Spatial indoctrination and symbolic violence in the post-communist city.

Abstract

In humanistic geography place is contrasted to space. Meaningful, magical and intimate places were conceptualised in this context. Homeliness was identified as a characteristic of place and a contrast to placelessness. On this background, the concepts of perceptual chaos, territorial indoctrination, spatial indifference, symbolic profanation, semantic usurpation and symbolic violence are developed in this paper. The empirical analysis is concentrated on Warsaw, Poland as an post-communist city. The evolution of the administrative structure of Warsaw is analysed. The notion of the administrative district of the city is contrasted to 'organic' district. The municipal information system is analysed in terms of the municipal spatial indoctrination system. Possibilities to increase the limited social integration in the post-communist city is discussed.