Tek Büyük Kent Kuramı Ekseninde Benin: Cotonou Örneği

Öz

Jefferson'un “Tek Büyük Kent Kuramı”; bir ülkenin ana şehrinin daima nüfusta orantısız ve istinai şekilde ulusal ekonomik kapasiteyi ve ulus duygusunu temsil ettiğini ifade etmektedir. Bu çalışma Benin’in ekonomik başkenti olan Cotonou’nun, Jefferson’un “kuramına” tam olarak ne ölçüde uygun olduğunu incelemektedir. Alansal ve durumsal bazı faktörler; Cotonou’nun, nasıl Benin’in en yüksek nüfuslu ve ekonomik olarak dominant kenti olduğunu göstermek için vurgulanmıştır. Cotonou’nun, ülkenin ekonomik kapasitesinin önemli payına ve orantısız olarak geniş nüfusa sahip olması dikkate alındığında, Cotonou’nun ulus duygusunu gerçekten temsil edip etmediğine ilişkin bazı belirsizlikler netleşecektir. Bu durumu netleştirmek adına, Cotonou’nun ulus duygusunu temsil edip etmediğini değerlendirmek için; kültürel peyzaj açıklamasında, literatür taramasında ve Benin sakinleriyle görüşmelerde bulunulmuştur. Bununla yanında, Benin modernleştikçe, Cotonou’nun ülkenin diğer yerlerinden insanları çekmeye devam edeceği ve ülkenin kültürel kimliğini daha çok temsil edebileceği belirtilmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Tek Büyük Kent
• Kentleşme
• Benin
• Cotonou.

Benin on the Axis of the Law of the Primate City: The Case of Cotonou

Abstract

Jefferson's “law of the primate city” states that the principal city of a country always disproportionately and deliberately represents the national economic capacity and the sense of nation in the population. This study examines the extent to which Cotonou, the economic capital of Benin, is fully in line with Jefferson's “law”. Some spatial and situational factors were highlighted to show how Cotonou has become the most populous city and dominant economic city in Benin. Considering that Cotonou is disproportionately large and has a significant share of the country's economic capacity, it is clear that today there is some uncertainty as to whether Cotonou is truly representative of national feeling. In order to clarify this issue, an explanation of the cultural landscape, a literature review and interviews with Beninese residents are conducted to assess the extent to which Cotonou represents national feeling. Furthermore, it is noted that as Benin modernizes, Cotonou will continue to attract more people from other parts of Benin and may therefore become more representative of the country's cultural identity.

Keywords

• Primate City
• Urbanisation
• Benin
• Cotonou.

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