Geodeterminism

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Geodeterminism (also nature determinism , environmental determinism or ecodeterminism ) is a research approach in economic space analysis , which states that the different economic development in different parts of the world is primarily determined by the natural equipment.

overview

Geodeterminism was the dominant theoretical school of thought in geography , especially human geography , in the 19th and early 20th centuries and was particularly well represented in Germany. The theoretical alternative to this conception is geopossibilism , which had its representatives mainly in France (e.g. Paul Vidal de la Blache ). The mere fact that people and societies adapt to their natural environment, make use of it and depend on certain natural resources (e.g. soil, water) is therefore not to be called a geodeterministic way of thinking.

Basic principles

Geodeterminism is based on an organic connection between space and people. This means that the absolute space 'in itself' ( vulgar materialism ) has an independent effect on people and thus not only influences their actions, but also determines culture and society.

Benno Werlen specifies this as follows: According to the basic theses of geodeterminism, all human cultures and societies are to be viewed as expressions of natural conditions and can be traced back to them. The spatial conception of geodeterminism pretends an organic unity between man and space, which also played a role in National Socialism. Authors such as Ratzel and the Haushofer brothers played an important role here and established a controversial political geography that was received worldwide and continuously developed in the Anglo-Saxon countries. New approaches to this have only recently been emerging in Germany.

Geodeterminism in developing country research

Geodeterministic approaches attribute poverty and hunger in Africa, Asia and Latin America (mainly) to unfavorable natural conditions, for example a lack of arable land and clean water (combined with overpopulation ), unfavorable climatic conditions (which can lead to drought or floods), desertification , the spread of tropical diseases , the lack of mineral resources or isolation due to inland locations . Jared Diamond names in his book " Poor and Rich " (in the original "Guns, Germs and Steel") the availability of plants and animal species suitable for agriculture and livestock, the trade and exchange possible through the Mediterranean Sea and the land bridge to Asia as well as the Adaptation to the pathogens associated with farm animal husbandry as the basis of European economic development.

The expressions of geodeterminism are the terms developing countries without access to the sea (31 poor, remote countries) and the fourth world (poorest, poorest countries in the world). Less widespread is the geodeterministic term Fifth World , which, within the “poorest countries” of the Fourth World, designates those without mineral resources and without access to the sea.

The countries of the Sahel are cited as a typical example of poverty due to unfavorable natural causes . These are all affected by desertification and natural climatic fluctuations , have little natural resources and are mostly landlocked. In contrast, Axelle Kabou contrasts the inability of Africans to long-term economic planning, shaped by the centuries-long slave trade.

Max Weber , on the other hand, emphasized the role of religion, especially Protestantism, in economic development, even in climatically unfavorable regions, such as Scandinavia.

The Canadian John Kenneth Galbraith emphasizes the role and high motivation of refugees, and the level of education as the basis of the German reconstruction and overcoming the immense war damage after 1945 and compares this situation (quite positively) with the Sikhs in Indian Punjab and the role of the Chinese abroad .

Criticism in developing country research

The aim is to show that mostly different - both natural and man-made - factors are responsible for hunger and poverty. The effects of fluctuating rainfall are often exacerbated by deforestation and overuse of the soil. Land shortages in many developing countries also result from the fact that the most fertile soils are used by large landowners for the cultivation of export products ( export-oriented cash crops ), while only poor quality land is left for the small-scale production of (basic) food ( food crops ) remains. Also, corruption , inadequate administrative structures and democratic participation, lack of education and religious-cultural-related deficits are used as internal explanations, the terms of trade , armed conflict and international standards as external causes.

Countries that are economically successful in spite of adverse natural conditions, such as Switzerland, a mountainous inland country with no significant mineral resources, and the success of Singapore , Israel and states of the USA such as Utah and Arizona contradict a flat geodeterministic view.

In return, there are very resource-rich countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo , Angola or Sudan , which are among the poorest countries. In this context there is even talk of a so-called “ resource curse ” when the availability of natural resources such as oil or diamonds and inadequate good governance coincide or rather inhibit than promote general economic development. As a counterexample, the border between Norway and Russia is cited, which has the world's highest prosperity gap and large controversial marine raw material deposits without being considered a crisis area.

Representative of geodeterministic geography

See also

literature

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  1. ^ Springer Gabler Verlag (editor), Gabler Wirtschaftslexikon, online
  2. ^ Werlen, B. (2004): Social geography. Bern, Stuttgart, Vienna. Page 383. ISBN 3-258-05300-6
  3. ↑ Belina, B. (2000): Criminal spaces: function and legitimation of entry bans. = Urbs et regio 71. Kassel. Pages 44-50. ISBN 3-89792-018-2
  4. ↑ Tobias Schwab: Land grabbing in the poorest countries in Africa. Land grabbing. Frankfurter Rundschau , April 27, 2012, accessed on September 15, 2016 .