Explaining the concept of urban polycentric region from analytical and normative view (A Review Study)

In the recent years, the so-called urban polycentric regions have been widely circulated among planning scholars. However each of them have different approach and perspective which the simultaneous application of them without clear distinction in political document and theoretical studies; create ambiguities for proper understanding of such regions and their performance and planning. So the present article tries to review the components and aspects of two dominant visions of analytical and normative and then by comparing these two views help to conceptual clarity and planning the urban polycentric regions. The methodology of the research is based on analytical and comparative approaches. Accordingly these two visions are not contradicted but complementary. While the first approach which is belonged to economists and geographers; considers regions as space and concentrate on the interurban interactions. The normative view which dominated by planners emphasizes on the cooperation and strategic drivers by the potential competitive advantages of urban polycentric against mono-centric. The second group views this region as actor in addition to space which aims to enhance its competitive position. Thus, planners try to in addition to agglomeration an economy which is depended to the spatial characteristics of region; through cooperation and participation of all players i.e. private and public firms and institutions of region’s urban centers; gain network benefit and collaboration in the region. As result, studying the urban polycentric regions; two approaches should be considered for presenting a correct analysis.