Geography in France

context, practice, and text

pp. 45-78

in: Gary S. Dunbar (ed), Geography: discipline, profession and subject since 1870, Berlin, Springer, 2001

Abstract

From eulogy in the history of geographical thought to partial oblivion in subdisciplinary assessments, a wide range of opinion has characterized international scholarly opinion on French geography. Obviously, contrasting views have also existed, and still exist, within France, including those held by geographers themselves. Laudatory, critical, or biased opinions, as well as scientific debates, have to be understood in relation to the necessity for this geography to get recognition in the national and international market of ideas. For achieving this status, it depends upon institutional support, which has largely been dependent on national context. It should be noticed, however, that this context is not something given that more or less determines the evolution of geographical thought. Of course, the context has a conditioning rôle, but it also results itself from the initiatives taken by geographers. In addition, detailed historical research easily demonstrates that geographers usually do not form a community—i. e., a unified group that is able to act collectively. The dominant situation is a competitive one, each group taking inspiration and support from non-geographers. Thus, the circulation and elaboration of ideas is best understood by focusing on "circles of affinity" that largely cut across disciplinary boundaries (Berdoulay 1995). They are part of the process of institutionalization, as they help to clarify the differential success achieved by various ways of geographical thought and practice. Most of all, they are the major mediations between text and context. Because of their relative stability, academic institutions, as well as teaching, research, and fieldwork practices, also play a significant mediating rôle. Less noticed, but equally important, discursive genres and rhetorical practices can bring an even longer stability in the mediation between text and context (Berdoulay 1988).