Towards a Spatial Social Policy: Bridging the Gap Between Geography and Social Policy

Social policy and human geography are intimately intertwined yet frequently disconnected fields. Whilst social policies are always conceived, implemented and experienced in and through geography, the role of place in social policy scholarship and practice is frequently overlooked. Bringing together experts from both fields, this collection illuminates the myriad of ways that human geography offers rich insights conceptually, empirically and methodologically into the neglected spatialities of policy scholarship, practice and experience.

By building the necessary bridges towards a spatial social policy, this book enables the enhanced design, performance and understanding of social policies once properly rooted in their multiple spatialities.

Jessica Pykett is a social and political geographer at the University of Birmingham, UK. Her research to date has focussed on the geographies of citizenship, education and behavioural forms of governance. Her previous books include The Pedagogical State and Changing Behaviours (with Rhys Jones and Mark Whitehead). She teaches on the spatial politics of welfare, work and wealth.

Dr Adam Whitworth is a Senior Lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Sheffield, UK