Marxism in Development Geography

Marxism in Development Geography Introduction Marxist Geography is critical in nature, and it utilizes philosophy and theories of Marxism to look at the spatial relations of human Geography. Marxist Geography attempts to change the world as well as explaining it.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Marxism in Development Geography specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Marxism perceives human beings as gradually transforming or changing themselves in stages until social perfection is reached (Peet, 1977). This transformation is viewed as an aim towards which society should be moving. The change is brought forth by dialectical systems bringing about a new process which is again contradicted and the process is replicated (Richard 1985). To effectively be able to comprehend geographical relations, it is important that the social-structure be observed. Marxism Geography tries to change the society by changing its basic structure. The forces behind the changing society are seen as entities which are the modes of production. They include capital, labour, class, capitalism, the market, the state and society. Marxist geography looks at the conflicting forces between social processes and the natural relations together with the spatial relations. It revolves around the modes of production which mold the social structure, remold it continuously to form the superstructure of the society. This paper will critically look at Marxism geography of development (Kitchen and Thrift, 2009). Marxism in Development Geography David Harvey (1973) is the primary developer of the Marxist movement in human geography. According to Marxist geography, social formations of capitalism give birth to environmental and spatial problems, for example, destructions of habitats and uneven employment. It studies the inherent capitalism contradictions as they appear in landscape and relate with each other (Yeung, 2005). This theory will explore the geographical parad igms brought out in Marxism geography, detailing the principles of Marxist geography with reference to the concepts of space and place. Kuhn (1962) came with the idea of paradigms and argued that periods dominated by one research mode, in science, are separated by periods of rapid change (Haggett 1990). Paradigms are described by Harvey (1973: 120) as a set of accepted relationships, categories, concepts and methods, throughout a community at given time. Anomalies occur over time that cannot be explained by the existing paradigms. These accumulations continue to a point where it calls for investigation (Hagget 1990).Advertising Looking for critical writing on geography? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Revolution and creation of new paradigms may result when problems created by the anomalies are attempted to be solved (Harvey 1973). Marxism perceives human beings as gradually transforming or changing themselves in sta ges until social perfection is reached. The Marxist geographers heavily depend on Marxist economic and social theories to show how the means of production in capitalist structures, control the human spatial distribution. By changing the workings of production, Marxist geography aims at changing the fundamental operations of social processes. This leads to investigations being done which leads to revolution and creation of new paradigms. Kuhn’s analysis may not directly, be relevant to the evolution and structure of geography, but, its three elements can explain what has happened with the discipline (Johnston, 1997). Marxist geography is composed of a disciplinary matrix paradigm which has shared values with social theory world view paradigm, in contrast with spatial science geography (Johnston, 1997). Human geography as explained by Johnston (1997) is a multiple discipline paradigm which is effectively in competition. Johnston’s view contradicts Kuhn’s view of a new paradigm which is almost universally accepted. Development of Marxism geography Marxist geography came into existence as a response to criticism on spatial geography, which dominated the, period (Richard 1985). Cox (2005) is of the view that the creation of the new paradigms is not a cheap process. Combining of the various bits and pieces of the Marxist world view ends up with quite an eclectic mix of concepts. A Marxism in favor of exchange and competition instead of class and production, for instance it might be simply a concern of unequal outcomes (Cox 2005. 3). Marxism geography underwent a quantitative revolution other than the historical preoccupation with description of unique places in details. Instead, this new science identified universal spatial laws, and concerned with applying scientific methods and creating models which could predict spatial patterns and human behavior (Cloke et al 1991).Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Marxism in Development Geography specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Spatial science according to Johnston et al (2000) was based on a belief in positivism where observation, repetition and empirical research could be done, tested, verified and spatial laws of science uncovered. Humanistic geography was also in line with the Marxist geography in criticizing the spatial approach. It was in respect to spatial analysis also to the emergent Marxist geography (Cox 2004). In Duncan and Ley (1982) paper, it was featured as a deterministic and economistic approach. Humanistic geography however, lacked strong theoretical underpinnings which dismissed it as a credible response to the challenge posed by the Marxist geography. The now called ‘the new cultural geography’ is the response that emerged in the early eighties. Criticism of spatial science developed along two distinct lines. It did not consider the processes of independence and creativity a mong human beings, and it also ignored the effects of political, economical and social structures in developing spatial patterns (Cloke et al 1991). These two factors developed the humanist, in the first instance, and radical, in the second instance, strands of geography. Marxist geographers incorporated Marxist’s ideas into Geography to come up with Marxist geography (Moseley et al., 2007). Other aspects like feminist geography got hooked up with Marxism and the attraction of the new cultural geography became very strong and dominated the field (Cox 2005). Embracing the universalistic view of Marxism mirrored what was taking place in the real world. Harvey (1973) pointed out that class was, in fact, being sidelined by gender and race as pivots of oppositional politics in the United States. Harvey (1985a) outlines Marxist analysis key ideas, modes of production, which are the ways in which daily social life is produced reproduced and replicated. Marxism main focus is on the c apitalist mode of production, and he outlines the need for continued circulation of capital, profit being its core motive. Continuous circulation of capital can only be maintained if there is continuous expansion of commodities produced value and; hence economic growth is achieved. Marxism major achievement was the identification and understanding of exploitation as central in capitalist form of development (Cox 2004). The relations of production that necessitated exploitation in the work place extended the same to the living place through commoditization of the living place (Harvey 1985b).Advertising Looking for critical writing on geography? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Critical human geographers argue that exploitation instead of being an essential of capitalism, it occurs in times at particular places depending on the circumstances. The economic growth achieved as a result of continuous expansion of commodity values, expects workers to increase the value in production by giving more in production, than they are given in exchange for their labor. They, therefore, provide profits to the owners of modes of production. This gives rise to class relations in that capitalists who own the means of production prosper from the profits they get from exploiting the laborers, who in turn continue to be exploited. The workers must sell their labor for them to survive, and the owners of production continue exploiting them, hence replication of capitalism and exploitation (Marx, 1970). This perspective is incorporated in the Marxism geography to help change the society by facing the problems facing them, which is majorly capitalism. Harvey (1985a) echoes Marxism notion that capitalism has inherent conflicts, which make it, subject to crisis. For example, capitalists will seek to use technology to replace living labor in order to diminish the powers of workers by gaining competitive advantage (Brenner, 1977). This is in contrast with the fact that human workers are needed to the value expansion of commodities, the maintenance of capital circulation and creation of profits for the owners of production. Marxism’s belief is that capitalism will eventually fail because of these contradictions and, this will pave the way for a new mode of production (Marx Engels, 1978). Marxism geography not only criticized the spatial geographers for not taking account of the factors. They discovered in capitalist socio- economic and political causes of patterns in geography. They also criticized it for claiming objectivity through the support of positivism and the use of scientific methods. Research, argued by the radical geographers can never be value free. The choice of what to study also requires judgment in value. Therefore, stating research values should be done and clearly stated. Marxism geography has come under a lot of criticism, being challenged by newer and developing ideas like cultural geography, postmodernism and feminism, though they later integrated themselves into Marxism geography making it the main idea in the field (Cox 2004). For example, Howell (et al 2003) looks at class as only one factor in social patterns development, while there are others like ethnicity, sexuality, gender, color, language and even race. Rose, a feminist (1993, cited Holloway et al (2003) criticizes its male dominated analysis. Marxism geography has been questioned due to the backdrop of the changing world events and even the collapse of socialist states. Conclusion Space and place are the key concepts within the concept of Marxist geography. Some of the core ideas of Marxism geography can be deduced from the way the concepts of space a nd place have been analyzed. Marxist analysis reveals contradiction within capitalism through the analysis of space and place. This is explained by Harvey (1982), as because capitalism will try to unify and integrate space. Marxism developed from criticism of spatial science and dominated the social theory of geography. Some of the criticisms have been integrated into the Marxist geography making it dominant. Marxist geography looks at space as a social construction and looks at the connections between places (Smith, 1984). It is a vital and essential element in the geographical discipline development and potions of its analysis have been and still are widely accepted over the past 30 years. It is, however, facing the challenges of maintaining its importance and relevance in the face of emerging new ideas, changing times, and an overall changing world. Humanistic geography, which provides most, criticism to Marxist geography, ironically is seen as lacking in explaining the behaviora l constraints brought about by the social structures and the social agencies. References Brenner R. (1977). â€Å"The origin of capitalist development: a critique of Neo-Smithian Marxism.† New left review, 104: 25- 92. Cloke, P. et al, (1991). Approaching Human Geography: An Introduction to Contemporary Theoretical Debates. London: Paul Chapman Publishing. Haggett, P. (1990).The Geographer’s Art, Oxford: Blackwell. Harvey, D. (1973). Social Justice and the City. London: Edward Arnold. Harvey, D. (1982). The Limits to Capital. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. Harvey, D. (1985a). The Geopolitics of Capitalism, in Gregory. D. and Urry, J. eds (1985) Social Relations and Spatial Structures. Critical Human Geography. London. Harvey, D. (1985b). Consciousness and the Urban Experience. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. Holloway, S. et al. (2003). Key Concepts in Geography, London: Sage. Johnston, R. (1997). Geography and Geographers, (5th Ed). London: Arnold. Johnston, et al. (2000). The Dict ionary of Human Geography, (4th Ed). Oxford: Blackwell. Smith, N. (1984). Uneven Development. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. Cox R. K. (2004). â€Å"Globalization, the class relations and democracy†. Geo Journal. 60: 31- 41. Cox R. K. (2005). From Marxist geography to critical geography and back again. Department of geography Ohio University. Ohio State University. Columbus. Duncan J. and Ley D. (1982). Structural Marxism and human geography: a critical assessment. Association of American Geographers: Annal. 72: 30- 59. Kitchen, R and Thrift, N. (2009). International encyclopedia of human geography. London: Elsevier. Marx, K. Engels, F. (1978). The German ideology. International publishers. New York. Marx, K. (1970). Capitalism, Volume 1. Moscow: Progress Publishers. Moseley, W. et al (Ed). (2007). The Introductory Reader in Human Geography: contemporary debates and classic writings. Oxford: Blackwell. Peet, R. (ed) (1977). Radical geography. Chicago: Maaroufa Pres. Richard J. (19 85). â€Å"An introduction to Marxist Geography.† Journal of Geography, 84(1): 5-10. Yeung, H. W. (2005). â€Å"Rethinking relational economic geography.† Institute of British Geographers, 30: 37–51.

How To Write A 3000 Word Essay In A Day, Tips For Students

How To Write A 3000 Word Essay In A Day, Tips For Students Is It Possible To Write 3000 Word Essay In A Day? On many occasions, students find themselves struggling to beat an approaching deadline and deliver their essays within the stipulated timeline. While many manage to deliver, few accomplish or achieve as per their strength dictates. Lateness comes about because of different reasons and the most probable ones include: Procrastination – postponing things is almost like a disease which infects many people and in most instances is the main hindrance when you are looking to write your perfect essay in less than 24 hours. This habit contributes to students losing a lot of marks and never living up to their high standards. While some students are simply lazy and thus prefer to do other things when they should be working on their assignments, others lack the time or are involved in other activities that take up most of their time. Whichever the situation, procrastination greatly contributes to students being late with assignments, especially those that involve essay writing. Having to choose between other deadlines – at any time in college, students find themselves with a lot of assignments but less time to deliver. In such situations, some seek the help of professional writers, and others make coffee their closest friend as they try to finish their essays on time. Whichever the option a student opts for, at a certain point, they will find themselves behind the schedule. Regardless of the reason why people find themselves behind the schedule, panicking as some of us resort to is never the answer. As a matter of fact, panicking while late leads to one delivering a substandard essay or job. Students need to learn to keep calm and focused on the task ahead if they are to beat short deadlines. A task such as writing a 3000-word essay is indeed quite huge, and while it is not advisable to leave it to the last minute, in case it happens, students need to understand that it is indeed possible to finish it in 24 hours. This article is not in any way encouraging students to leave their assignments to the last day, but only letting you know that if you ever find yourself in such a situation, it is indeed possible to finish such a task. Actions That Can Help a Student to Write 3000 Word Essay in a Day The question how to write a 3000-word essay in a day is quite common among students. However, finishing a 3000-word essay in 24 hours is indeed easy, but doing a good job while at it might present the biggest challenge to students. However, this article outlines some actions which, if embraced, can help you achieve both. Here are the actions to help you deliver a high quality 3000-word essay in 24 hours: 1. Plan Having a plan is a key to a good essay. Lecturers always ask students to plan and prepare a study timetable to help them manage their time well. However, few take them seriously and therefore end up being late for almost everything within the school curriculum. Planning helps you to factor in everything and allocate ample time for all of your assignments. In 24 hours, you can do a lot of things, and it begins with the kind of breakfast you take. A healthy breakfast is indeed essential in this case. You need to have the right brain food to help your mind to relax and to distress yourself. Heavy breakfasts are, therefore, discouraged and snacks like fresh veggie sticks, nuts, asparagus, coconut, come highly recommended. Other fruits such as berries, oatmeal, bananas, dried fruit, etc. are also recommended. You need food that will help to lower your stress levels and the above are some of the most preferred. 2. Select your place of work Distractions contribute to you spending a lot of time doing very little. The place you decide to select as your working station should be quiet and allow you to work with minimal distractions. Whether it is at home or the school or local library, quietness should be the first factor for you to consider and it is closely followed by the how comfortable the place is. Choosing a place that is uncomfortable will contribute to your tiring fast and losing focus easily. It is also essential to be organized and always have things like bottled water, enough research materials as well as some snacks. 3. Minimize distractions The Internet is currently the biggest distraction at least for most people. When faced with a tight deadline, however, it is important to avoid all distractions and focus solely on the task at hand. Students spend a lot of time on social networks, but if on a tight schedule, avoiding them or even temporary deactivation of the accounts might help you focus. 4. Set yourself short-term goals If left with 24 hours to complete an assignment, time management is indeed essential to finishing it. Setting short-term goals is indeed necessary, and before beginning the writing process, it will be important that you set yourself some achievable objectives. While most of us tend to leave out breaks, they are a necessary inclusion, and it is essential to include them. 5. Selecting the right topic or question and approach to the assignment If asked to select an essay topic or question from a number of topics or questions, pick the one you are familiar with. This will help you avoid researching a new topic or question later. Take time to decide on your approach. The approach chosen will help you tackle the essay fast. The next step involves preparing an outline and including the key points you wish to have in your paper. 6. Writing the introduction Writing the introduction is the most challenging bit of essay writing, at least to most people. However, when under pressure and with less than 24 hours to go, the focus should not be on writing a perfect introduction but on including the necessities within it. You should, therefore, introduce your argument first and then include a relevant thesis statement. 7. Research Research should be focused and only be tailored towards a specific point. When going through the different topics within the selected reference materials, it is prudent to only skip to the chapters that are relevant to the topic under review. Be sure to paraphrase all of your arguments to avoid plagiarism issues which could render your work and effort useless. Use of resources such as Google Books is also advisable because it will help to increase your essay’s credibility.

The Life of a Woman Plantation Slave essays

The Life of a Woman Plantation Slave essays The life of a typical woman plantation slave was one that is somewhat troubling to think about. These women were forced to leave their homes and their families to become the property of a plantation owner who, for the rest of their lives, dictated what these women were to do. These women had to adjust to many different and new things. When a new slave woman arrived, she spent the majority of her time learning the native tongue, learning the new agriculture, and adjusting to the difference in the climate. (Berkin, p. 62). In learning these new things, they also had to learn to be totally submissive to their masters in body and mind or they suffered abuse and this abuse included sexual abuse as well. In order to fully understand the life of a typical woman plantation slave, it is important to know where she came from, the type of work she does, what her relationships are, and how she copes with her lifestyle. In the late seventeenth century, the importation of Africans from the coastal regions of Africa begins. (Evans p. 27) This proves to be an asset for plantation owners as African women were known for their abilities in agriculture and, therefore, their expertise at planting and cultivating could be put to use to produce huge crops for the plantation. Men and women were both put to work in the fields at the discretion of their masters. Their workdays were very long going from sunup to well into the evening hours. Early on men and women on the plantation did the same types of work which usually included planting and harvesting by hand. Later on when plantation owners began using the plow instead of the hoe, the men were responsible for doing the more skilled labor such as plowing and the women were left in the fields to hoe what could not be done with the plow or to transport harvested grain from the fields to the barns on their backs. (Berkin, p. 62) Women did not only work in the fields though. S...

MA thesis proposal Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

MA thesis - Research Proposal Example Social media plays an important role in public relations department in private and public sectors. Internet service is not limited to entertainment and information but moves on to providing electronic services. The government of Saudi Arabia has, for example, realized the importance of internet and has given it special attention. Public relations specialists also believe, according to Alenizi, that internet applications have a high ability to elevate work quality and speed of the organization to deliver services to their customers. A study by Alshehri also shows that the use of electronic application contributes in minimizing the cost and elevating the quality of production (Jenaibi, 2013). Consequently, and according to http://www.yesser.gov.sa, an electronic government program drawn from the royal decree number 7/b/23181 in 2003 stated that all government entities have to provide electronic services through the ministry of communication and information technology (Saud & Khan, 2013 ). Saud and Khan (2013) showed that the use of social media in Saudi Arabia is rising with increase in the access to mobile phones. In 2012, the number of Facebook users in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia was 6 million and in 2013, the number increased to 7.8 million. Similarly, Saudi twitter users increased from three million in 2012 to five million in 2013. The country’s use of Instagram increased from 4 million users in 2012 to 5.7 million in 2013. According to Shorkey and Uebel (2014), many companies in Saudi Arabia, public and private, use social media for marketing. The study highlighted Flynas, STC, McDonald’s and Toyota as the top brands on Facebook. Jenaibi (2013) highlights Aramco, SABIC and STC as the top ranking companies on Twitter. Companies that deal in cosmetics and cars are the ones that rank high in the use of Instagram in Saudi Arabia. A single privately owned company in the country can have up to

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