Why the New Maritime Geographies Matter

Abstract

AbstractThe maritime logistics industry is a field of key importance for research in the global economy. With links to trade, transportation and infrastructures development, the industry plays a central role in processes of material flows and circulation. This article maps the main discussions on maritime logistics along the interdisciplinary literature strands in globalisation studies, economic geography, transportation studies and urban studies, with the aim to identify drawbacks and opportunities for further research. Drawing on recent empirical studies of global value chains/global production networks, maritime cities and industry clusters, the article distills key challenges for research with relation to current socio‐technical and political shifts in the global space economy. Conclusions are twofold: first, renewed—critical—attention to the geographies of maritime logistics can improve our understanding of the industry's role in contemporary spatial economies; second, overcoming conceptual boundaries through research openness and imagination will enable critical dialogue concerning contemporary processes of market making and specifically industrial and environmental transitions, which is of relevance to urban, regional and national policy.