Kearns, Gerard (1984) Closed space and political practice: Halford Mackinder and Frederick Jackson Turner. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 2 (1). pp. 23-34. ISSN 0263-7758

Preview

Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

urner's frontier thesis and Mackinder's heartland thesis are examples of closed-space thinking. Closed-space theories were current at the beginning of this century when public debate was penetrated both by biology and by geography. This conjuncture allowed spatial concepts to form the basis for the theoretical arguments advanced for political positions. The internal structure of closed-space theories allowed them to promote political conclusions, because the three central terms of those theories (environment, history, recent fundamental changes) were 'essentially contestable' and capable of interpretations which supported particular political arguments. The specific political arguments promoted by Turner and Mackinder dictated the interpretations they chose and thus the internal structure of their theories

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Mackinder, Halford; hearthland thesis; Turner, Frederick Jackson; frontier thesis; Closed-space theories; Environmental Studies; Geography; political conclusions; contextual interpretation;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography
Item ID:	12137
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1068/d020023
Depositing User:	Gerry Kearns
Date Deposited:	14 Jan 2020 15:46
Journal or Publication Title:	Environment and Planning D: Society and Space
Publisher:	Pion
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

Repository Staff Only(login required)

Item control page

Downloads

Origin of downloads