Development Processes of Post-Socialist Cities and Transformations of Public Space: Case Study of Czechia

The article deals with development processes forming post-socialist cities and their public spaces based on the transition to the post-industrial period and development of new trends that determine urban development currently. From the methodological point of view, the article has a review character and uses descriptive methods to identify changes in selected cities and their public spaces. In recent years urban development has been influenced by tertiarization and stronger pressure on commodification of public spaces, which is also boosted by globalization. Recent technological developments have brought new innovations to the public space, coupled with the use of ICT and the modernization of public space within the framework of the smart city concept. ICT and their solutions are being introduced into the public domain, bringing new services and information. When comparing development processes during the transition from socialist to market society, it can be argued that in recent years the development of cities has a stronger dynamic because cities must respond to development changes. In doing this, they do it in different ways, depending on their possibilities and defined development strategies.