‘What is industrial culture anyway?’ Theoretical framing of the concept in economic geography

Abstract

In geography, industrial culture is a surprisingly understudied concept. Even when it is considered to play a role in the transformation processes of industrial cities or regions, it is not only terminologically diverse, but also lacks a firm theoretical and conceptual basis. This study conceptualises industrial culture and relates it to ongoing debates in various fields of geography by examining a range of literature from geography and related disciplines. This review structures the existing knowledge into four theoretical approaches: social class (Bourdieusian view), anthropological, institutional and evolutionary. Industrial culture is defined as a dynamic phenomenon in which past and present industrial production is embedded in the human physical environment, social structures, cognitive abilities, and institutions that may influence the future development choices of (post)industrial communities. This concept brings a more nuanced view of the less tangible aspects of culture to economic geography to strengthen its theoretical and empirical basis. This study explores how this concept can be integrated into current geographical research, focussing on the interaction between industrial culture and regional development through different approaches in economic geography (e.g., studies of regional assets, evolution of development paths, agency, deindustrialisation, innovation, entrepreneurship).

Loss and change: Culture narratives in old industrial regions in East Germany

“…In old industrial places, past and current industrial activities led to the emergence of a specific ‘industrial culture’ (Bole, 2021; Eriksen et al, 2023; Görmar & Harfst, 2019). However, in times of changes and uncertainty such places particularly struggle to find a new definition or identity (Cruickshank et al, 2016).…”

Directing Reused Industrial Heritage to Public Taste: The Case of 1933 Old Millfun, Shanghai

“…Industrial culture is abstract, and it is a comprehensive subject that involves many aspects [23,[31][32][33][34]. It is defined as a dynamic phenomenon in which past and present industrial manufacturing are embedded in the human physical environment, social structures, cognitive abilities, and institutions [35]. Culture is a boundless concept; almost all human activities can be considered to be a culture or are driven by culture [33,34,36].…”

Rethinking of identity under war: Pryazovia renaissance and regional centre ambitions in Mariupol before 2022

“…The key features of Donbas regional identity, stimulated by local regional elites as an argument in the election campaigns, can be summarized as Ukrainian-Russian dual ethnicity, dominance of the Russian language, industrial culture, sincere veneration of the Soviet past, and sympathy towards Russian history and state (Pakhomenko, S. 2015). Industrial culture is understood here as a dynamic phenomenon in which past and present industrial production is embedded in the human physical environment, social structures, cognitive abilities, and institutions that may influence the future development choices of a community (Bole, D. 2021).…”