Transformation Processes in Europe and Beyond: Perspectives for Horizontal Geographies

Europe and the world in all their diversity and complexity have always been – and continue to be – in a state of change. Recent (geo)political, environmental, social, and economic developments demonstrate a world in constant flux. These ever-changing framework conditions require corresponding transformations in many different structures. This anthology takes these observations as a starting point to illuminate theoretical perspectives, methodological approaches, and empirical insights related to recent transformation processes in Europe and beyond – with a special focus in this respect on the USA.

In view of their comprehensive nature, transformation processes cannot be analysed from a single perspective – a uniform approach or theory would fail to address their complexity and contingency. In this sense, “horizontal geographies” serves as our theoretical framework. The concept refers to comprehensive, synthesizing regional analyses which collect, structure, and reflect on knowledge with diverse spatial, social, and cultural contexts. The interdisciplinary and international authorship does justice to the idea of horizontal, multi-perspective geographies, and considers a wide range of transformation processes in Europe and beyond.

Dr. Florian Weber is Junior Professor of European Studies with a Focus on Western Europe and Border Regions at Saarland University.

Dr. Dr. Olaf Kühne is Professor of Urban and Regional Development at the University of Tübingen.

Julia Dittel is a Research Assistant in the Research Group ‘European Studies with a Focus on Western Europe and Border Regions’ at Saarland University.