The idea of the region has been a central concept in the understanding of the natural environment, of human society and culture, and of their interactions, from the ancient Greeks to the present. In this book Paul Claval provides a critical introduction to the ways in which the concept of the region has been, is, and could be used to make sense of spatial organization and areal variation in human activities. He examines both economic and policy issues, and relates these to culture, regional identity and ecology.

The book is divided into three parts. Part I provides a concise...

The discipline of geography has undergone much change and growth in recent years. With growth has come diversity. Before 1945 there were differences between countries in the emphases on subject matter and research approach, although these were all related closely to three main 'models' - French, German and American. Since then, the relative importance of French and German influences has declined substantially, including within their own national territories, and the Anglo-American model has grown to world dominance. With that model, however, there is no dominant point of view but rather a...