Centre for Spatial Sociology

About the Centre

The activities of the Centre for Spatial Sociology (CPS) are based on the integration of various interdisciplinary fields of knowledge related to social processes in space. Established in 1969, the Centre is the first Slovenian institution dedicated to the study and teaching of spatial sociology. The Centre’s research focuses on the study of spatial development at all levels – global, European, regional, urban, local, and within the immediate living environment. Drawing on experience gained through numerous national and international research projects, the Centre for Spatial Sociology combines theoretical knowledge with good practice and contributes to the identification and understanding of complex postmodern spatial processes.

Head of the Centre: Prof. Marjan Hočevar, PhD

Deputy Head of the Centre: Prof. Matjaž Uršič, PhD

Social Media:

National research projects

International research projects

Key Research Areas

URBAN SOCIOLOGY AND URBAN TRANSFORMATION

• Territorial (Spatial) Development
• Urbanism: Urban Transformation and Revitalisation
• Urban Planning
• Comparative Studies of Asian Urbanisation
• Public Spaces and Spatial Culture

ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

• Sustainable Development and Sustainable Residential Neighbourhoods
• Ecology of Everyday Life
• Spatial and Environmental Values and Public Opinion
• Environmental Risks and Radioactive Waste Management
• Environmentally Sustainable Spatial Planning

MOBILITY AND MIGRATION

• Spatial Mobility, Transport and Transportation Systems
• Migration and Refugee Studies
• Digitalisation of Migration Routes
• Migration and Public Opinion

LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND PUBLIC POLICY

• Local–Global Development (Glocalisation)
• Spatial Planning Policies and Local Self-Government
• Urban and Rural Tourism
• Rural Areas and Landscape Governance

EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

• Education and Human Resource Development
• Higher Education Systems and Graduate Employability
• University–Industry Collaboration
• Sociology of Cyberspace and the Internet

Selected Scientific Publications by Year

2025

URŠIČ, Matjaž; COTIČ, Tina. The limited role of socio-ecological indicators in temporary use of space: deficits in revitalization of degraded urban areas. Sustainability. 2025, vol. 17, no. 11, 5224.

CUKUT KRILIĆ, Sanja; ZAVRATNIK, Simona. Uncertainties of temporary protection: forcibly displaced people from Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Global Networks. 2025, vol. 25, no. 1, e12508.

2024

ZAFOŠNIK, Anja; ZAVRATNIK, Simona. Economic integration of refugees: a cross-country comparison of Slovenia, Spain and Austria. V: BIANCHINI, S. et al. (ur.). Social entrepreneurship and migrants' inclusion. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 2024, str. 289–310.

COTIČ, Tina; URŠIČ, Matjaž. The unutilized potential of temporary use of space: a case study of Avtomatik Delovišče, Koper. Urbani izziv. 2024, letn. 35, št. 2.

2023

CUKUT KRILIĆ, Sanja; ZAVRATNIK, Simona. Structural vulnerabilities and (im)mobilities amidst the Covid-19 pandemic: people on the move along the Balkan route, posted and agricultural workers. Central and Eastern European Migration Review. 2023, vol. 12, no. 1.

2022

KUMER, Peter; MEULENBERG, C.; KRALJ, E. Challenges for planning climate change resilience through the co-creation living lab approach in the Mediterranean coastal town of Piran. Journal for Geography. 2022, vol. 17, no. 2, str. 89–106.

2021

HOČEVAR, Marjan. Zapis o sociologiji v času pandemije (uvodnik tematske številke). Družboslovne razprave. 2021, letn. XXXVII, št. 94–95.

HOČEVAR, Marjan; BARTOL, Tomaž. Mapping urban tourism issues: analysis of research perspectives through the lens of network visualization. International Journal of Tourism Cities. 2021, vol. 7, no. 3, str. 818–844.

Members

Research Programmes