Ciudades intermedias y gobiernos locales: Desfases escalares en la región de la araucanía, Chile

Abstract

Local governments of intermediate cities face significant challenges regarding their interactions with surrounding areas, as well as with other cities. The present article deals with such challenges, based on two conceptual frameworks: intermediation processes, and scale. The methodological focus utilizes a qualitative approach, based on mobile methodologies, complemented by a quantitative commuting assessment. The results show that local governments from the main intermediation nodes in the Region of La Araucanía face problems related with intermediation process, specifically regarding urban sprawl and roadways. Furthermore, local governments underestimate indigenous dynamics within and between cities, which is a key element in the region. The results allow us to conclude that scalar gaps represent a key problem for local governments of intermediate cities, which must be resolved in order to improve planning processes and enhance the local sustainability of such cities.