Abstract
Proportional territorial distribution of productive forces historically determined the emergence of socio-economic geography. Deepening regional integration under scrutiny of socio-economic geography culminated in a system of economic regions. These economic regions were further used as special instruments on functional optimisation and management of productive forces guided by specialisation of labor. The process was influenced by scientific and technological advancements, which led to change from a single-sided to an integral multi-factor approach. In these circumstances socio-economic cultural regions emerged as functionally specialised territorial units presenting optimum combinations of productive and non-productive industrial sectors and enterprises. Within this context, the study analyses the role of socio-economic geography in better informing regional integration with reference to South Africa and Zimbabwe. New conceptual terms, such as socio-economic cultural disparities and territorial socio-economic cultural inequalities are proposed. Informed by transformation development theory, the study employs comparative methods of quantitative and qualitative data analysis. It analyses five aspects: (i) application of socio-economic geography to questions of regional integration; (ii) territorial differentiation, factors, forces and relations; (iii) Benefits of economic cooperation and integration for South Africa and Zimbabwe with global economy; (iv) essence of North-South and South-South dialogue; and (v) prospects of the role of socio-economic geography. The conclusions emphasise the role of socio-economic geography, using the newly defined concepts, in articulating a comprehensive theoretical and practical understanding of the processes needed to enhance regional integration.
Highlights
Under continually changing demands, challenges and conditions of existence of communities, social and economic geography emerged as a scientific discipline to systematically address these circumstances
Definition of socio-economic geography as a scientific discipline was founded in its object [2]; aspect; aim and method of research which in their totality constitute its subject of research
Illustrative geographical physical, political and economic maps depicting territorial socio-economic cultural development disparities and regions of Zimbabwe and South Africa make a clear exposition of the challenges facing socio-economic geography in enhancing regional economic integration
Summary
Definition of socio-economic geography as a scientific discipline was founded in its object [2]; aspect; aim and method of research which in their totality constitute its subject of research Within this conception socio-economic geography constitutes itself as a complex of scientific disciplines which study the objective laws governing the distribution of production in society (understood as the integral relationship of productive forces and relations) and settlement of the population (in other words territorial organization of human life in society and the specific forms in which in manifests in different countries; regions; and places), [2]. Key terms as “territorial socio-economic cultural inequalities” implying the unequal levels, rates of growth and development of productive forces and relations as a historical function are examined in their spatial context The study adopts these concepts by addressing four key questions. Last but not least the conclusion notes that the newly proposed terms modify the theory of socio-economic geography so that they could best apply to regional economic integration as an adopted strategy for transformation
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