The application of virtual reality (VR) in geography education is regarded as a progressive and proactive method that has still not gained sufficient attention in the educational policy in Hungary. The aim of our review is to find the ways and means to make it happen. We selected 47 works that are closely linked to geography teaching and analyzed their bibliometric (authorship and journal characteristics, types of works and applied methods, keywords, referencing, and co-citation networks) and contextual characteristics (research objectives, demographic, gender and social background, hardware and software specifications, advantages and disadvantages, conclusions, and predictions) which we expected to help us to understand the slow implementation and undeserved marginalization of VR in the curricular geography education. We used a mixed-method research analysis combining elements of quantitative and qualitative analysis using inductive reasoning. Our preliminary assumption that the application of VR technology is an effective and useful way of teaching geography was proved by our findings. The methods used by the authors of the reviewed empirical works, together with the recommended future research topics and strategies, can be applied to future empirical research on the use of VR in geography education.

This study investigates shopping malls as multifunctional urban actors shaping economic, social, and spatial dynamics in rapidly developing urban contexts, moving beyond approaches that conceptualize them primarily as isolated economic entities. Using Ritaj Mall in Ali Mendjeli as a case study, the research adopts a mixed-methods design operationalized through three key dimensions: economic permeability, social inclusivity, and spatial connectivity, combining structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and systematic field observations, informed by a pilot study. The findings, supported by a central framework of testable propositions, demonstrate that the mall operates as a major commercial and leisure hub, contributing to local economic vitality, transforming consumption practices, and influencing surrounding spatial configurations. At the same time, its expansion generates urban pressures, including traffic congestion, progressive residential–commercial transformation, and emerging tensions related to housing affordability. Interpreted through Lefebvre’s spatial triad, the study advances a theoretical understanding of shopping malls as both products and producers of urban space, linking everyday practices of consumption and mobility to broader processes of spatial production. These insights underscore the importance of integrated urban planning strategies that acknowledge the multifunctional role of shopping malls while balancing economic development with social inclusion, spatial equity, and long-term urban livability.

This paper investigates the conditions and consequences of integrating small towns into industrial production networks. It is based on empirical research conducted in Algeria, a hydrocarbon-dependent rentier economy characterized by significant regional inequalities and the political aims of economic diversification and spatial rebalancing. Elaborating the case study of a state-owned cement factory in the small town of Sigus, the research provides insights into the multiple roles of the state in shaping production network integration and the characteristics of small towns as economic locations. The methodology combines secondary data and information with primary research based on semi-structured interviews. It reveals the importance of a multi-scalar regional framework in production network integration, whereby national factors played a key role due to the centralized Algerian state, the state-owned character of the investing company, and the shortcomings of the small town’s local environment. It emphasizes the contradictory impacts of production network integration in economic, social, and environmental terms, primarily on a local level. These contradictions underscore the necessity for critical evaluations to maximize the benefits of production network integration while mitigating its adverse effects. They also call for the more consistent involvement of the local community in similar economic development decisions. Notably, this research contributes significantly to the existing body of literature by addressing the underexplored topic of integrating small towns into production networks within the Algerian context. Doing so offers a more nuanced understanding of the particular economic, social, and environmental dynamics at play in these locations, thereby enriching the discourse on economic development strategies for small towns in rentier economies like Algeria.

Constantine is one of Algeria’s major metropolitan centers and is recurrently affected by landslides due to its complex geomorphological context, characterized by steep slopes, deeply incised valleys, and mechanically weak lithological formations. Over recent decades, rapid population growth, land scarcity, and the expansion of informal settlements have significantly intensified exposure to slope instability. Previous studies have largely focused on hazard identification, susceptibility mapping, and engineering mitigation measures, while limited attention has been given to how these risks intersect with social practices, residential choices, and everyday urban life. In response to increasing landslide risk and related urban challenges in Constantine, the new city of Ali Mendjeli was developed as a large-scale resettlement project intended to reduce exposure by relocating vulnerable populations. However, despite the technical rationale behind this intervention, a noticeable proportion of relocated households have gradually returned to risk-prone areas within the historic city. This study addresses this gap by integrating landslide susceptibility assessment with a social-geographical analysis of resettlement outcomes. A landslide susceptibility map for Constantine was produced using Geographic Information Systems, integrating topographic, geological, hydrological, and anthropogenic conditioning factors through an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). This spatial analysis was complemented by qualitative methods, including the review of planning documents, field observations, and semi-structured interviews to examine perceptions of risk, place attachment, and daily spatial practices. The results show that urban saturation and informal housing in Constantine strongly influenced the decision to create Ali Mendjeli as a resettlement site. However, the relocation process was implemented with a primary focus on quantitative housing provision, without adequate consideration of social networks, social attachment to the historic city center, and everyday spatial practices. The regrouping of households by original neighborhoods, combined with limited urban connectivity and weak functional diversity, contributed to early social fragmentation. Consequently, Ali Mendjeli evolved as a socially fragile urban space where pre-existing vulnerabilities were reproduced rather than mitigated, encouraging some residents to return to risk-prone areas. These findings demonstrate the limitations of purely technocratic, hazard-driven resettlement strategies and highlight the need for integrated approaches that align geohazard management with social sustainability, urban cohesion, and long-term resilience. Keywords: Landslide susceptibility, Urban resettlement, Informal housing, Urban resilience, Social Geography, Urban attachment.

Landslides are a significant global hazard, posing serious risks to both human life and infrastructure, particularly in regions with unstable geological conditions. In Constantine, Algeria, landslides have been a persistent challenge, severely impacting urban areas and creating significant challenges for city planning and development. As a response to these challenges, the city of Ali Mendjeli was established 15 kilometers south of Constantine. This relocation was driven by two primary factors: managing the city's growth to prevent uncontrolled expansion and addressing the frequent landslides and natural disasters that rendered many homes unsafe. Ali Mendjeli was selected for its flat terrain and elevated position, making it ideal for urban development. The city was designed to accommodate displaced residents, mitigate landslide risks, and manage urban sprawl. In Constantine, areas with slopes ranging from 10%-20% (accounting for 45.46% of landslides) and 5%-10% (32.10%) were particularly vulnerable, prompting the relocation of residents to Ali Mendjeli. Since its establishment, Ali Mendjeli's population has grown rapidly, from 64,483 in 2008 to 243,214 in 2020, highlighting the demand for housing and infrastructure. The city's development illustrates how landslide risks in Constantine influenced population growth, providing a safer environment for displaced residents and accommodating a growing population. To investigate the landslide phenomena in Constantine, we conducted field observations to assess impacted areas and mitigation efforts. This was supported by secondary data, including a literature review, statistical population data, the Master Plan for the Development and Urbanism of Ali Mendjeli, and relevant legislation from the Official Journal of the Algerian Republic (SGG). The development of Ali Mendjeli serves as a case study demonstrating how geological hazards like landslides shape urban expansion. It highlights the importance of urban planning in managing these risks and highlights the role of interdisciplinary collaboration in fostering safer, more stable communities.Keywords: Landslide Risk, Geological Hazards, Urban Planning, Urban Resilience, Population Relocation, Population Growth, Algeria.