Nigel Thrift - Böcker

Two decades after the publication of the seminal Models in Geography, edited by Richard Chorley & Peter Haggett, this major collection of specially commissioned essays charts the new human geography from the perspective of political economy. Providing surveys of recent trends in theory, bibliographic guides to the literature, and pointers to advances and frontiers in thinking, the book ranges from cultural to economic and urban geography. The authors explore the connections between political economy and geographical thought in each area, with the emphasis lying on the processes of material production and social reproduction.

What are the economic prospects of European regions in a globalizing world? One view suggests that European regions will be overwhelmed by global forces; another suggests the rise of a new localism leading to a Europe of the regions. This book argues that neither of these accounts is correct. The authors offer detailed accounts of the local economies of Baden Wüttemberg, Emilia-Romagna, Switzerland, and Eastern Germany amongst others to support their view. In so doing they discuss a number of important and topical issues: industrial districts and their distinctiveness, organizational flexibility, regional economic planning, and the role of transnational companies.Through the application of an institutionalist perspective which stresses the importance of institutionalizing processes within the economy, the chapters in the book argue that regional economic prosperity will depend upon the degree to which regions are able to mobilize flexible institutional strategies. The book concludes that adaptable regions with a diverse institutional presence can harness the forces of globalization to their own ends. Other regions, with more rigid institutional structures, face a bleak future.

The concept of globalization has become ubiquitous in social science and in the public consciousness and is often invoked as an explanation for a diverse range of changes to economies, societies, politics and cultures - both as a positive liberating force and as a wholly negative one. Whilst our understanding of the politics, economics, and social resonance of the phenomenon has become increasingly sophisticated at the macro-level, this book argues that globalization too often continues to be depicted as a set of extra-terrestrial forces with no real physical manifestation, except as effects. The essays challenge this dominant understanding of 'globalization from above' through explorations of the mundane means by which globalization has been achieved. Instead of a focus on the meta-political economy of global capitalism, the book concentrates on the everyday life of capitalism, the not-so-'little' things that keep the 'large' forces of globalization ticking over. With its eye on the mundane, the book demonstrates that a series of everyday and, consequently, all but invisible formations critically facilitate and create the conditions under which globalization has flourished. The emphasis is on concrete moments in the history of capitalism when these new means of regular reproduction were invented and deployed. Only by understanding these infrastructures can we understand the dynamics of globalization.In short, punchy essays by distinguished researchers from across a range of disciplines, this book provides a new way of understanding globalization, moving away from the standard accounts of global forces, economic flows, and capitalist dynamics, to show how ordinary practices and artefacts are crucial elements and symbols of globalization.

The concept of globalization has become ubiquitous in social science and in the public consciousness and is often invoked as an explanation for a diverse range of changes to economies, societies, politics and cultures - both as a positive liberating force and as a wholly negative one. Whilst our understanding of the politics, economics, and social resonance of the phenomenon has become increasingly sophisticated at the macro-level, this book argues that globalization too often continues to be depicted as a set of extra-terrestrial forces with no real physical manifestation, except as effects. The essays challenge this dominant understanding of 'globalization from above' through explorations of the mundane means by which globalization has been achieved. Instead of a focus on the meta-political economy of global capitalism, the book concentrates on the everyday life of capitalism, the not-so-'little' things that keep the 'large' forces of globalization ticking over. With its eye on the mundane, the book demonstrates that a series of everyday and, consequently, all but invisible formations critically facilitate and create the conditions under which globalization has flourished. The emphasis is on concrete moments in the history of capitalism when these new means of regular reproduction were invented and deployed. Only by understanding these infrastructures can we understand the dynamics of globalization.In short, punchy essays by distinguished researchers from across a range of disciplines, this book provides a new way of understanding globalization, moving away from the standard accounts of global forces, economic flows, and capitalist dynamics, to show how ordinary practices and artefacts are crucial elements and symbols of globalization.

Timekeeping is an essential activity in the modern world, and we take it for granted that our lives are shaped by the hours of the day. Yet what seems so ordinary today is actually the extraordinary outcome of centuries of technical innovation and circulation of ideas about time.Shaping the Day is a pathbreaking study of the practice of timekeeping in England and Wales between 1300 and 1800. Drawing on many unique historical sources, ranging from personal diaries to housekeeping manuals, Paul Glennie and Nigel Thrift illustrate how a particular kind of common sense about time came into being, and how it developed during this period.Many remarkable figures make their appearance, ranging from the well-known, such as Edmund Halley, Samuel Pepys, and John Harrison, who solved the problem of longitude, to less familiar characters, including sailors, gamblers, and burglars. Overturning many common perceptions of the past-for example, that clock time and the industrial revolution were intimately related-this unique historical study will engage all readers interested in how 'telling the time' has come to dominate our way of life.

Timekeeping is an essential activity in the modern world and we take it for granted that our lives our shaped by the hours of the day. Yet what seems so ordinary today is actually the extraordinary outcome of centuries of technical innovation and circulation of ideas about time. Shaping the Day is a pathbreaking study of the practice of timekeeping in England and Wales between 1300 and 1800. Drawing on many unique historical sources, ranging from personal diaries to housekeeping manuals, Paul Glennie and Nigel Thrift illustrate how a particular kind of common sense about time came into being, and how it developed during this period. Many remarkable figures make their appearance, ranging from the well-known, such as Edmund Halley, Samuel Pepys, and John Harrison, who solved the problem of longitude, to less familiar characters, including sailors, gamblers, and burglars. Overturning many common perceptions of the past-for example, that clock time and the industrial revolution were intimately related-this unique historical study engages all readers interested in how 'telling the time' has come to dominate our way of life.

Bringing together in one volume the most important writings of Andrew Leyshon and Nigel Thrift on money and finance, including the unpublished classic "Sexy-Greedy" this collection examines the economic, social and cultural manifestations that go to make up the multiple vision of money.Money, it seems is the great God of our age. It is also an economy, a sociology, an anthropolgy and a geography. Linking money with the emergent patterns of global spatial order. Money/Space analyses the restructuring of financial markets in a range of spatial scales; global, national and local.

Rejecting static and reductionist understandings of subjectivity, this book asks how people find their place in the world. Mapping the Subject is an inter-disciplinary exploration of subjectivity, which focuses on the importance of space in the constitution of acting, thinking, feeling individuals.The authors develop their arguments through detailed case studies and clear theoretical expositions. Themes discussed are organised into four parts: constructing the subject, sexuality and subjectivity, the limits of identity, and the politics of the subject.There is, here, a commitment to mapping the subject - a subject which is in some ways fluid, in other ways fixed; which is located in constantly unfolding power, knowledge and social relationships. This book is, moreover, about new maps for the subject.

Rejecting static and reductionist understandings of subjectivity, this book asks how people find their place in the world. Mapping the Subject is an inter-disciplinary exploration of subjectivity, which focuses on the importance of space in the constitution of acting, thinking, feeling individuals.The authors develop their arguments through detailed case studies and clear theoretical expositions. Themes discussed are organised into four parts: constructing the subject, sexuality and subjectivity, the limits of identity, and the politics of the subject.There is, here, a commitment to mapping the subject - a subject which is in some ways fluid, in other ways fixed; which is located in constantly unfolding power, knowledge and social relationships. This book is, moreover, about new maps for the subject.

As theorists have begun using geographical concepts and metaphors to think about the complex and differentiated world, it is important to reflect on their work, and its impact on our thoughts on space. This revealing book explores the work of a wide range of prolific social theorists. Included contributions from an impressive range of renowned geographical writers, each examine the work of one writer - ranging from early this century to contemporary writers. Among the writers discussed are Georg Simmel, Mikhail Bakhtin, Gilles Deleuze, Helene Cixous, Henri Lefebvre, Jacques Lacan, Pierre Bourdieu, Michel Foucault and Franz Fanon. Ideal for those interested in the 'spatial turn' in social and cultural theory, this fascinating book asks what role space plays in the work of such theorists, what difference (if any) it makes to their concepts, and what difference such an appreciation makes to the way we might think about space.

As theorists have begun using geographical concepts and metaphors to think about the complex and differentiated world, it is important to reflect on their work, and its impact on our thoughts on space. This revealing book explores the work of a wide range of prolific social theorists. Included contributions from an impressive range of renowned geographical writers, each examine the work of one writer - ranging from early this century to contemporary writers. Among the writers discussed are Georg Simmel, Mikhail Bakhtin, Gilles Deleuze, Helene Cixous, Henri Lefebvre, Jacques Lacan, Pierre Bourdieu, Michel Foucault and Franz Fanon. Ideal for those interested in the 'spatial turn' in social and cultural theory, this fascinating book asks what role space plays in the work of such theorists, what difference (if any) it makes to their concepts, and what difference such an appreciation makes to the way we might think about space.

Timespace undermines the old certainties of time and space by arguing that these dimensions do not exist singly, but only as a hybrid process term. The issue of space has perhaps been over-emphasised and it is essential that processes of everyday existence, such as globalisation and environmental issues and also notions such as gender, race and ethnicity, are looked at with a balanced time-space analysis.The social and cultural consequences of this move are traced through a series of studies which deploy different perspectives - structural, phenomenological and even Buddhist - in order to make things meet up. The contributors provide an overview of the history of time and introduce the concepts of time and space together, across a range of disciplines. The themes discussed are of importance for cultural geography, sociology, anthropology, cultural and media studies, and psychology.

Timespace undermines the old certainties of time and space by arguing that these dimensions do not exist singly, but only as a hybrid process term. The issue of space has perhaps been over-emphasised and it is essential that processes of everyday existence, such as globalisation and environmental issues and also notions such as gender, race and ethnicity, are looked at with a balanced time-space analysis.The social and cultural consequences of this move are traced through a series of studies which deploy different perspectives - structural, phenomenological and even Buddhist - in order to make things meet up. The contributors provide an overview of the history of time and introduce the concepts of time and space together, across a range of disciplines. The themes discussed are of importance for cultural geography, sociology, anthropology, cultural and media studies, and psychology.

Featuring a fantastic line up of contributors, The City A-Z introduces students to a refreshingly new way of thinking about and understanding cities and urban life. Specially comissioned short entries capture moments of the city, constantly surprising the reader with entries ranging from poetry to prose, from paintings to a photo-essay, and from rigorous noisy analysis to quiet stories of city life. An "ideas" map, similar to the London Underground map, links all the different themes providing a route through this unique text.Includes contributions from: Ash Amin , Anette Baldauf , David Bell, Walter Benjamin, Alistair Bonnett, Iain Borden, Stephen Cairns, Iain Chambers, Steve Graham, Dolores Hayden, Steve Hinchcliffe, Mary King, Deborah Levy, Eugene McLoughlin, Harvey Molotch, Miles Ogborn, Steve Pile, Roy Porter, Jane Rendell, Saskia Sassen, David Sibley, Sharon Zukin

Featuring a fantastic line up of contributors, The City A-Z introduces students to a refreshingly new way of thinking about and understanding cities and urban life. Specially comissioned short entries capture moments of the city, constantly surprising the reader with entries ranging from poetry to prose, from paintings to a photo-essay, and from rigorous noisy analysis to quiet stories of city life. An "ideas" map, similar to the London Underground map, links all the different themes providing a route through this unique text.Includes contributions from: Ash Amin , Anette Baldauf , David Bell, Walter Benjamin, Alistair Bonnett, Iain Borden, Stephen Cairns, Iain Chambers, Steve Graham, Dolores Hayden, Steve Hinchcliffe, Mary King, Deborah Levy, Eugene McLoughlin, Harvey Molotch, Miles Ogborn, Steve Pile, Roy Porter, Jane Rendell, Saskia Sassen, David Sibley, Sharon Zukin

First published in 1989. It seems such a long time ago, another age—yet it is a mere twenty-odd years since the original Models in Geography was published. It is an even shorter time since the first tentative steps were taken towards an alternative formulation of what might constitute a geographical perspective within the social sciences. What came to be called the political-economy perspective has progressed with remarkable speed and energy to generate its own framework of conceptualization and analysis, its own questions and debates. The papers in these two volumes are witness to the richness and range of the work which has developed over this relatively short period within the political economy approach. Moreover, from being a debate within an institutionally defined ‘discipline of geography’, to introducing into that discipline ideas and discussions from the wider fields of philosophy and social science and the humanities more generally, it has now flowered into a consistent part of enquiries that span the entire realm of social studies.

Cultural Geography is one of the most vibrant areas of geographical research, encompassing a wide range of issues including the study of space, place and time in culture, as well as the analysis of cultural elements such as artefacts, tools, techniques, attitudes, customs, languages and religious beliefs.Providing a retrospective as well as a prospective take on modern cultural geography, this collection contains a range of diverse material to provide both an historical resource, tracking the marking of the field, and a map of contemporary themes and obsessions. Emphasizing the multiplicity of theoretical and substantive concerns in cultural geography, it focuses on the area’s interfaces with science studies, cultural studies, post-colonial studies and environmental history, thus ensuring that is an important resource for both student and scholar alike.

This astonishing book presents a distinctive approach to the politics of everyday life. Ranging across a variety of spaces in which politics and the political unfold, it questions what is meant by perception, representation and practice, with the aim of valuing the fugitive practices that exist on the margins of the known. It revolves around three key functions. It:introduces the rather dispersed discussion of non-representational theory to a wider audienceprovides the basis for an experimental rather than a representational approach to the social sciences and humanitiesbegins the task of constructing a different kind of political genre. A groundbreaking and comprehensive introduction to this key topic, Thrift’s outstanding work brings together further writings from a body of work that has come to be known as non-representational theory. This noteworthy book makes a significant contribution to the literature in this area and is essential reading for researchers and postgraduates in the fields of social theory, sociology, geography, anthropology and cultural studies.

This astonishing book presents a distinctive approach to the politics of everyday life. Ranging across a variety of spaces in which politics and the political unfold, it questions what is meant by perception, representation and practice, with the aim of valuing the fugitive practices that exist on the margins of the known. It revolves around three key functions. It:introduces the rather dispersed discussion of non-representational theory to a wider audienceprovides the basis for an experimental rather than a representational approach to the social sciences and humanitiesbegins the task of constructing a different kind of political genre. A groundbreaking and comprehensive introduction to this key topic, Thrift’s outstanding work brings together further writings from a body of work that has come to be known as non-representational theory. This noteworthy book makes a significant contribution to the literature in this area and is essential reading for researchers and postgraduates in the fields of social theory, sociology, geography, anthropology and cultural studies.

Much rare material is incorporated in this unique account of urbanization in a developing country that was ravaged by war for twenty years. With due emphasis on the experience of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), the authors present an account of what happened to the towns and cities of Vietnam between the establishment of Ho Chi Minh's socialist state in 1954 and the mid 1980s. The story is introduced through a general theoretical and empirical account of urbanization in socialist Third World countries. The book stresses the importance of the turmoil created by warfare in directing urbanization, but it also refers to the more conventially studied determinants of the process such as the institution of a planned economy.As one of the few books highlighting the impact of warfare on urban settlements, The Price of War will interest all those interested in urbanization, development and South-East Asia.This book was first published in 1986.

Through a series of international case studies, the nature and the geographical implications of the development of multinational corporations is examined. The volume concentrates on the latter Post-War period of corporate restructuring and readjustment in response to world-wide recession in the mid-1980s. The volume is divided into two parts. In the first each of the chapters considers a particular aspect of the problem of how multinational corporations have developed. In the second part the chapters consider different aspects of the economic and social impacts of these corporations. The common theme that links all the papers is their emphasis on careful historical analysis of different forms of spatial organisation and their transformation into other, different forms.

This volume charts the ways in which multinational corporations contributed to the restructuring of the world economy, paying particular attention to the spatial consequences of, and responses to, their operations at a number of scales. The book takes as its theme the differential spatial outcomes of the restructuring of different types of multinational corporation.

Through a series of international case studies, the nature and the geographical implications of the development of multinational corporations is examined. The volume concentrates on the latter Post-War period of corporate restructuring and readjustment in response to world-wide recession in the mid-1980s. The volume is divided into two parts. In the first each of the chapters considers a particular aspect of the problem of how multinational corporations have developed. In the second part the chapters consider different aspects of the economic and social impacts of these corporations. The common theme that links all the papers is their emphasis on careful historical analysis of different forms of spatial organisation and their transformation into other, different forms.

This volume charts the ways in which multinational corporations contributed to the restructuring of the world economy, paying particular attention to the spatial consequences of, and responses to, their operations at a number of scales. The book takes as its theme the differential spatial outcomes of the restructuring of different types of multinational corporation.

Organizations rely extensively upon a myriad of images and pictorial representations such as budgets, schedules, reports, graphs, and organizational charts to name but a few. Visual images play an integral role in the process of organizing. This volume argues that images in organizations are ‘performative’, meaning that they can be seen as performances, rather than mere representations, that play a significant role in all kind of organizational activities. Imagining Organizations opens up new ways of imagining business through an interdisciplinary approach that captures the role of visualizations and their performances. Contributions to this volume challenge this orthodox view to explore how images in business, organizing and organizations are viewed in a static and rigid form. Imagining Business addresses the question of how we visualize organizations and their activities as an important aspect of managerial work, focusing on practices and performances, organizing and ordering, and media and technologies. Moreover, it aims to provide a focal point for the growing collection of studies that explore how various business artifacts draw on the power of the visual to enable various forms of organizing and organizations in diverse contexts.

A volume celebrating the work of the twentieth century's leading geographer should in itself be an event of importance for the discipline. This book lives up to that ambition, for in its quality, breadth and originality it reflects the attributes of the man it honours. The conbributors include Richard Chorley, Peter Gould, Torsten Hagerstrand, David Harvey and R J Johnston.

This Reader brings together the exciting and innovative work that has appeared in the last 10 years in the growing field of cultural economy. Brings together exciting and innovative work from the last ten years in the emerging field of cultural economy. Contains a substantial introduction by the editors on the main strands and history of the cultural economy approach. Shows how the pursuit of prosperity always involves multiple and hybrid orderings that cannot be reduced to either the terms culture or economy. Shows that thinking about cultural economy is both a substantive task and a valuable contribution to knowledge. Material is organised around different links in the value chain.

This book develops a fresh and challenging perspective on the city. Drawing on a wide and diverse range of material and texts, it argues that too much contemporary urban theory is based on nostalgia for a humane, face-to-face and bounded city. Amin and Thrift maintain that the traditional divide between the city and the rest of the world has been perforated through urban encroachment, the thickening of the links between the two, and urbanization as a way of life. They outline an innovative sociology of the city that scatters urban life along a series of sites and circulations, reinstating previously suppressed areas of contemporary urban life: from the presence of non-human activity to the centrality of distant connections. The implications of this viewpoint are traced through a series of chapters on power, economy and democracy. This concise and accessible book will be of interest to students and scholars in sociology, geography, urban studies, cultural studies and politics. .

This book develops a fresh and challenging perspective on the city. Drawing on a wide and diverse range of material and texts, it argues that too much contemporary urban theory is based on nostalgia for a humane, face-to-face and bounded city. Amin and Thrift maintain that the traditional divide between the city and the rest of the world has been perforated through urban encroachment, the thickening of the links between the two, and urbanization as a way of life. They outline an innovative sociology of the city that scatters urban life along a series of sites and circulations, reinstating previously suppressed areas of contemporary urban life: from the presence of non-human activity to the centrality of distant connections. The implications of this viewpoint are traced through a series of chapters on power, economy and democracy. This concise and accessible book will be of interest to students and scholars in sociology, geography, urban studies, cultural studies and politics. .