Action, Knowledge, and Social Relations of Space

Abstract

Geographical inquiries are normally concerned with the study of spatial patterns, regions, or spaces. By contrast, the turn toward sociotheoretical approaches in recent decades has creatively shifted the focus from spatial representation to the actions and practices of geography-making. This endeavor implies an action- or practice-centered perspective. But what does this perspective imply about the status of space? However, this question was foremost underestimated. Mostly, a kind of Newtonian concept of space remained the underlying, unquestioned concept encompassing everything humans do. From the perspective of social action and practices, space itself must be understood as a conceptual element of knowledge rather than as a material vessel containing knowledge. As a conceptual element of knowledge, space is an important tool of the production of geographical realities as historically dynamic realities, each with distinct modes of production, also—even primarily—for the interrelation of knowledge and space.