The intermediate cities: Concept and dimensions

Abstract

This paper synthesizes the main lines of work boosted in recent years by the UNESCO Chair in Intermediary Cities of the University of Lleida, with the aim to highlighting the relevance of an intermediary city that is the majority in the world's urban geography. It also plays a key role in the relationship between urban and rural areas. Aspects such as intermediation and territorial cohesion, human scale and local governance reinforce the idea of the intermediate city as a new paradigm in the global urbanization process, and as a key element in the implementation at local level of the 2030 Agenda.