Changing interaction between the port and the city. west versus east

This chapter critically discusses a wide range of literature and theories centred on port-city studies, with the aim to situate the current book within a wider inter-disciplinary debate. Based on the central focus of this study, here it is important to review the scientific scholarship on port-city relationship, both from the spatial and socio-economic perspectives. Reviewing the existing research studies and publications can help us define the concept of ‘port-city’ and find a common theoretical base. Some empirical studies have focused on conceptualizing spatial models, providing general characteristics for the changing port-city relations with regard to the specific spatial and economic features of the studied region. Reviewing the literature is thus important to understand how the port and city functions have been dependent and related to one another. Furthermore, analysing the models of port-city evolution, and highlighting the common features is essential, in order to describe the current dynamics at the port-city interface. The discussion is then expanded through more recent literature focusing on regional port development and the role of ports within the logistics system and global supply chain.