Paris sera toujours paris : Réflexions sur la centralité dans la métropole francilienne

Abstract

Based on a literature review and on an enlarged definition of centrality that simultaneously takes into account economic, socio-demographic and symbolic dimensions, as well as long and short temporalities, this paper analyses the recent dynamics of the Parisian centrality. These dynamics involve social and economic selectivity, operating at both the intrametropolitan and larger scales, in a context of globalisation and world cities networks. We show how these dynamics have contributed to maintaining Paris as the main metropolitan centre, whilst allowing for the evolution of its attributes and role. We highlight two main changes : the rather limited spatial enlargement of the Parisian economic centrality, and the rise of Paris as a symbolic but also as a social centrality, based on a gentrification process.

Keywords

• centrality
• metropolisation
• polycentrism
• Paris
• Île-de-France