Sentinels of geography: legacy,public policy and contemporary relevance

Many geographers, past and present, have addressed public policy issues facing nations and peoples and in the process offered solutions to highly complex problems. Three ‘sentinels’ of the discipline, Halford Mackinder, Carl Sauer and Thomas Griffith Taylor, served as protectors of geography speaking up for the science in a way often confronting public officials, politicians and others. They contributed significantly to the development of geography in Britain, the USA, Australia and Canada, while engaging in public policy debates on topics such as geopolitics, geographical constraints on land use and natural resource management. All three were advocates for the unity of geography, stressing how an understanding of the interconnectedness of natural and human phenomena can assist in decision making. They were often frustrated by what they saw as ill-informed policies which did not respect geographic realities. Given their varied contributions, it is difficult to fully assess their impact both during their long and productive lifetimes, and subsequently, especially given the interdisciplinary and contested nature of their research. Today, academic geographers are faced with having to increasingly ‘prove the impact’ of their research, something beyond the comprehension of previous generations. Lessons from an analysis of the work of these ‘sentinels’, as well as my own experience, show how difficult a task this will be.     

The contribution of physical geography to environmental public policy development in Mexico

In recent years, physical geography in Mexico has contributed to the enterprise of geographical science by integrating with fields of study closely related to topics of sustainable development. This paper outlines the contribution of the discipline to environmental public policy development, particularly ecological land use planning and integrated watershed management. In terms of applications, physical geography appears to have reached a stage of maturity in Mexico. However, it must offer a stronger leadership in areas such as ecoregional analysis (in an integrated fashion, and not only from the biological‐ecological perspective) and regional vulnerability to global change processes. An excellent opportunity exists for scientists and decision makers to develop a common agenda.     

国外地理学对公共卫生问题的研究与启示

在工业化、城镇化、信息化持续发展,全球变化和全球事件轮番冲击的背景下,公共卫生研究不断深化,已发展为全球性的跨学科议程及研究热点.回顾相关文献发现,国内外地理学对公共卫生问题的研究在数量上均经历了缓慢上升、加速上升和当前的快速上升阶段,但切入角度和关注议题存在差异.本文通过梳理国外地理学对公共卫生问题的研究,对这一领域...     

Incorporating geographies of health into public policy debates: The GeoHealth Laboratory

Abstract:  The restricted influence of geographers in the policy arena has been the source of some angst. This paper reports on a new initiative at the University of Canterbury, which aims to strengthen geography's contribution to health policy debates in New Zealand. The GeoHealth Laboratory is a joint initiative between the Department of Geography and Public Health Intelligence group at the Ministry of Health that seeks to provide a pathway for the integration of health geography research into policy development. This new facility aligns the expertise in health geography, GIS and other spatial analytical methods with policy-relevant research priorities. An overview of the strategic aims of the GeoHealth Laboratory is provided along with some examples of recent research activities that are contributing to understandings of the health landscape in New Zealand. It is argued that such partnerships provide important opportunities for geographers to engage with policy-relevant issues.     

欧洲经济地理学区域创新政策研究进展

区域创新政策对创新驱动增长和经济结构转型升级至关重要。20世纪90年代以来,基于对新古典主义经济学“空间中性”的创新政策的反思,欧洲经济地理学提出“基于空间”的区域创新政策,至今已被欧盟委员会和经济合作与发展组织等组织所采用。本文对这一时期欧洲经济地理学区域创新政策的发展背景、主要任务、理论基础和政策建议等方面进行梳理,研究发现：第一,欧洲经济地理学区域创新政策的主流框架有3个,分别是区域创新系统、精明专业化和可持续转型地理理论;第二,3个框架各有侧重,区域创新系统侧重解决系统失灵问题,精明专业化聚焦优先发展领域的选择问题,可持续转型地理理论则强调转型失灵问题;第三,针对上述问题,3个框架均给出“基于空间”的区域创新政策建议,其中,区域创新系统和精明专业化是基于区域资源禀赋差异的视角,可持续转型地理理论则从技术的空间粘性角度出发。最后,提出中国经济地理学未来区域创新政策研究的几个重点研究方向。     

Placing geographies of public health

Following the move to a 'post–medical' geography, a large amount of research has come to focus on public health issues. This paper explores these current geographies of public health and argues for the development of a more critical perspective. In particular, it draws on commentary that has emerged out of debates that have taken place within a body of literature usually identified as the critical 'new' public health. The paper goes on to argue that such scholarship offers crucial insights for the production of a critical geography of public health.     

健康维度下可持续性研究框架解读与重构

我国快速城镇化导致的环境危机引发了诸多公共健康问题,渐成为实现可持续发展过程中的新常态问题。基于2000年后西方学者对城市环境、健康、可持续发展及其关系的论述,从医学地理学、公共卫生学、城市规划学3个视角对健康与环境的关系进行述评;并在现有可持续发展研究维度的基础上,提出引入健康维度的必要性、合理性及其理论基础,整合并重构健康与可持续性研究框架。我国应以广义城市环境系统为平台,以健康与可持续性的两重性为出发点,基于健康维度重构可持续性的研究框架,为新常态下实现城市可持续发展提供新的理论视角。     

英国乡村发展政策演变及启示

诸多成功案例表明,全球化有助于加快经济发展知识与实践的国际转移,将国际知识转移至地区经济发展实践中,为地区发展战略问题提供国际上相关解决方案。英国在其乡村发展历程中也曾经历过与目前中国相类似的发展阶段并遇到相似的发展问题,涉及乡村经济的多样化转型、对新技术和市场扩张的适应和基础设施改善等方面。因此,借鉴英国解决这些问题的经验和教训有助于解决目前中国乡村发展过程中遇到的诸多问题。本文分析了英国乡村发展政策的演变及其阶段性特征,其政策变化的特点主要体现在政策制订由"自上而下"转向"自下而上"、强调政策的综合性、注重乡村发展计划的长远性和可持续性、重视运用法律和市场手段等方面,最后从政策制订、乡村发展计划的实施以及发展项目选择等方面探讨了其对我国乡村发展的政策启示。并指出,考虑到国际乡村发展政策的趋同与差异,任何国际乡村发展政策和模式的采纳均需要根据我国特殊的文化、经济、政治传统和环境予以调整。     

Polyvocalism and the public: 'doing' a critical historical geography of architecture

Loretta Lees' recent call for a 'critical geography of architecture' argued that a more nuanced and truly interpretative methodology for analysing the relationship between space, place and architecture would involve active engagement with such architectural spaces. This paper argues that, in the same way, by broadening our approach to historical architectural geographies more meaningful interpretations will result. Utilizing a 'polyvocal' methodological approach, by which not only architects and planners but also residents of these spaces are considered as important actors, will facilitate this 'critical' engagement with architectural spaces. Further, by taking this polyvocal approach, interesting conclusions can be reached about the production, consumption and re-production of space, both in the past and also in the present.     

Loose threads: The translocal making of public space policy in Hanoi

This paper analyses the recent developments in public space policy in the city of Hanoi, Vietnam. It has three aims. The first is to look at a potentially progressive urban policy in contrast to most work on ‘policies in motion’ that has primarily been concerned with neoliberal policies. The second is to put the process of public space policymaking in Hanoi in historical and cultural perspective. We therefore describe public space in Hanoi as historically constituted by different layers of meaning and physical urban patterns. The paper's third aim is to analyse the translocal connections involved in a policy that is still in the making, and therefore characterized by a series of ‘loose threads’. We show how different types of connections – policy mobility, topological relations and inter‐referencing – relate Hanoi to multiple locales elsewhere. The conclusion reflects on the ‘politics of reception’ showing how analysing a policy in the making develops a critical analysis of policies in motion.     

'After-the-fact causality': a different direction for cultural geography

Cultural geography might benefit from consideration of radical behaviourism and from interpretation and application of the concepts of behaviour analysis. The basic concept is that of operant conditioning, referring to the environment reinforcing behaviours that are most adaptive and effective in achieving reinforcers and avoiding aversive stimuli. The concept of rule-governed behaviour facilitates incorporation of cognition into behaviour analyses, accommodating the fact that many consequences are delayed. These concepts are applied in an analysis of nineteenth-century Mormon settlement in the American West. This argument for an objectivist approach is laden with social scientific baggage not favoured in contemporary cultural geography.     

Connecting historical and contemporary small-area geography in Britain: The creation of digital boundary data for 1971 and 1981 census

This paper reports on the outcome from a project that has developed a GISbased procedure to capture digital boundaries for the small spatial units used in the British Population Census in 1981, and for the geographically comparable units connecting back with the previous enumeration in 1971. 1981 census geography was originally recorded as linear and textual annotations on paper base maps that were subsequently microfilmed. Four methods involving varying degrees of automation for capturing digital representations of these census units from the scanned microfilm imagery are evaluated. Details presented are in the context of British census geography before digital capture of small census units became routine, but the evaluation of the methods and the final procedure cover issues that are generally applicable in situations where the capture of historical mapping is attempted.     

The geography of smoking in Leeds: estimating individual smoking rates and the implications for the location of stop smoking services

Smoking is an important and topical health issue in the UK. In Leeds, the target is to reduce smoking prevalence by 9 per cent by 2010. However, a key unknown is the likely distribution of smokers across the city. This paper aims to estimate individual smoking rates using microsimulation and hence evaluate the performance of established stop smoking services, e.g. how well do they serve local areas and to what extent does attendance vary between service point locations? Location-allocation modelling is employed to test various location scenarios and provide insight into where to optimally place centres.     

从实时定位、环境监测到神经生理：行为地理学技术发展前沿

方法与技术的前沿性是行为地理学的学科特色,技术视角的学科梳理有助于认识行为地理的自身价值与优势。论文回顾了实时定位、环境监测与神经生理3项技术的发展脉络,围绕行为背景、行为环境、行为体验的技术应用进行了综述,并总结了空间—行为互动、地理背景不确定性、批判神经地理的理论推进与批判反思;进一步构建了融合动态背景—精细环境—实时体验的全面技术框架,形成了从背景到环境再到体验的行为地理综合研究体系,并提出了神经生理技术融入行为地理学研究的理论提升方向。论文旨在贡献地理流动性背景下的行为地理学创新路径,服务于行为地理学的知识生产与理论发展。     

Towards a method for postcolonial development geography? Possibilities and challenges

In this paper we explore the contours of a 'method' for postcolonial development geography, which makes it possible to imagine another 'world-picturing'. We suggest three steps towards such a method. First, we propose that a postcolonial method involves thinking about why we are doing research in the south in the first place; how we come to and produce our questions; and how we analyze and represent our findings based on our subject positionings. Second, that we need to recognize theorization as an inherent part of method, rethink how we currently theorize and reconfigure our methods of theorization to address wider political aims. Problematizing theorization helps challenge the universalism of Eurocentric theories, thus enabling development geography to move towards more decolonized versions and visions. Finally, that this must be accompanied by firmer recognition of our multiple investments – personal, institutional and geopolitical – and how they frame the possibilities for change. These are some possible steps that we think can reconfigure the 'scholarly track' that postcolonial development geographers traverse.     

Progress of regional economic geography inChina: a comparative study

llntroductionRegionaleconomicgeography(REG)isanhoportantbranchofgeography,andalsothemajorcomponentofeconomicgeography.ThethehaentalcharactersofREG,i.e.,theregionalcharctersandintegrationcharacters,areendowedwiththetasksonresolvingtheproblemsresultingfromtheconflictsbetweenregionaleconomicactivitiesandregionalenvironmentbetweenresourcesandsocietyindifferentspatiallevels11l.Thenewtrendsofregionaleconondcdevelopment,amongwhichthemarket-orientedeconoInictransformaho4theknowledgeallouteconomicapp…     

'Gluttony or sloth': critical geographies of bodies and morality in (anti)obesity policy

In many countries, obesity is high on public health policy agendas, and geographical research has begun to engage with obesity. However, obesity is a highly contested term, and recent debates about geographers' engagement with policy, and critical discussions of the presence of bodies in medical geography, bear great relevance for developing a critical perspective on dominant 'obesity discourse'. Through a critical reading of a recent UK policy document, this paper considers the presence of bodies in (anti)obesity campaigns, calling for a more critical approach to the medicalization of body size to be central to future geographical work on obesity.     

略论我国历史地理学发展的新途径——兼评台湾省出版的两部《历史地理学》

从中国大陆出版的教材及通论性着作的内容来看,我国的历史地理学研究主要以中国历史地理为研究对象,对国外历史地理学理论方法及学术进展的了解乃至研究较为薄弱。我国台湾省的历史地理学研究与大陆有所差异,陈芳惠所着《历史地理学》主要从一般原理意义上整合世界历史地理研究成果进行内容编撰,姜道章所着《历史地理学》重点论述历史地理学的理论与方法并介绍世界各国历史地理学的进展情况。启示如下:建设中国的历史地理学,除了需要继续推进中国历史地理研究外,更应系统开展世界历史地理研究和进一步加强历史地理学理论与方法等学科问题研究,进而在整体推进我国的历史地理学研究的基础上,期待有通论性的“历史地理学”教材及着作的早日问世。     

基于女性主义地理学视角的家庭暴力研究进展——超越公私二分法

人文地理学者通过家透视生活空间中的社会现象,西方人文地理学文化转向与女性主义研究兴起后,家庭暴力成为学者们关注的对象。在女性主义社会批判特征和地理学空间视角的双重影响下,女性主义地理学家着眼女性的空间经历及情感体验,聚焦女性在家庭中的暴力问题。论文首先介绍“家庭暴力”的概念和公私二分法,指出其中的空间隐蔽性,据此引入女性主义地理学的研究路径,通过分析家庭空间的意义建构,以及容忍家庭暴力存在的更广泛的地理环境,超越空间的公私二分法探讨家庭暴力。基于对国外相关研究的梳理,归纳出家庭、社区/邻里、国家和全球3种尺度分析家庭暴力的地理研究。通过物质、功能、象征维度的家庭空间性分析揭示性别权力在空间上对女性的控制和压迫;运用物质决定论逻辑和社会-文化逻辑2种视角解读家庭暴力存续的社区环境特征及其内在对女性的政策和制度排斥;分析家庭暴力与恐怖主义、军事战争的联系,将家庭暴力议题推向政治地理领域。     

老年人移动构成的时空——老龄化地理学中非表征理论的引入①

本文主要介绍了非表征理论及其在老龄化地理学研究中的运用。该理论的引入将使老龄化地理学成为一个重新焕发活力的研究领域。该领域涉及老年人生活中广泛而多样的空间移动与体验,涵盖移动的参与者、时效性和感知等维度,从而更好地表达和反映空间移动的本质特征。