Human Geography Flashcards
(102 cards)
1
Q
What does geography as an integrative discipline link?
A
Society, economy, politics, and environment
2
Q
Define theory in geography.
A
Ideas explaining how the world functions
3
Q
What role does theory play in geography?
A
Forms coherent viewpoints, informs actions, engages critically
4
Q
Name one ancient contribution to geography.
A
Xu Xiake’s travel writings in China
5
Q
Who pioneered geographic scholarship in the Islamic world?
A
Al Idrisi
6
Q
What significant mapping evolution occurred in Europe?
A
From religious mapping to navigation maps like the Mercator map
7
Q
What linked geography to exploration in the 15th-16th century?
A
Colonisation and map-making
8
Q
What was emphasized during the 17th-18th century Scientific Revolution?
A
Mathematics, astronomy, precise measurements
9
Q
When did geography emerge as a formal academic discipline?
A
19th Century
10
Q
What concept applied Darwin’s theories to justify imperialism?
A
Social Darwinism
11
Q
What does environmental determinism suggest?
A
Climates shape societies’ success
12
Q
What did radical geography advocate for?
A
Geography as a tool for social justice and equality
13
Q
Who were key figures in 20th-century regional geography?
A
- Richard Hartshorne
- Carl Sauer
14
Q
What did the Quantitative Revolution focus on?
A
Spatial science and empirical methodologies
15
Q
What is Tobler’s first law?
A
Everything is related, but near things are more so
16
Q
What critiques emerged against spatial science?
A
Oversimplification, ignoring power relations, assumption of neutrality
17
Q
What does critical geography include?
A
- Humanistic geography
- Marxist geography
- Feminist geography
- Decolonial geography
18
Q
What perspective does Doreen Massey advocate?
A
Hybrid perspective—places interconnected and open
19
Q
What is the concept of ‘topophilia’?
A
Emotional bonds with place
20
Q
How do landscapes reflect gender norms?
A
Reinforce divisions between public/private, male/female spheres
21
Q
What does Marxist geography emphasize about landscapes?
A
Landscapes embody capitalist production and exploitation
22
Q
What example illustrates the contrast in landscapes?
A
California’s Central Coast Agricultural Landscape
23
Q
What is the term for the movement of people and goods?
A
Mobility
24
Q
What is Zygmunt Bauman’s ‘kinetic hierarchy’?
A
Rich move freely; poor often move by necessity and are criminalised
25
What historical migration trend occurred from the 19th to 20th centuries?
59 million people migrated from Europe to the Americas and Australasia
26
What is the estimated number of undocumented migrants worldwide in 2010?
50 million
27
What is a key feature of contemporary migration?
Feminisation of migration—women make up 48% of global migrants
28
What are the top source countries for refugees in 2022?
* Syria
* Ukraine
* Afghanistan
* South Sudan
* Myanmar
* DRC
* Sudan
* Somalia
* CAR
* Eritrea
29
What is urban geography?
Study of cities and their spatial organization
30
What model did the Chicago School introduce?
Concentric Zone Model
31
What does the term 'spatial fix' refer to in Marxist urban geography?
Resolution of capitalist crises through urban investment
32
What is the focus of postmodern urbanism?
Fragmented urban form oriented toward consumption
33
Who identified New York, London, and Tokyo as global cities?
Saskia Sassen
34
What is urban financialisation?
Housing as a financial asset rather than a social good
35
What does the term 'gentrification' refer to?
Middle-class movement into low-income neighborhoods displacing residents
36
What is a significant challenge in cities regarding spatial injustice?
Political struggle against exclusion and marginalization
37
What does 'Southern Urbanism' advocate for?
Rethinking cities from the Global South's perspective
38
How many refugees were there globally in 2022?
35.3 million refugees globally
## Footnote
29.4 million were under UNHCR
39
What is the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in 2022?
62.5 million IDPs
## Footnote
This figure reflects the global status of IDPs
40
What are the top source countries for refugees?
* Syria
* Ukraine
* Afghanistan
* South Sudan
* Myanmar
* DRC
* Sudan
* Somalia
* CAR
* Eritrea
## Footnote
These countries have the highest numbers of refugees as of 2022
41
Which country hosts the most refugees in 2022?
Turkey (3.6 million refugees)
## Footnote
Turkey is the top host country for refugees
42
What do Ravenstein’s Laws and neoclassical economic theory treat migrants as?
Rational actors responding to wage differences
## Footnote
These theories form part of the sedentarist and economic models of migration
43
What factors shape migration according to structural-historical and cultural approaches?
* Historical inequalities
* Labour demand
* Global capitalism
## Footnote
These factors contribute to the understanding of migration beyond economic models
44
What is the focus of modern geography in the context of migration?
* Belonging
* Identity
* Displacement
* Experience
## Footnote
This reflects the 'mobilities turn' in geographical studies
45
What do points-based systems in countries like the UK, Canada, and Australia prioritize in migration?
Young, skilled migrants
## Footnote
These systems are designed to attract certain demographics for labor needs
46
How is labour migration often characterized?
Racialised, gendered, and exploitative
## Footnote
These characteristics highlight the inequalities in labor migration
47
What factors allow for transnational living among migrants?
Technology and affordability of travel
## Footnote
These factors enable migrants to maintain ties with their home countries
48
What percentage of the Philippine population lives abroad?
~10% (8.7 million people)
## Footnote
This highlights the scale of labor migration from the Philippines
49
What were the remittances from the Philippines in 2006?
US$12.8 billion (11.8% of GDP)
## Footnote
This figure illustrates the economic impact of remittances
50
How much did remittances from the Philippines rise to by 2017?
US$33 billion
## Footnote
This made the Philippines the third largest recipient of remittances globally
51
What does the 'mobilities turn' shift focus from?
Static space to dynamic movement
## Footnote
This shift is crucial for understanding urban life
52
What is a key dynamic of urbanisation according to UN-Habitat?
Mobility
## Footnote
This emphasizes the importance of movement in urban contexts
53
Front
Back
54
What is the significance of David Harvey’s 1969 quote 'By our theories you shall know us' for human geography?
It highlights that theoretical frameworks shape how geographers interpret the world, influencing not just what is studied but how knowledge is constructed.
55
How did the 'Quantitative Revolution' change geography in the mid-20th century?
It introduced statistical modelling, spatial science, and a positivist approach, shifting focus from regional description to empirical, law-seeking science.
56
What critique did critical geographers make of spatial science?
They argued it ignored power, inequality, and social context—treating people as rational, uniform actors while masking structural injustices (Harvey, 1973).
57
What is Doreen Massey’s theory of place in a globalised world?
She argued that places are dynamic, open, and shaped by global flows—not isolated. Her concept of a 'global sense of place' challenges static, bounded notions.
58
How does Henri Lefebvre conceptualise 'the production of space'?
Lefebvre saw space as socially produced and contested—comprised of perceived (physical), conceived (ideological), and lived (experiential) dimensions.
59
What is Yi-Fu Tuan’s contribution to humanistic geography?
Tuan introduced 'topophilia'—the emotional and affective bond people form with place, advocating for subjective, experiential understandings of geography.
60
How did Carl Sauer define 'cultural landscape'?
Sauer viewed landscapes as products of human activity imposed upon the natural environment, foundational to cultural geography.
61
How does Denis Cosgrove reinterpret landscape in 'Social Formation and Symbolic Landscape'?
He argued landscape is a 'way of seeing' shaped by Renaissance and capitalist visual culture, naturalising social hierarchies.
62
What is Don Mitchell’s Marxist interpretation of landscape?
Mitchell sees landscape as both symbolic and material—embodying labour relations and concealing capitalist exploitation (Mitchell, 1996).
63
How does Neil Smith explain gentrification through the 'rent gap' theory?
Smith argued gentrification occurs when the gap between current rental income and potential ground rent justifies reinvestment and displacement.
64
What does Kimberlé Crenshaw mean by 'intersectionality'?
Crenshaw describes how systems of oppression (race, gender, class) interlock to shape unique experiences of marginalisation.
65
How does feminist geography critique traditional geographic models?
It exposes gender biases in spatial organisation and planning, highlighting how public/private divisions marginalise women and unpaid reproductive labour.
66
What is David Harvey’s concept of the 'spatial fix'?
It refers to capitalism’s need to resolve crises of overaccumulation by investing in new spaces (e.g. infrastructure, real estate), often leading to uneven development.
67
What did Manuel Castells argue about cities and collective consumption?
Castells viewed cities as arenas where social movements contest inequality through demands for housing, transport, and services.
68
How does Saskia Sassen define 'global cities'?
Sassen describes them as command centres of global finance, where advanced producer services cluster, e.g. London, New York, Tokyo.
69
What is Bauman’s concept of the 'kinetic elite'?
Bauman argues globalisation produces a mobile elite with access to the world, while the poor are immobilised or displaced.
70
What is 'transnationalism' in migration studies?
It refers to migrants maintaining networks, activities, and identities across borders, challenging assimilationist models (Basch et al., 1994).
71
How does Tim Cresswell define 'mobility'?
Mobility is not just movement—it is socially produced, shaped by power relations, and differentially experienced (Cresswell, 2006).
72
Front
Back
73
What is the significance of David Harvey’s 1969 quote 'By our theories you shall know us' for human geography?
It highlights that theoretical frameworks shape how geographers interpret the world, influencing not just what is studied but how knowledge is constructed.
74
How did the 'Quantitative Revolution' change geography in the mid-20th century?
It introduced statistical modelling, spatial science, and a positivist approach, shifting focus from regional description to empirical, law-seeking science.
75
What critique did critical geographers make of spatial science?
They argued it ignored power, inequality, and social context—treating people as rational, uniform actors while masking structural injustices (Harvey, 1973).
76
What is Doreen Massey’s theory of place in a globalised world?
She argued that places are dynamic, open, and shaped by global flows—not isolated. Her concept of a 'global sense of place' challenges static, bounded notions.
77
How does Henri Lefebvre conceptualise 'the production of space'?
Lefebvre saw space as socially produced and contested—comprised of perceived (physical), conceived (ideological), and lived (experiential) dimensions.
78
What is Yi-Fu Tuan’s contribution to humanistic geography?
Tuan introduced 'topophilia'—the emotional and affective bond people form with place, advocating for subjective, experiential understandings of geography.
79
How did Carl Sauer define 'cultural landscape'?
Sauer viewed landscapes as products of human activity imposed upon the natural environment, foundational to cultural geography.
80
How does Denis Cosgrove reinterpret landscape in 'Social Formation and Symbolic Landscape'?
He argued landscape is a 'way of seeing' shaped by Renaissance and capitalist visual culture, naturalising social hierarchies.
81
What is Don Mitchell’s Marxist interpretation of landscape?
Mitchell sees landscape as both symbolic and material—embodying labour relations and concealing capitalist exploitation (Mitchell, 1996).
82
How does Neil Smith explain gentrification through the 'rent gap' theory?
Smith argued gentrification occurs when the gap between current rental income and potential ground rent justifies reinvestment and displacement.
83
What does Kimberlé Crenshaw mean by 'intersectionality'?
Crenshaw describes how systems of oppression (race, gender, class) interlock to shape unique experiences of marginalisation.
84
How does feminist geography critique traditional geographic models?
It exposes gender biases in spatial organisation and planning, highlighting how public/private divisions marginalise women and unpaid reproductive labour.
85
What is David Harvey’s concept of the 'spatial fix'?
It refers to capitalism’s need to resolve crises of overaccumulation by investing in new spaces (e.g. infrastructure, real estate), often leading to uneven development.
86
What did Manuel Castells argue about cities and collective consumption?
Castells viewed cities as arenas where social movements contest inequality through demands for housing, transport, and services.
87
How does Saskia Sassen define 'global cities'?
Sassen describes them as command centres of global finance, where advanced producer services cluster, e.g. London, New York, Tokyo.
88
What is Bauman’s concept of the 'kinetic elite'?
Bauman argues globalisation produces a mobile elite with access to the world, while the poor are immobilised or displaced.
89
What is 'transnationalism' in migration studies?
It refers to migrants maintaining networks, activities, and identities across borders, challenging assimilationist models (Basch et al., 1994).
90
How does Tim Cresswell define 'mobility'?
Mobility is not just movement—it is socially produced, shaped by power relations, and differentially experienced (Cresswell, 2006).
91
How did postcolonial geography critique traditional geographic knowledge?
Postcolonial geographers argue that much geographic knowledge was shaped by colonial power and served imperial interests. They call for decolonising methodologies and recognising subaltern perspectives (Said, Gregory).
92
What is the significance of feminist critiques to the history of geographical thought?
Feminist geographers revealed the exclusion of women’s experiences and questioned the objectivity of spatial science. They highlighted how space is gendered and shaped by power.
93
How does Lefebvre's 'triad of space' challenge traditional spatial analysis?
It shows space is not neutral or fixed: it’s produced through spatial practice (everyday life), representations of space (plans/maps), and representational spaces (symbols, meanings).
94
What role does power play in shaping place, according to Massey?
Power shapes how places are defined, who controls their narrative, and who belongs. Places are political and relational, not bounded entities.
95
How does cultural landscape differ from symbolic landscape?
Cultural landscape (Sauer) focuses on material human imprint, while symbolic landscape (Cosgrove) focuses on meaning, representation, and ideology embedded in landscape aesthetics.
96
How do landscape studies connect to ideology and class power?
Landscapes naturalise elite perspectives by making class relations and labour invisible (Mitchell). They are part of the spatial reproduction of hegemony.
97
How do racialised geographies reproduce social inequality?
Through redlining, environmental racism, policing, and housing policy, race becomes embedded in the spatial organisation of cities and access to resources.
98
What is the role of reproductive labour in Marxist feminist geography?
It sustains the capitalist economy by ensuring the daily and generational reproduction of the workforce — a critical but often invisible contribution.
99
How does gentrification reflect broader urban economic restructuring?
It reflects the shift from industrial to post-industrial cities where real estate and cultural capital become central, often displacing working-class communities.
100
What is the 'right to the city' and who coined the term?
Henri Lefebvre coined it to describe the right of all urban dwellers to shape the city and access its resources — not just capital or elites.
101
How does the concept of 'differentiated mobility' critique globalisation?
It shows not everyone moves equally; mobility is a privilege for some and a form of control or exclusion for others (e.g. refugees vs. expats).
102
How is migration linked to global labour markets?
Migrants are integrated into global economies as flexible, low-cost labour — often without full rights — reflecting uneven development and labour market segmentation.
