REDE URBANA PARAIBANA: UMA ANÁLISE A PARTIR DOS ESTUDOS DA REGIÃO DE INFLUÊNCIA DAS CIDADES (REGIC)

Abstract

Studies on the Brazilian urban network are supported by research carried out by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), called the Region of Influence of Cities (REGIC). The article on screen aims to analyze these studies, based on the reconfigurations that occurred in the urban network of the state of Paraíba, between the years 1972 until 2018, the year of publication of the last REGIC study. To this end, document analysis was used as a methodological basis, in addition to notes constructed on the basis of a doctoral research carried out between the years 2019-2023. From the analysis carried out and the inferences constructed, it was diagnosed that the urban network of Paraíba underwent reconfigurations during the period analyzed, this process was made possible by transformations that occurred on a global, national and local scale that were responsible for structuring and restructuring the cities of Paraíba, placing them in relational positions not observed before. Hierarchical relations were re-signified, breaking the direct dependence existing between the cities of Paraíba until the end of the 20th century, starting to consolidate multiscale relations that place these urban centers, even in the condition of inferior hierarchies, in relational positions of greater relevance and with defined roles and guided by complementarity and sharing of functions with other centers of superior hierarchy.