Regional geography
Encyclopedia
Regional geography is the study of world regions. Attention is paid to unique characteristics of a particular region such as natural elements, human elements, and regionalization
which covers the techniques of delineating space into region
s.
Regional geography is also a certain approach to geographical study, comparable to quantitative geography
or critical geography
. This approach prevailed during the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, a period when then regional geography paradigm was central within the geographical sciences. It was later criticised for its descriptiveness and the lack of theory. Strong criticism was leveled against it in particular during the 1950s and the quantitative revolution
. Main critics were G. H. T. Kimble and Fred K. Schaefer
.
The regional geography paradigm has had an impact on many other geographical sciences, including economic geography
and geomorphology
. Regional geography is still taught in some universities as a study of the major regions of the world, such as Northern and Latin America, Europe, and Asia and their countries. In addition, the notion of a city-regional approach to the study of geography gained some credence in the mid-1990s through the work of geographers such as Saskia Sassen
, although it was also criticized, for example by Peter Storper.
Notable figures in regional geography were Alfred Hettner
in Germany, with his concept of chorology
; Paul Vidal de la Blache
in France, with the possibilism
approach (possibilism being a softer notion than environmental determinism
); and, in the United States, Richard Hartshorne
with his concept of areal differentiation.
Some geographers have also attempted to reintroduce a certain amount of regionalism since the 1980s. This involves a complex definition of region
s and their interactions with other scale
s.
Regionalism (politics)
Regionalism is a term used in international relations. Regionalism also constitutes one of the three constituents of the international commercial system...
which covers the techniques of delineating space into region
Region
Region is most commonly found as a term used in terrestrial and astrophysics sciences also an area, notably among the different sub-disciplines of geography, studied by regional geographers. Regions consist of subregions that contain clusters of like areas that are distinctive by their uniformity...
s.
Regional geography is also a certain approach to geographical study, comparable to quantitative geography
Quantitative revolution
In the history of geography, the quantitative revolution [n] was one of the four major turning-points of modern geography -- the other three being environmental determinism, regional geography and critical geography)...
or critical geography
Critical geography
Critical geography takes a critical theory approach to the study and analysis of geography. The development of critical geography can be seen as one of the four major turning points in the history of geography...
. This approach prevailed during the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, a period when then regional geography paradigm was central within the geographical sciences. It was later criticised for its descriptiveness and the lack of theory. Strong criticism was leveled against it in particular during the 1950s and the quantitative revolution
Quantitative revolution
In the history of geography, the quantitative revolution [n] was one of the four major turning-points of modern geography -- the other three being environmental determinism, regional geography and critical geography)...
. Main critics were G. H. T. Kimble and Fred K. Schaefer
Fred K. Schaefer
Fred K. Schaefer was a geographer. He is considered as one of the pioneers of quantitative revolution.-Life:Fred K. Schaefer was born in Berlin, Germany in the family of metal worker. He was involved in politics as a member of Social Democratic party and after the rise of fascism he fled from Nazi...
.
The regional geography paradigm has had an impact on many other geographical sciences, including economic geography
Economic geography
Economic geography is the study of the location, distribution and spatial organization of economic activities across the world. The subject matter investigated is strongly influenced by the researcher's methodological approach. Neoclassical location theorists, following in the tradition of Alfred...
and geomorphology
Geomorphology
Geomorphology is the scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them...
. Regional geography is still taught in some universities as a study of the major regions of the world, such as Northern and Latin America, Europe, and Asia and their countries. In addition, the notion of a city-regional approach to the study of geography gained some credence in the mid-1990s through the work of geographers such as Saskia Sassen
Saskia Sassen
Saskia Sassen is a Dutch sociologist noted for her analyses of globalization and international human migration. She is currently Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology at Columbia University and Centennial visiting Professor at the London School of Economics. Sassen coined the term global city...
, although it was also criticized, for example by Peter Storper.
Notable figures in regional geography were Alfred Hettner
Alfred Hettner
Alfred Hettner was a German geographer.He is known for his concept of chorology, the study of places and regions....
in Germany, with his concept of chorology
Chorology
Chorology can mean* the study of the causal relations between geographical phenomena occurring within a particular region* the study of the spatial distribution of organisms....
; Paul Vidal de la Blache
Paul Vidal de la Blache
Paul Vidal de la Blache was a French geographer. He is considered to be the founder of the modern French geography and also the founder of the French School of Geopolitics...
in France, with the possibilism
Possibilism (geography)
Possibilism in cultural geography is the theory that the environment sets certain constraints or limitations, but culture is otherwise determined by social conditions. In Cultural ecology Marshall Sahlins used this concept in order to develop alternative approaches to the environmental determinism...
approach (possibilism being a softer notion than environmental determinism
Environmental determinism
Environmental determinism, also known as climatic determinism or geographical determinism, is the view that the physical environment, rather than social conditions, determines culture...
); and, in the United States, Richard Hartshorne
Richard Hartshorne
Richard Hartshorne was a prominent American geographer. He completed his undergraduate studies at Princeton University and his doctorate at the University of Chicago , then taught at the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin , with war-time interruption to...
with his concept of areal differentiation.
Some geographers have also attempted to reintroduce a certain amount of regionalism since the 1980s. This involves a complex definition of region
Region
Region is most commonly found as a term used in terrestrial and astrophysics sciences also an area, notably among the different sub-disciplines of geography, studied by regional geographers. Regions consist of subregions that contain clusters of like areas that are distinctive by their uniformity...
s and their interactions with other scale
Scale (spatial)
Spatial scale provides a "shorthand" form for discussing relative lengths, areas, distances and sizes. A microclimate, for instance, is one which might occur in a mountain valley or near a lakeshore, whereas a megatrend is one which involves the whole planet....
s.