An Introduction to Regional Geography

A critical introduction to the ways in which the concept of the region has been, is, and could be used to make sense of spatial organisation and real variation in human activities. The author examines both economic and policy issues and relates these to culture, regional identity and ecology. Includes examples from all over the world.

The author shows how the perception, representation, imposition and claiming of regions changes from non-state societies, through traditional to industrial societies, and considers the merging of territorial borders of a globalized world economy. This is a complete and penetrating survey of the regional concept as a key to the geographical imagination. Written by France's most prominent geographer, it draws equally on Anglo-American intellectual traditions, and is illustrated by a wide range of examples drawn from all over the world.

List of Figures.
Translator's Preface.
Introduction.
Part I: The Regional Approach:
1. The Development of Regional Studies.
2. The Regional Approach.
3. Methods of Regionalization.
Part II: Factors of the Division and of the Regional Organization of Space:
4. The Ecological Foundations of Regional Geography.
5. The Economic Foundations of Regional Geography.
6. The Social and Cultural Dimensions of Regional Geography.
7. Regional Consciousness and Identity.
8. The Region and Political Life.
Part III: The Forms and the Evolution of Regional Organization:
9. The Evolution of Forms of Regional Organization, Societies within a State.
10. The Regional Organization of Traditional Societies.
11. Forms of Regional Organization Stemming from the Industrial Revolution.
12. Globalization and the New Territorial Order.
Conclusion.
Index.