Paul Treanor wrote:
>
>Why is critical geography so harmful?
>
>1. It refuses to criticise the exisiting order. That applies especially to
>the
>ideology of liberal democracy and neoliberalism, which is often accepted as
>self-evident truth. For instance, that a nation must compete economically
>with
>other nations, or that nations must trade. They accept unquestioningly the
>mythology of liberalism - for instance that the liberation of concentration
>camps was good, and that the US soldiers were the 'good guys'.
I am surprised you have reached this conclusion. A lot of work done in
critical geography has come from its engagement with Marxist thought which
is highly critical of liberal democracy and neo-liberalism. Have a look at
Noel Castree’s recent commentary in Environment and Planning A 32 (12),
2000. He rightly states that ‘Anglophone geography has a larger and more
vibrant Left community than at any time in its history…..what is so pleasing
is the sheer range, sophistication and seriousness of much contemporary Left
geographical scholarship’. Moreover, he argues that while more needs to be
done to 'open up' the academy (precisely the theme of the conference which
seems to bother you), the spatial emphasis which geographers provide has
attracted attention from beyond disciplinary boundaries. In this respect,
critical human geographies are essential to geographical progress.
>
>2. It demeans and marginalises opposition to the dominant ideology.
>Proposals
>of opposition are treated as absurd, and their supporters as cranks or
>ill-educated. It is impossible in the climate of left academic / critical
>geography to propose the death penalty for the rich, for instance.
How does it 'demean and marginalise'? It’s hard to take your arguments
seriously unless you explain why, with examples from the critical geography
literature.
>
>3. Critical geographers are hostile to outside critics (such as myself).
See above. You need examples, otherwise your frequent posts come across as
ill-informed rants. If critical geographers seem hostile to you, then you
might want to think a little harder about how you frame your arguments, or
you will remain locked in monologue.
>
>4. They promote new forms of social oppression, the type associated with
>the
>New Democrats, New Labour or the continental social-liberal coalitions -
>workfare, meritocracy, gentrification. Many promote military
>interventionism
>in support of their values (human rights).
Which critical geographers ‘promote’ gentrification? You are way off mark
here. I know you are a subscriber to the gentrification discussion group –
what about Rowland Atkinson’s recent episode with the director from Oddbins
liquor stores, who asked him for a list of gentrifying districts in the UK
so they could decide where to locate their stores? Rowland replied saying
that his list is ‘not for sale’, because of his experiences during his
empirical investigations in London, where he observed many negative effects
of gentrification on low-income populations. This, for me, is a critical
geographical response to an enticing request which should be applauded.
>
>5. In some cases they engage in right-wing propaganda: the praise of the
>British Army on this list for instance, or the quasi-ethnic group identity
>promoted by gay and lesbian academics.
>
>
What do you mean, ‘quasi-ethnic group identity?’ What about the
collection edited by David Bell and Gill Valentine called ‘Geographies of
Sexualities’? Most of the papers in this book concentrate on how spaces and
places are experienced by populations marginalized because of their
sexualities, and tell compelling tales of resistance to the dominant
ideologies which you believe critical geographers do not address. If this
makes ‘group identity’ it is only in the most positive, emancipatory sense.
I hope this might give you a little more to think about, Paul. I believe
that there are vast amounts of examples to which subscribers to this group
could direct your attention to show that your posting is both invalid and, I
think, bordering on offensive.
Tom Slater, King’s College London.
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