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Human geography: Society, space and social science
Polirical Geography, Vol. 16. No. 3, pp. 261-272, 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. Printed in Great Britain 0962-6298/97 $17.00 + 0.00
Book reviews Huwzan Geography: Society Space and Social Science, 1). Gregory, R. Martin and G. Smith (eds),
Macmillan,
1994, 294 pp. ISBN 0
London,
333 45251 8. This
book
‘attempts
to show
of ideas
the social sciences rethinking
and
good
science’
now
in the mid-1980s widely
book
in human
does
not announce
of
a new,
reflects
coherent
and
ments
challenges
prompted
and of human
of key within
both
The book
gives
geography’s
influence
theory,
on and
and of a theoret-
of
on a range
Geographies
which
the
theory
and
project:
authority
of
philosophy,
history
have
been
postmodern.
theor),.
the
spatial
terms
of place,
manifesto
space
for the geography
reassessments
in
science,
of the
and landscape
and finally Yet rather
of and
the situated-
than
provide
‘Urban
subdisciplines political
each
chapter
may
be a problem
practice
of for
through
the
demanding
Geography’
nor
the
boundaries
on the legitimacy
a coherent neither
and the
acknowledge
of disciplinary
of
two reasons of
nature
geography,
and
make
of Historical
Bell,
World‘
Geography
While the editors
necessity
philosophy authors
Mystery”
by
by Nigel
in a Changing
and
they proffer the
Geography
perspectives
the
Owens,
Geography’
Myth and Alternative
conflicting
human
in Chal-
and Susan
of Cultural
and
economic, a
‘Perspectives
by Susan Smith and ‘History,
the contested
the
and
of the Third World’ by Morag
by Chris Philo).
barriers
the materiality
Thrift,
geog-
Smith and Derek
(‘The Environmental
‘Images,
two
economic,
human
Aim at the Heart of the Region’
“Still Greater
undermined
and humanities.
and
in geography,
of knowledge.
human the
of theory
four
the ways
and postcolonial
fluidity
the social sciences
location ness
feminist
increasing
spatialization
identify
their
through between
the editors
frame
(p. 11). into
on
and
by Tim Bayliss-Smith
drawing
introduction
human
Geography’
chapters Graham
factor
of
Human
theory
Geography’
ded discipline,
which
of
three
social
Linda McDowell,
In their
content is divided
respectively)
Human
‘Taking
and a belief
and modern
will ‘be a major
Core
multi-stran-
themes
geography)
book
‘The Transformation
and theorists.
and
(as Ron Martin
postmodern and
of the
eclectic,
strategically
multi-perspective
by Ron Martin,
lenge’
has illumi-
over the rest of the decade’
and
and
both by a call for
geography
course
ically and methodologically of theories
is thus framed
the
Gregory a
the pluralities
are articulated
political
of
investigate
shaping
‘The
that
features
than
theories
(composed
social both
theories relations
for economic
rest
a
the
economic
that the way in which
raphy
those
and
and
human
geography
into
dogma,
systematic
‘multi-dimensional,
sections:
concepts,
of the
to the
evolving
limiting
in
refer
that post-modernism
The book
culture. have
of social
nated.
The
move-
assumptions
incorporation
of
but
social
and geography.
rather
and differences
changes
to the nation-state,
a reconsideration
theories sense
social new
political
advocates
the text
geography,
information,
redundancy to analyse
a
or remaking
globalization
economic>
theory
human
implied
multi-vocal’
text-
reorientations These
theory
and
attempt
out of the
Importantly
in which
increased
and
of postmodern
to convey
in Cambridge,
a remodelling
ways
to
theoretical
obligatory
structures
of the
as an introductory
geography.
upon
including
danger
social,
process
imagination
undergraduates
more
the
within
and
(p. viii). It arises
endeavour
this to first-year and
concepts
geography
of a geographical
social
central
are to the continuing
human
importance editors’
how
of current
of their s&disciplines.
new,
cross-fertilisation of
impacts each
framework
the overlap
for
between
intersection
of the
and social that are implicit
are sufficiently
highlighted.
of producing
a series of commissioned task of both
introducing
a core essays
in
This text
and the
students
to
Book reviews
262 the concerns,
development
of these subdisciplines increasingly cantly,
fluid
the
discuss
The
cated
aspects
may
risk
than
and political.
interwoven
consideration social,
and
fertilization
of
rather
cultural
than
planned the
would
complex
sexuality
and
than
the
authors
course.
point
probably
as
nature
of human
more
sense
of
such
as
as
and
economics
gender,
strength
attempt
to portray
disciplinary indicate have
of the
reflections,
of
about
the
that are highlighted
responded
last
years.
as a series
nary
areas
than
a core
be most
work raphy, enable tions
useful
The book in the students
the
book
reads
as introductory courses,
taken
not provide philosophy
social
theory
to fully appreciate a strategic
Given
the intense
it, and
garnered
Cass, Ilford,
diplomatic
the
quantity
world
geography.
and
Nations
largest
meeting
would
seem
to have
turning
point
in the post-Cold-War
most
of the
essays
chapters
suggest
when
otherwise.
of a new
sustainable
overarching these
Thomas’
the implicaof
suggest
the
cooperation, that
eloquent
LJNCEI)
editorial
of environmental
efforts
to tackle
the
are
of
a key
suggestions both
politics,
without bound touted
the global
part
of and
international without
problem.
to be formulated
in the interests
rather
of the rich and powerful.
are powerful
in terms Steve
political
and
solutions
term benefits
In his contribution,
than
rethinking
a democratiza-
organizations which
to
as the environ-
the
are for a radical
institutions
this to fail’
is the refusal
so often
in ‘saving’
is often
degradation
and
crisis
that the state,
institution
introduc-
of humanity
there
the
history
blunt: ‘At the most fundamental
been
of international
of geog-
being
became
addressed,
not
Thomas’
that would
of 13
of human
level, the causes
unlikely
Hut
collection
have
in con-
the ground-
political
period.
for global
mostly
in history
little.
Caroline
local
the
development
tion is especially
tion
on
KJNCED),
Far from
period
framework
essays
changed
Conference
a major
in this
up
coverage
of state
been
1994
leading
media
Development of heads
Caroline
Essex,
activity of
by the United
reading
deployment
Frank
Environment
ment,
chapters
of geog-
and
of human
the Consequences,
(ed.),
key
geography
Most
Rio: Unruvelling Thoa.:s
recognize
subdiscipli-
on theory,
and
a stimulating
of a changing
world
(p. 2). Not least of the failings
authoritative
courses
history
of advocating
that
the historiography does
feminism
in its of the
possibilities
human
or following and
in
of contemporary
text.
systematic
with
methodology
is also
on various
introductory
state.
discussion
of well-written, essays
in contemporary
for advanced
raphy.
Its strength
However,
illuminating
and
undermined
and theoretical
the general
the book
Nash
beginning
urban.
the nation
model
sub-
and to
the neatness
been
a single
an
subdisciplines
concepts-the
if not comprehensive
geography.
junction
boundaries these
the economy,
lie in rejecting
would
of
to the way
epistemological
more
blurring
World-have
ten
engaging
and
the
of their founding
or the Third
human
from
in which
the environment, the
results
and disciplinary
the ways
integrity
book
both
of theoretical
Depurtment of Geography, UniversiQ of Wales, Lampeter, D_yfd SA48 7ED, UK
to
by the editors. The
a non-
theory
well
debates
geography
array theorizing
makes
and
offering
recently
issues
These
ongoing
an
include
of
raise.
to
social
A more
citizenship
central
of the geographies
Catherine
cultural,
and give a richer
dis/ability
postcolonialism,
its subdisciplines
and between
and the changing
Yet,
delimiting
on the cross-
and
intersections
but
approaches,
between
between
of
between
and law-finding.
and
limits,
forms
of
geographies,
studies.
to illustrate
circuit’
focus
geography
book
material
their use
to a developed
economic of their
these
and
somehow
tension
geography
resisting
theory,
mediate
of relativism
energizing
account
the economic
between
that
and the particular,
supplementary
‘integrated
postmodern
programmatic
an under-
with,
of relationships
possibly
human
‘core‘
but the structure
and technology
political
outcome
the extremes
is indi-
do not extend
Harraway’s
science
signifi-
three
cultural
as only
The editors
Donna
culture,
interpretation its
reproducing
of the cultural
to, rather
of these
of the
and
their
adequately
not
of the chapters,
book
standing
More
does
importance
in each
of the
of
boundaries.
introduction
the cultural
areas.
modern
and redevelopment
as well as indicating
Smith reasons
are
of most
of the shortwarns
that
to exclude
Book reviews Huwzan Geography: Society Space and Social Science, 1). Gregory, R. Martin and G. Smith (eds),
Macmillan,
1994, 294 pp. ISBN 0
London,
333 45251 8. This
book
‘attempts
to show
of ideas
the social sciences rethinking
and
good
science’
now
in the mid-1980s widely
book
in human
does
not announce
of
a new,
reflects
coherent
and
ments
challenges
prompted
and of human
of key within
both
The book
gives
geography’s
influence
theory,
on and
and of a theoret-
of
on a range
Geographies
which
the
theory
and
project:
authority
of
philosophy,
history
have
been
postmodern.
theor),.
the
spatial
terms
of place,
manifesto
space
for the geography
reassessments
in
science,
of the
and landscape
and finally Yet rather
of and
the situated-
than
provide
‘Urban
subdisciplines political
each
chapter
may
be a problem
practice
of for
through
the
demanding
Geography’
nor
the
boundaries
on the legitimacy
a coherent neither
and the
acknowledge
of disciplinary
of
two reasons of
nature
geography,
and
make
of Historical
Bell,
World‘
Geography
While the editors
necessity
philosophy authors
Mystery”
by
by Nigel
in a Changing
and
they proffer the
Geography
perspectives
the
Owens,
Geography’
Myth and Alternative
conflicting
human
in Chal-
and Susan
of Cultural
and
economic, a
‘Perspectives
by Susan Smith and ‘History,
the contested
the
and
of the Third World’ by Morag
by Chris Philo).
barriers
the materiality
Thrift,
geog-
Smith and Derek
(‘The Environmental
‘Images,
two
economic,
human
Aim at the Heart of the Region’
“Still Greater
undermined
and humanities.
and
in geography,
of knowledge.
human the
of theory
four
the ways
and postcolonial
fluidity
the social sciences
location ness
feminist
increasing
spatialization
identify
their
through between
the editors
frame
(p. 11). into
on
and
by Tim Bayliss-Smith
drawing
introduction
human
Geography’
chapters Graham
factor
of
Human
theory
Geography’
ded discipline,
which
of
three
social
Linda McDowell,
In their
content is divided
respectively)
Human
‘Taking
and a belief
and modern
will ‘be a major
Core
multi-stran-
themes
geography)
book
‘The Transformation
and theorists.
and
(as Ron Martin
postmodern and
of the
eclectic,
strategically
multi-perspective
by Ron Martin,
lenge’
has illumi-
over the rest of the decade’
and
and
both by a call for
geography
course
ically and methodologically of theories
is thus framed
the
Gregory a
the pluralities
are articulated
political
of
investigate
shaping
‘The
that
features
than
theories
(composed
social both
theories relations
for economic
rest
a
the
economic
that the way in which
raphy
those
and
and
human
geography
into
dogma,
systematic
‘multi-dimensional,
sections:
concepts,
of the
to the
evolving
limiting
in
refer
that post-modernism
The book
culture. have
of social
nated.
The
move-
assumptions
incorporation
of
but
social
and geography.
rather
and differences
changes
to the nation-state,
a reconsideration
theories sense
social new
political
advocates
the text
geography,
information,
redundancy to analyse
a
or remaking
globalization
economic>
theory
human
implied
multi-vocal’
text-
reorientations These
theory
and
attempt
out of the
Importantly
in which
increased
and
of postmodern
to convey
in Cambridge,
a remodelling
ways
to
theoretical
obligatory
structures
of the
as an introductory
geography.
upon
including
danger
social,
process
imagination
undergraduates
more
the
within
and
(p. viii). It arises
endeavour
this to first-year and
concepts
geography
of a geographical
social
central
are to the continuing
human
importance editors’
how
of current
of their s&disciplines.
new,
cross-fertilisation of
impacts each
framework
the overlap
for
between
intersection
of the
and social that are implicit
are sufficiently
highlighted.
of producing
a series of commissioned task of both
introducing
a core essays
in
This text
and the
students
to
Book reviews
262 the concerns,
development
of these subdisciplines increasingly cantly,
fluid
the
discuss
The
cated
aspects
may
risk
than
and political.
interwoven
consideration social,
and
fertilization
of
rather
cultural
than
planned the
would
complex
sexuality
and
than
the
authors
course.
point
probably
as
nature
of human
more
sense
of
such
as
as
and
economics
gender,
strength
attempt
to portray
disciplinary indicate have
of the
reflections,
of
about
the
that are highlighted
responded
last
years.
as a series
nary
areas
than
a core
be most
work raphy, enable tions
useful
The book in the students
the
book
reads
as introductory courses,
taken
not provide philosophy
social
theory
to fully appreciate a strategic
Given
the intense
it, and
garnered
Cass, Ilford,
diplomatic
the
quantity
world
geography.
and
Nations
largest
meeting
would
seem
to have
turning
point
in the post-Cold-War
most
of the
essays
chapters
suggest
when
otherwise.
of a new
sustainable
overarching these
Thomas’
the implicaof
suggest
the
cooperation, that
eloquent
LJNCEI)
editorial
of environmental
efforts
to tackle
the
are
of
a key
suggestions both
politics,
without bound touted
the global
part
of and
international without
problem.
to be formulated
in the interests
rather
of the rich and powerful.
are powerful
in terms Steve
political
and
solutions
term benefits
In his contribution,
than
rethinking
a democratiza-
organizations which
to
as the environ-
the
are for a radical
institutions
this to fail’
is the refusal
so often
in ‘saving’
is often
degradation
and
crisis
that the state,
institution
introduc-
of humanity
there
the
history
blunt: ‘At the most fundamental
been
of international
of geog-
being
became
addressed,
not
Thomas’
that would
of 13
of human
level, the causes
unlikely
Hut
collection
have
in con-
the ground-
political
period.
for global
mostly
in history
little.
Caroline
local
the
development
tion is especially
tion
on
KJNCED),
Far from
period
framework
essays
changed
Conference
a major
in this
up
coverage
of state
been
1994
leading
media
Development of heads
Caroline
Essex,
activity of
by the United
reading
deployment
Frank
Environment
ment,
chapters
of geog-
and
of human
the Consequences,
(ed.),
key
geography
Most
Rio: Unruvelling Thoa.:s
recognize
subdiscipli-
on theory,
and
a stimulating
of a changing
world
(p. 2). Not least of the failings
authoritative
courses
history
of advocating
that
the historiography does
feminism
in its of the
possibilities
human
or following and
in
of contemporary
text.
systematic
with
methodology
is also
on various
introductory
state.
discussion
of well-written, essays
in contemporary
for advanced
raphy.
Its strength
However,
illuminating
and
undermined
and theoretical
the general
the book
Nash
beginning
urban.
the nation
model
sub-
and to
the neatness
been
a single
an
subdisciplines
concepts-the
if not comprehensive
geography.
junction
boundaries these
the economy,
lie in rejecting
would
of
to the way
epistemological
more
blurring
World-have
ten
engaging
and
the
of their founding
or the Third
human
from
in which
the environment, the
results
and disciplinary
the ways
integrity
book
both
of theoretical
Depurtment of Geography, UniversiQ of Wales, Lampeter, D_yfd SA48 7ED, UK
to
by the editors. The
a non-
theory
well
debates
geography
array theorizing
makes
and
offering
recently
issues
These
ongoing
an
include
of
raise.
to
social
A more
citizenship
central
of the geographies
Catherine
cultural,
and give a richer
dis/ability
postcolonialism,
its subdisciplines
and between
and the changing
Yet,
delimiting
on the cross-
and
intersections
but
approaches,
between
between
of
between
and law-finding.
and
limits,
forms
of
geographies,
studies.
to illustrate
circuit’
focus
geography
book
material
their use
to a developed
economic of their
these
and
somehow
tension
geography
resisting
theory,
mediate
of relativism
energizing
account
the economic
between
that
and the particular,
supplementary
‘integrated
postmodern
programmatic
an under-
with,
of relationships
possibly
human
‘core‘
but the structure
and technology
political
outcome
the extremes
is indi-
do not extend
Harraway’s
science
signifi-
three
cultural
as only
The editors
Donna
culture,
interpretation its
reproducing
of the cultural
to, rather
of these
of the
and
their
adequately
not
of the chapters,
book
standing
More
does
importance
in each
of the
of
boundaries.
introduction
the cultural
areas.
modern
and redevelopment
as well as indicating
Smith reasons
are
of most
of the shortwarns
that
to exclude