Geographical Perspective Research Articles

Забутий геноцид: як шведські шкільні підручники історії розповідають про Голодомор

This article explores how Swedish school history textbooks address the famine-genocide of 1932–1933 in Ukraine. By analyzing how this historical event is represented in educational materials, the article aims to determine the extent to which the Holodomor is acknowledged, contextualized, and explained within the broader narrative of Soviet interwar history presented to Swedish students. The source material consists of textbooks used in Swedish schools, ranging from lower secondary to upper secondary education. 20 textbooks were reviewed, and interviews were conducted with six teachers and one author. It underscores the practical importance of accurately representing the Holodomor within history education, particularly in terms of the consequences of insufficient education about past genocides and crimes against humanity. The article highlights challenges within the Swedish education system, including curricular limitations, limited resources, and the prioritization of events like the Holocaust and the Gulag over the Holodomor, shedding light on how these factors could influence students’ understanding of historical events and the broader context of past atrocities. The article reveals that, while the Holodomor is mentioned in some literature, it is only briefly addressed, with the Gulag instead becoming symbolic of communism’s crimes against humanity. As one teacher suggested, there may be a geographical perspective at play, prompting more focus on events closer to home. A noticeable trend over time also emerges in school literature, with more recent publications being more likely to address the Holodomor using accurate terminology, while older works tend to avoid it. Additionally, there is a tendency to explain the Holodomor, when mentioned, as a result of poor economic planning (i.e., communism) rather than as a deliberate act driven by ethnic hatred toward Ukrainians within the framework of Russian imperialism. In fact, no Swedish schoolbooks clearly present the Holodomor as a genocide. Consequently, this report identifies three possible outcomes: 1) the Holodomor is not mentioned at all, 2) mass starvation is referenced but not as the Holodomor, or 3) the Holodomor is acknowledged but explained primarily as a result of forced collectivization in Soviet agriculture rather than an outcome of Russian imperialism or ethnic hatred aimed at eliminating Ukrainians as a people. Thus, a portrayal of the Holodomor as both an event in its own right and as genocide could not be demonstrated, nor was any such literature found. Keywords: History, Holodomor, Genocide Education, History Didactics, Soviet History, Ukraine, Sweden

Resource supply and demand model of military settlements in the cold weapon era: case of Zhenbao Town, Ming Great Wall

As an important military defense project in Chinese history, the Ming Dynasty Great Wall and its associated military settlements played a crucial role in maintaining border security. A systematic analysis of how military settlements allocated resources based on external threats and geo-strategic needs is essential to understanding their settlements defense systems. However, this aspect has been relatively under-explored in existing research. Therefore, a resource allocation assessment model for Great Wall military settlements during the Cold Weapon era is established to facilitate a more scientific analysis and quantitative assessment of Military Defense Capabilities(MDC) and Military Requirements(MR). This study employs a combined Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) approach to determine the weight of each indicator for both military defense capability and military requirement. Spatial clustering using K-means is conducted to visualize the distribution of these strengths and weaknesses. An Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model links military requirements with defense capabilities, assessing the relationship between settlement locations and historical battle sites. Residual analysis is utilized to identify areas of resource over-allocation or under-allocation. The study reveals that the regional differences in military defense capabilities and requirements within the Zhenbao Town area during the Ming Dynasty correspond closely with the locations of frequent conflicts. This finding suggests that the distribution of defensive capabilities were strengthened in areas with challenging terrain, while the effectiveness and allocation of defense capabilities were determined by logistical support and transportation conditions. This study enhances our understanding of historical military strategies from a historical geography perspective and offers innovative insights for analyzing Great Wall settlement, moving beyond mere sensory intuition and historical experience.

(Pragmatist) geographies of rankings

AbstractAs a rapidly growing interdisciplinary literature has argued, rankings have become a key means of valuation in contemporary society. However, the majority of the work focuses on rankings in only a few areas, and even if spatial aspects play a role in the interdisciplinary literature, the number of explicitly geographical works on rankings is surprisingly low. Against this backdrop, in this paper I aim firstly to flesh out a pragmatism‐inspired geographical perspective on rankings. Secondly, using the example of wine rankings, I will ask the question as to how the growing importance of rankings has changed valuation schemes. The wine industry is particularly well suited to this, as nominal classifications in the form of designations of origin have historically played a central role here. A pragmatist, geographical perspective on ordinal ordering processes illustrates that rankings evoke both economic and geographical realities; they do this not only through the ranking processes as such, but also through observation of and engagement with rankings by different actors. In the case of wine, local/regional specificity is an inherent part of the world of rankings—be it through the fact that ranking processes build on (embodied) geographically contextualised knowledge of wine judges, through the possibilities of using (or not using) (different) rankings for different markets by wine producers, or through the balance between the marketing of wine through rankings and the suitability of those very wines for the specific markets in which they are to be sold. This is perhaps the biggest difference compared with other fields in which the importance of rankings has increased considerably—in particular, higher education. It helps to explain why the historically significant valuation scheme of geographical origin has not lost any of its significance, despite the increase in the importance of rankings in the world of wine.

Geopolitical Implications of the US-India Strategic Partnership in the Indo-Pacific Region

A geo-economics and geopolitical analysis of the shifting dynamics of the bilateral relationship between the USA and India has significant implications for the IPE in the Indo-Pacific region. This paper aims to evaluate the interaction process between the US and India, utilizing major theories related to China's emergence. This work, guided by the methodologies of realism, neoclassical realism, constructivism, and geo-economics, analyzes the strategic coordination of security defense technology and economic cooperation. It also scrutinizes how the cooperation impacts regional players such as ASEAN, Japan, and Australia, balancing the divergence of geographical perspectives and India's decoupled strategic sovereignty. The last chapter of the study analyses the transformation of the Indo-Pacific by the partnership and presents ways to advance this alliance. In fact, this paper will assist in developing a theoretical understanding regarding the great-power rivalry with the region and the importance of the bilateral partnership for the maintenance of the rule-based international order.

SOME CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT SCHOOL MEALS IN ESPÍRITO SANTO

This article aims to analyze the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) in the state of Espírito Santo from a geographical perspective. It provides a historical overview of programs aimed at family farming and fighting hunger in Brazil, highlighting the importance of issues that permeate food, such as globalization, hunger, and the land structure of Espírito Santo, as well as their consequent impact on food production in the state. The objective is to show how the Program is important for those who produce food (farmers) and for those who consume it (students in state public schools), and that it can still be improved.

The case for geography in nursing practice.

The discipline of geography is an increasingly necessary lens required to understand population-level diseases. Syndemics, or co-occurring diseases or epidemics within a specific population, are contextualized by place-preexisting social, economic, and political structures. Nurse practitioners are well-positioned to critically assess the impact of geography on patient health and well-being. This perspective provides a brief summary of syndemic crises, with a case example in the West Virginia coalfields. The position of this paper is one that supports geography, in addition to social determinants of health, as a framework for syndemics. A geographic perspective provides a more comprehensive picture of marginalized populations and regions facing the phenomenon. Given the significance of holistic nursing, attention to the role of geography in syndemics provides an increased dimension of care and treatment.

Assessment of coral diseases in the shallow reefs of Aka-jima Marine Reserve (AMR), with a brief geographic perspective of disease occurrence throughout the larger Kerama-Shoto Marine National Park (KMNP), Okinawa, Japan

This study reports on the observation of coral diseases within the shallow/intertidal water habitat of the Akajima Marine Reserve (AMR), located within the Keramashoto Marine National Park (KMNP) of Japan. Major coral genera and species assessed during the survey included Montipora spp., Porites spp., Isopora palifera, Acropora spp., as well as other. Observed diseases and health conditions included Black Band Disease (BBD) in Montipora as well as in Goniopora, Skeletal Growth Anomalies (GAs) in Acropora, Montipora, Porites, Isopora and Astreopora, Terpios hoshinota covering Acropora, Montipora and Seriatopora, as well as bleaching, discoloration, and other compromised health signs. This field study recorded the presence of GAs in the genus Leptastrea for the first time within the Japanese Archipelago. The novelty in this study is reporting unreported genera to be infested with certain disease conditions, further this study demonstrates how surveys in previously poorly studied areas or habitats can reveal important information pertaining to coral diseases, thus helping to fill existing knowledge gaps. Another important aspect of this study is, we provide a review of the distribution of coral diseases within the KMNP based on our results and previous reports. Being a rapid survey, the dynamics of these diseases were not assessed, while the major cause(s) of the diseases remains to be identified. In general, climate change-related aspects including rises in sea surface temperatures, as well as other factors such as host density may be responsible for disease prevalences in the region.

Revisiting the Aral Sea crisis: a geographical perspective

ABSTRACT The Aral Sea crisis is one of the greatest ecological and socio-economic disasters of the 20th century. The main cause was the large-scale diversion of water for cotton cultivation. This article examines the crisis with a human geography perspective and emphasises the need for a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach. It highlights the importance of sustainable water management, regional cooperation and active community participation. The study also discusses the role of integrated water and energy management supported by strong policies to prevent future water scarcity and address climate change. Finally, this article emphasises the significance of empowering local communities through traditional ecological knowledge and education to promote resilience and sustainable development. The conclusions focus on solutions to resolve the Aral Sea crisis that would ultimately improve the well-being of people in the region and beyond.

Rural areas as winners of COVID-19, digitalization and remote working? Empirical evidence from recent internal migration in Germany

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has caused economic crises and increased inter-regional economic disparities. However, the catalyst effect that the pandemic has had on digitalization may change the traditional pattern of internal migration, in favour of rural areas. Using time-sensitive register data we explain changes in net migration rates of German districts from an economic geography perspective. We show that, since the beginning of the pandemic, rural regions benefited more from migration. In particular, younger and highly skilled individuals increasingly move to rural areas. This confirms that rural regions can benefit from increasing remote work, but these effects differ across region types and individual skill levels.

The Determinants of Presenteeism in Selected European Countries - Modelling from Geographical and Gender Perspectives

In this paper we analyze motives (person-, work-, and organizational-related) of presenteeism among employees in selected European countries. We applied questions on presenteeism from European Working Conditions Surveys (EWCS) for 2010-2021. Based on the preliminary outcomes we observe that presenteeism is gender and geographical-dependent. Therefore, we use geographically weighted regression (GWR) to model determinants of phenomena. We find that men are more motivated by economic issues (the level of earnings, type of work contract, household financial situation, gander pay gap) but women are guided by so-called emotional factors (having children at home or work requiring direct contact with customers). The type of employment contract and fact of having children at home also has an impact on presenteeism. The results of the GWR show that, regardless of gender, there are countries for which the influence of multiple factors was recorded simultaneously, e.g. Spain, Malta, Portugal. However, there are countries for which no influence of factors on presenteeism was identified, e.g. Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, Hungary, Luxemburg or Finland and therefore, the motives of presenteeism should be analysed separately. Finally, the country policy insurance arrangements contribute to the presenteeism.

A systematic literature review on the psychogeography element in poetry writing

ABSTRACT Poetry uses rhythm and language to express emotions and convey meanings clearly and creatively. Poetry has developed different structures, techniques, and trends over time, reflecting cultural, social, and political changes. The aim of this study is to conduct a comprehensive examination and analysis of poetry writing within the framework of psychogeography. The current study employed many research methodologies, and the review was conducted according to the established standard, specifically the PRISMA statement (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). This study utilised Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus as the primary databases to search for the articles that were required. By employing content analysis, this study may be categorised into five themes were developed, which were: (a) places, (b) spaces, (c) place attachment, (d) dérive, and, (e) flâneur. This conclusion shows that several academics have not fully applied psychogeography to local poetry from psychological and geographical perspectives.

Lou Reed’s Emotional Geography

Starting with his band the Velvet Underground, Lou Reed wrote songs imbued with nonmoral depictions of people’s emotional experiences with drug use, sex work, marriage, poverty, friendships, and other aspects of life and survival in New York City. This paper presents an interpretation of Reed’s words and music from the twin perspective of geography and psychology. Drawing on materials in the Lou Reed Archive at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, the author conducted a comprehensive analysis of song recordings released over three distinct periods of Reed’s music career. Each song was considered within the framework of a psychoevolutionary theory of human emotions and situated in New York’s diverse spaces and places. Reed’s grounded lyrics convey a deep empathy for people’s triumphs, setbacks, and conflicts as they search for love and act on a desire for transcendence and freedom. The paper recommends further research into songwriters who use their biography to tell geographic stories.

Breakdowns, (Un-)Sichtbarkeiten und glitches. Kritische Geographien der Resilienz digitaler Infrastrukturen

Abstract. This paper draws on current discussions in digital geography that emphasize the political and theoretical role of glitches. While we sympathize with the basic assumptions of this discussion and also find it helpful to connect these to older discussions around digital infrastructures, we propose an opposing perspective with this text. Using the example of Internet infrastructures, we focus on the continuous and painstaking work of making infrastructures invisible and preventing glitches. We are particularly interested in the production of resilience and focus from a geographical perspective on the rationalities of redundancy and addressing latency.

A geographic perspective of the association between physical activity and cardiovascular health: A need for community-level intervention

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major cause of death globally, and minority communities are at higher risk of chronic health outcomes. A combination of lifestyle, including physical activity (PA), good nutrition, and reduced stress, can improve life expectancy. This study aimed to analyze the association between CVDs and PA among the adult population (N = 3,956) based on the World Health Organization (WHO) STEPwise Approach to Surveillance (STEPS) survey in Afghanistan. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and spatial analytical techniques were used to analyze the data. Based on the WHO STEPS data, the computed prevalence of CVDs, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol were 7.41%, 45.57%, 34.06%, 9.51%, and 12.16%, respectively. Multivariate logistic analysis indicated that moderate work-related PA was associated with higher odds of CVDs and high cholesterol while inversely associated with obesity. Moderate leisure-related PA was positively associated with obesity. Vigorous leisure-related PA was associated with lower risks of CVDs, obesity, and high cholesterol but had a positive association with hypertension. Spatial analysis revealed a CVD hotspot in the southern region and the risk factors clustered in the northern region. These findings offer valuable insights for community and public health practitioners to design targeted interventions for reducing the burden of CVDs and risk factors in communities in developing countries.

Examining Geographic Disparities in Fatal Automobile Accidents Across Kuwait Using GIS

Traffic accidents are considered a major public health issue worldwide, causing more than a million deaths annually and roughly five times that many injuries. Studying such accidents from a geographic perspective may help policy makers form better mitigation strategies for reducing accident rates. A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a powerful tool for performing this task due to its ability to visualize the spatial distribution of traffic accident data. Our research focused upon analyzing the geographic disparities in fatal car accidents. We chose to examine data between October 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023 for the state of Kuwait, which has a relatively high fatal accident rate per capita. We used various GIS-based tools in this research, such as average nearest neighborhood, point density, and optimized hot spot analysis. The results showed a significant disparity in accidents between urban and rural areas. Furthermore, an accident rate comparison between winter and summer seasons also revealed seasonal geographic disparities.

Thermal preference and pleasantness of a students’ population in a coastal urban area during summer

In thermal comfort research, two main domains are identified: objective and subjective. This study focusses on the latter, examining various aspects of preference, sensation, and pleasantness. It also clearly distinguishes each concept and sets the groundwork for their standardised use in urban planning and urban climate studies. Additionally, this study emphasises the often-overlooked geographical perspective, aiming to address previous gaps in this research area. Environmental conditions were found to be the main determinants influencing pedestrians' thermal sensation, preference, and pleasure. Key factors include air temperature, solar radiation, and wind speed, which exhibit strong correlations with pleasure responses. Additionally, urban density, clothing type and colour, shading, sex, and weather type significantly impact thermal sensation and reported pleasantness. It was observed that people who overdressed for the season, wore dark or warmer clothes, experienced air temperature and solar radiation more intensely. Similarly, those in high-density urban areas, without shade, or when weak continental wind conditions were observed, reported stronger thermal sensations. Women generally sensed air temperature and solar radiation as more intense compared to men. These factors influence thermal pleasantness, varying in importance, spatial distribution, and statistical relationship. Higher wind speeds, particularly from an Atlantic direction, were found to enhance thermal pleasantness by balancing conditions and reducing thermal sensation votes for air temperature and solar radiation. Green areas also increased thermal pleasantness by lowering air temperature and solar radiation sensations and promoting a sense of happiness among pedestrians.

Home in Han Suyin’s 'Till Morning Comes' from the Perspective of New Cultural Geography

Viewed through the lens of new cultural geography, a geographical landscape is a symbolic system showing the beliefs and values of society, as in the case of the home landscape. The article employs Mike Crang’s concepts of landscape and home to examine different homes in Han Suyin’s Till Morning Comes (1982). From leaving homes, searching for homes to returning homes, Stephanie, an American woman in diaspora, is exposed to different cultures, experiencing a sense of home in China, a sense of homelessness in both China and America, and a sense of being between worlds. In the process of searching for a home, Stephanie constructs her identity as a Chinese and eventually as a world citizen. The home in the novel is more than just a dwelling place; it is a place signifying cultural identity and a meaningful space that influences the identity transformation of a diasporic woman. The article therefore uses a textual analysis approach to explore how homes are represented and how a diasporic woman’s identity is affected by the home landscape she experiences in Till Morning Comes. This novel’s exploration of home illuminates the unique experience of a diasporic woman, highlighting the importance of re-evaluating Han’s work within the framework of contemporary cultural geography.

Human-ocean relationships: Exploring alignment and collaboration between ocean literacy research and marine conservation

In recent years, global attention on marine conservation and sustainability has surged. Understanding the relationship between society and the ocean is crucial for achieving conservation targets, ocean sustainability, and community well-being. Toward these ends, the UN Ocean Decade recognizes ocean literacy as a transformative mechanism to reshape society-ocean relationships. Ocean literacy seeks to empower global communities to better understand, value, and care for the ocean in ways that support, restore, and ensure ocean-human health and well-being. By extension, ocean literacy research is an emergent transdisciplinary field of inquiry that explores diverse dimensions, drivers, and impacts of human-ocean relationships. It considers these relations across different socio-cultural, economic, political, and geographic contexts and perspectives. In this article, we position ocean literacy research and the wider concept of ocean literacy as a framework for exploring the relational aspects of marine conservation to inform effective policy and conservation. We begin by situating ocean literacy and ocean literacy dimensions, research priorities, and community alongside broader ocean conservation efforts. We next share insights gleaned from the third edition of the Ocean Literacy Dialogues series, led by the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition and the Marine Social Sciences Network, with support from IOC-UNESCO, held during the fifth International Marine Protected Area Congress (IMPAC5) in Vancouver, in early 2023. Through a series of participatory sessions, we explored the application of ocean literacy research in supporting future marine conservation and management. Drawing on insights co-developed through this process, we outline potential agenda alignment between IMPAC5 marine conservation themes and co-identified ocean literacy research priority areas. We lastly speak to the importance of ongoing collaborative initiatives like the Ocean Literacy Dialogues series to foster global collaborations, dialogue, and capacity sharing to advance ocean literacy, marine conservation, and policy efforts.

Resilience Mechanisms and Coping Strategies for Forcibly Displaced Youth: An Exploratory Rapid Review.

Context: The global escalation of conflict, violence, and human rights violations sets a pressing backdrop for examining the resilience of forcibly displaced youth (FDY) in Canada. This study aims to unpack the multifaceted challenges and resilience mechanisms of FDY, focusing on their health, well-being, and integration into host communities. It seeks to identify current models of resilience, understand the factors within each model, and highlight gaps and limitations. Methodology: Using a university librarian-supported structured search strategy, this exploratory rapid review searched literature from Ovid Medline and open-source databases, published in English between January 2019 and January 2024, that fit specific inclusion criteria. The eligible articles (N = 12 out of 4096) were charted and analyzed by two student researchers with the Principal Investigator (PI). Charted data were analyzed thematically. Results: The selected studies captured diverse geographical perspectives, resilience models (such as Ungar's ecological perspective and Masten's resilience developmental models), as well as protective and promotive frameworks. Key findings indicate the complexity of resilience influenced by individual, familial, societal, and cultural factors. Each model offers insights into the dynamic interplay of these influences on FDY's resilience. However, these models often fall short of addressing the nuances of cultural specificity, the impact of trauma, and the intersectionality of FDY's identities. Conclusions: Recognizing the diverse and evolving nature of FDY's coping mechanisms, this study advocates for a culturally appropriate approach to resilience that integrates an intersectionality framework of individual attributes and culturally sensitive models.

Towards a geographical political economy understanding of platformization

In the last ten years digital platforms have emerged as an important theme in academic discourse and various subdisciplines of geography and adjacent research areas. Whether in the fields of social media, urban transport, industry cloud services or gig work, platformization is therein often discussed as a more-than-economic phenomenon engaging in a conflictive relationship with public interest, sovereignty, regulation and the state. However, while the concept of the platform has become ubiquitous, the integration of and dialogue between various broadened definitions are less often practiced. In our short paper, we argue that for further addressing this intricate relation between platforms, power and sovereignty an engagement with the platform concept and its integration through a political economy understanding is key for two reasons: Firstly, an overarching concept of platformization transcending the political/economy binary is necessary to be able to problematize the reification of normalized economic practices lying at the heart of the phenomenon. Secondly, there is a pragmatic reason for developing a geographical political economy perspective on platformization as it can serve as a common ground for an engaged pluralism within and beyond the discipline of economic geography. Based on a systematization of existing definitions this paper therefore combines insights from political economy perspectives, urban platform research and research on platform labor to propose a working definition stimulating a reflection on the platform discourse thus far and strengthening strategical-relational thinking on platform power in future research.