FOR A DIVERSITY OF THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES IN ANALYSING OF SMALL CITIES

Abstract

In this article we intend to discuss theoretically small cities by addressing the difficulties of working with their complex reality. We have mentioned several authors such as Santos, Fresca, Maia, Henrique, Gomes, etc, who deal with this issue, pointing out their similarities and differences. We observe, from these authors, for instance, the effort to overcome the quantitative and functional criteria - considered insufficient by lots of authors, but not invalid - for classification purposes, to encompass the diversity that small cities have in reality. In order to understand the complexity of the small cities, we also describe how some authors use theoretical and methodological approaches that approximate them to small cities by geographic category place, related to the lived space. Thus, they are able to penetrate into everyday lives of the small cities, through methodologies such as direct observation, photography, interviews, etc. Finally, we claim the importance of initiatives that aim to approach the reality of small cities, making use of appropriate theoretical and methodological tools to consider other dimensions, beyond economics, which are also constitutive of them.