently of the Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship, a city with port, service, industrial and administrative functions. To achieve this goal, a retrospective was used, its task is to project the ties between the two cities that can be rebuilt. In the current geopolitical situation and economic climate, despite the fact that these cities are located in different settlement systems of two countries, their nationality should not constitute a significant obstacle to reaping mutual benefits from their relative spatial proximity (about 150 km). This closeness results from the common affiliation of Germany and Poland, among others to the common area of the European Union and the Schengen zone, political, economic, social and geostrategic projects. In addition to political changes that open up and shorten the path to strengthening mutual relations between cities, there are also infrastructural needs that overcome the resistance of space between cities, as well as efforts to remove mental and organisational barriers. The choice of the subject of the publication was based on the personal scientific interests of both authors, as well as a limited amount of literature on the subject, especially from the most recent period.The article was created with the use of book materials, magazines, as well as netographic information. The research method used in the publication is the analysis of existing data and literary criticism. The research thesis is based on the statement that cooperation between Berlin and Szczecin may contribute to many positive socio-economic results. The research results positively verify the thesis.