Spatial Conflicts and Conflictual Spaces : The Dynamics of Refiguration

This volume explores the refiguration of space as a theoretical framework, presenting empirical studies on spatial conflicts and emerging conflictual spaces across different regions and scales. It contains contributions which follow varied theoretical threads and represent different geospatial standpoints, but which relate to the thesis of the refiguration of space as a new phase after globalization.

By adopting a spatial lens, the book offers insights into the dynamics of social order in the post-globalization era, examining how conflicts arise within space and how spatial dynamics shape social tensions. The chapters unpack the interplay between human aspirations and geographical limitations and use the concept of (re)figuration to underline the trans-scalar dimension of most social conflicts, which is massively expanded by digital mediatization, public communication and its refigured infrastructures. While emphasizing the empirical analysis of conflicts in space, the edited volume also seeks to identify general principles of the spatial dynamics of social conflicts. It is this "spatial logic" underlying conflictual situations that the book addresses with the term "spatial conflicts."

This volume will be of interest to students and researchers in sociology, anthropology, geography, urban studies, communication studies, political science, and globalization and peace studies.

The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons [Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND)] 4.0 International license.

Hubert Knoblauch is Professor for General Sociology/Theories of Modern Society at the Technische Universität Berlin and Co-Chair of the Collaborative Research Center (CRC 1265) “Re-Figuration of Spaces” with Martina Löw. His main research areas include Sociological Theory, Sociology of Knowledge, Religion, Language, Qualitative Methods, Videography. He recently published the monograph The Communicative Construction of Reality (2020).

Dr. Vivien Sommer is a sociologist researching knowledge, practices, and memory with a focus on European borders. Since 2023, she leads the Emmy Noether Junior Research Group on socio-spatial memory at the Leibniz Institute for Research on Society and Space and is part of the Collaborative Research Center (CRC 1265) “Re-Figuration of Spaces” at Technische Universität Berlin. Her work focuses on empirically grounded theory development in the fields of Sociology of Knowledge and Space, as well as the development of innovative qualitative methods.

Barbara Pfetsch is Professor of Communication Theory and Media Effects research at Freie Universität Berlin and a principal investigator at the Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society. Her research and publications focus on comparative political communication, online communication and digital issue networks, and transnational and European public spheres.