Evolution and current trends in political geography

Abstract

Following a period of decline at the end of the Second World War, Political Geography is again in fashion. In this paper, the modern origins of Political Geography and the causes of the crisis suffered are analyzed. An extensive section is dedicated to the recent revival of the discipline, including an examination of the reasons for this revival and an analysis of the different approaches involved. On the one hand, Political Geography in English-speaking countries involves not only traditional topics, but also topics of a «neo-positivist» nature or with a «structural» methodological base, mainly Marxist in approach. On the other hand, in French Political Geography one finds traditional and neo-positivist approaches alongside an interesting line of study centered on the journal Hérodote, and another approach involving relationships between living space and power. The paper also includes a brief review of the situation of Political Geography in Italy, Germany and Spain.