Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Both of these positions need qualifi cation. Cultural geographers
may disown the value of statistics or social surveys but
would claim that their quest for the meanings behind areas,
landscapes, and activities illuminates our understanding of the
world. The grand theorists would argue that their interpretations
of hidden structures allow causality and explanation to be
achieved. Yet there are signifi cant costs in moving away from
the empirical traditions of human geography. One is relevance
and another is involvement. As the Canadian geographer Derek
Gregory put it:
If we do not care about the world, if we treat it merely as a screen
on which to display our command of high technique or as a
catalogue that serves to furnish selected examples of our high
theory, then we abandon any prospect of a genuinely human
geography.
D. Gregory, 'Geographies, Publics and Politics' (2005)
Continuity in evidence-based research
Thankfully, the empirical tradition and evidence-based research
that has application to the problems and issues facing society is
far from absent in modern human geography. The detailed studies
of census data by geographers continue to inform us on the
nature and extent of population change. Both the demographic
structures and population distributions in most countries are
far from static and an understanding of these facts is essential,
for example, in the provision of public services. Migration and
movement have always typifi ed human populations and very
signifi cant population movements continue to affect many
countries. New confederations, notably the enlarged European
Union, have enabled large-scale labour migrations that often
lead to permanent residence. Retirement migration in Europe
and North America has become a major feature. Displacement of
people and the turmoil and friction that seem endemic in many
