A Student's Introduction to Geographical Thought: Theories, Philosophies, Methodologies

Couper, Pauline

doi:10.4135/9781473910775

Cited by 22 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…Thus, an important part in critical realism relates to that of 'abduction', which can generally be defined as a way to abstract observations into plausible causation sequences that 'gives rise to observed regularities in the pattern of events ' (O'Mahoney and Vincent, 2014: 17). Abduction brings the world of the 'intransitive' (objects, materiality, real structures) into the world of the 'transitive' (theories, ideas), while simultaneously recognising that the transitive world acts back on our understanding of the intransitive world (Couper, 2015, Modell, 2009. Thus, abduction helps to construct a theory, which in turn allows for looking at empirical observations through new lenses, which again potentially can refine theory, and so on.…”

Section: Critical Realism As Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Green reorientation of clusters and the role of policy: ‘the normative’ and ‘the neutral’ route

Sjøtun

Njøs

2019

European Planning Studies

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This dissertation is empirically motivated by understanding the observed and ongoing green transformation of the maritime industry in Western Norway, a development that has had implications for both environmental protection, regional economic growth and job creation. Theoretically, the dissertation argues that the observed regional transformation processes should be analysed through an integration of three theoretical frameworks; 'Evolutionary Economic Geography' (EEG), 'Transition Studies' (TS) and 'Institutional Entrepreneurship Work' (IEW). As such, the dissertation argues that transformation is a complex phenomenon that requires co-evolution between several actors, technologies, policies and institutions, but also that these processes need to be embedded in evolving territorial contexts. Finally, these processes must be driven by purposeful actors aiming to change institutions to be more favourable for a green transformation. The dissertation approaches an integration between EEG, TS and IEW through engaging with three debates or 'areas of engagement' within these literatures. These include debates around how actors and agency affect institutional change processes, the role of territorial and multi-scalar dynamics, and the role of simultaneous and dynamically interacting dimensions of materiality, organization and discourse. Through these debates, the dissertation specifically argues for a new analytical framework which emphasises multi-actor institutional change (drawing on IEW), territoriality and multi-scalarity (drawing on EEG), and multi-dimensionality (drawing on TS), as well as the interplay between these elements. The theoretical discussion is illustrated, empirically, by an extensive case study of the green transformation of the Western Norwegian maritime industry. The dissertation is based on four qualitatively oriented papers, each of which contributes to the overall problem framings that it has sought to tackle. These papers focus on the following issues; Paper #1) how engineers perform multi-scalar institution changing practices in addition to technologist practices during processes of transformation; Paper #2) how the material, organizational and discursive dimension around a specific multi-scalar demonstration project (the actor-networks around and the materiality of a 'performing project enacting agency') have led to change in public ferry procurement on regional and national level; Paper #3) how achieving 'directionality' in cluster policy must recognise that regional clusters are embedded in different 'trinity' (materialityorganisation-discourse), sector and territorial/multi-scalar dynamics; and Paper #4) how green x List of papers This dissertation is based on the following papers:

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Section: Critical Realism As Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Green reorientation of clusters and the role of policy: ‘the normative’ and ‘the neutral’ route

Sjøtun

Njøs

2019

European Planning Studies

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“…Couper stated that 'places and identities are experienced…' [20]. This is precisely the issue of the GA's perception of space.…”

Section: The Study Of the Geopolitical Agent's Perceptions And Capacimentioning

confidence: 99%

Does the Agent Matter? The Geopolitical Agent in Neoclassical Geopolitics

Morgado

2020

SSA

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The neoclassical realist approach considers systemic stimuli (independent), and leader images, strategic culture, state-society relations, and domestic institutions (intervening) as the variables of an explanatory model of foreign policy and international outcomes (dependent variable). Starting from the central assumptions of Ethology and Classical Élites Theory with the purpose of delimitating the agent – the geopolitical agent or the foreign policy executive – this paper aims to reinforce the importance of the intervening variables geopolitical agent’s perceptions and capacities in shaping the geopolitical design and other foreign policy outcomes. The true core of the paper is to expand the scope of geopolitical studies by including the methodological task of studying the geopolitical agent’s perceptions and capacities. In doing so, the matter directly relates to the analysis of both (i) how the geopolitical agent can perceive the geographical space (Raumsinn), and (ii) what can be the geopolitical agent’s capacities in managing resources assigned to the foreign policy. The purpose of the paper is then threefold: (i) conceptual – because it deals with definition of terms and their differentiation, (ii) theoretical – since the paper intends to review the neoclassical realist approach and merge it with geopolitical studies trying to forge a joint approach, and (iii) methodological – as it provides methodological guidelines about the new framework. Therefore, the paper brings the innovation of including insights of the neoclassical realist intervening variables into the geopolitical studies’ framework for a more accurate and enhanced scope of geopolitical analysis in the future.

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“…This leads on to a broad epistemological understanding about how knowledge is acquired, transmitted, altered and integrated into conceptual systems. Geographers have worked within positivism, critical realism, phenomenology and post-phenomenology, social constructionism, feminism, structuralism and poststructuralism, postmodernism and complexity theory (Couper, 2015). As a result, it is possible to view higher education research through a number of different epistemological lenses, opening up pedagogic knowledge to the possibilities of evolution, diversity and challenge.…”

Section: The Nature Of Geographers and Their Relationship With The Scmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geographers and the scholarship of teaching and learning

Hill

Walkington

King³

2018

Journal of Geography in Higher Education

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A Student's Introduction to Geographical Thought: Theories, Philosophies, Methodologies

Cited by 22 publications

References 0 publications

Green reorientation of clusters and the role of policy: ‘the normative’ and ‘the neutral’ route

Green reorientation of clusters and the role of policy: ‘the normative’ and ‘the neutral’ route

Does the Agent Matter? The Geopolitical Agent in Neoclassical Geopolitics

Geographers and the scholarship of teaching and learning

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