Description
Taylor & Francis Ltd Political Geography 2005 Edition by Mark Blacksell
In 1904 Sir Halford Mackinder published his seminal paper The Geographical Pivot of History demonstrating the central position of political geography in the study of geography as a whole; a century later and political geography is still at the heart of human geography. Yet over time political geography has experienced many significant ups and downs, eventually recovering to a position of renewed pre-eminence as the last century drew to a close. This fascinating journey, charted by this equally fascinating book, forms a key part of the history of the evolution of spatial science. Beyond a narrative, the book provides an introduction to all the complex elements that constitute political geography today. Organized in three distinct sections, it covers:process and patternsideology and geopolitical visionsbeyond the state.Tackling key contemporary issues (such as politics and the local state), as well as more traditional topics (such as state formation and international relations), this thought-provoking book covers the range of theoretical approaches. Including many original maps and diagrams which skilfully illustrate key themes, this book is a concise, student-friendly, pedagogically rich introduction for students of geography, political science and world affairs. 1. Placing Political Geography Part 1 2. Human Territory, Maps and the Division of Space 3. The Idea of State 4. Making States Function: The Variety of Local State Systems 5. The Politics of Difference 6. Social Movements, Pressure Groups and Political Parties 7. Electoral Geographies Part 2 8. Imagining Natural Divisions of Global Power 9. Dreams into Action: The Making of National Foreign Policy 10. Annexing the Oceans Part 3 11. Globalisation and the Theory of World Systems 12. States in the 21st Century 13. Conclusion: Spatial Political Change in Context