New Books in Critical Theory Patricia Daley and Ian Klinke, "Human Geography: A Very Short Introduction" (Oxford UP, 2025)
Feb 5, 2026
Ian Klinke, political geographer at Oxford focused on geopolitical thought and infrastructure. Patricia Daley, Oxford professor of African human geography studying migration, violence, and decolonizing pedagogy. They map human geography through spaces like colonies, pipelines, borders, high‑rises, workplaces, conservation zones, and even outer space. Conversations dwell on empire’s imprint, energy and urban politics, labor, migration control, and space as a contested frontier.
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Spatial Lens Reveals Root Causes
- Human geography uses a spatial lens to explain major social problems like inequality and climate change.
- It asks why things are where they are and how spatial power shapes social relations.
Geography's Imperial Origins Matter
- Modern human geography emerged in the 19th century as an imperial science called anthropogeography.
- Early founders linked geography to empire, shaping knowledge for conquest and governance.
Explorers Proved Discipline Membership
- Alfred Mackinder climbed Mount Kenya to 'prove his masculinity' and legitimacy as a geographer.
- Mary Kingsley traveled in West Africa but could not present her findings at the Royal Geographical Society.
