Geography - History and Concepts: A Student′s Guide - Softcover

Holt-Jensen, Arild

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0761961801 ISBN 13: 9780761961802

Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd, 1999

Synopsis

Totally revised and updated, written especially for students, the Third Edition of Geography – History and Concepts is the definitive undergraduate introduction to the history, philosophy and methodology of Human Geography. Accessible and comprehensive, the work comprises five sections:

• What is Geography?: A historical overview of the discipline and an explanation of its organization
• The Foundations of Geography: Examines Geography from Antiquity to the early modern period; the discussion includes detailed explanations of environmental determinism; the French School; landscape; and regional studies
• Paradigms and Revolutions: Includes an analysis of Kuhn′s paradigm of scientific knowledge that introduces the discussion of the quantitative revolution in the late sixties – this section examines the new human geography, as well as reviewing criticisms of quantification
• Positivism and its Critics: Defines positivism and empiricism and offers a comprehensive exposition of humanist and structuralist criticisms of these methodologies; concludes with a critical discussion of structuration theory, realism and postmodernism
• Processes in Place and Space: An introduction to core themes and concepts in current geographical though: including space, place, and feminism.

Illustrated throughout, with summaries, notes for further reading and a concept glossary of Geography – History and Concepts is essential reading for undergraduates in Geography.

About this title

About the Author

Arild Holt-Jensen (born 1937) is professor emeritus at Department of Geography, University of Bergen, Norway. He has been teaching geography in Bergen since 1965 and is the author of a number of books and articles on history and concepts of geography, environmental, urban and regional planning as well as general textbooks for highschool geography. Rewarded in 2000 ‘Modeens Minnemedalj’ by the Finnish Geographical Society for achievements in geographical education. He has served as Department chair, member of University Senate, member of editorial board for GeoJournal, member of the Council in the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) .

He has long experience in setting up and organising cross-disciplinary courses in environmental science and planning. His research in settlement geography, environmental, local and regional planning cover studies in Norway, the Nordic and Baltic countries. He has been guest professor at University of Washington, Seattle. He has lead a number of field courses for BA and MA students in Norway and the Baltic countries.

Holt-Jensen coordinated 2000-2004 the NEHOM (Neighbourhood Housing Models) project, financed by EU 5^th framework programme, involving 11 partners in 8 European countries, which was followed up in the period 2004-2008 by  a Nordic - Baltic project financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers. One result of this project is (Holt-Jensen A and Pollock, E. (eds 2009):’ Urban Sustainablility and Governance; New Challenges for Nordic and Baltic Housing Policies’. NOVA, New York.

From the start of his university studies he has been active in local and national politics:  as member of the Norwegian Liberal Party he headed its Environmental Commission 1968 – 1975 (national), was member of Bergen City Council 1971-1979 and later functioned as Chair of ‘Landås City District’ board in 12 years. From 2004 he shifted to membership in Bergen Socialist (Labour) Party.

Edition details

• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0761961801
• ISBN 13: 9780761961802
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 248