Legal Geography: Comparative Law and the Production of Space

This book explores the interrelations between geography and the law, challenging traditional perspectives and adopting a legal comparative approach. It assesses 'normative spatialities' and identifies ethnocentric and colonial biases in the use of legal geographic devices. It presents legal geography as an interdisciplinary field that can contribute to addressing socio-geographic and ecological crises.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 06 December 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This captivating book invites readers to embark on a thought-provoking journey that challenges the traditional understanding of the intricate relationship between geography and law. Traditionally, scholars with backgrounds in geopolitics, economics, or geography have dominated the field of legal-geographical interrelations. However, a fresh and interdisciplinary approach has emerged in recent years, aimed at offering a novel perspective on how law and geography intersect. This field has witnessed a steady growth in cross-disciplinary research, drawing scholars and academics from diverse backgrounds, including law, anthropology, and human/physical geography. This convergence of expertise has led to a proliferation of publications that explore the intricate interplay between legal-geographical taxonomies and their interrelationship.

Against this backdrop, the book adopts a legal comparative perspective and delves into the concept of "normative spatialities," which are the outcomes of processes of legal-spatial production. By examining these spatial dimensions, the book provides readers with a fresh insight into some traditional geographic features that are essential to legal studies. These features include territorial identity, regional demarcation, territorial alternation, and place-name policy. Through the use of examples drawn from various jurisdictions, both from the Global North and the Global South, the book offers a diachronic perspective, allowing readers to trace the evolution and development of these legal geographic devices.

One of the book's key strengths lies in its subversive character, which makes it an ideal tool for revealing policies and agendas. By employing a comparative law approach, the book identifies the ethnocentric and colonial biases that underpin the use (and misuse) of legal geographic devices by policymakers and academics. This analysis sheds light on the ways in which power dynamics and cultural perceptions shape the legal landscape, perpetuating inequalities and injustices.

In conclusion, this book presents legal geography as an interdisciplinary undertaking in which geographers and legal scholars can jointly examine common concepts in the historical, cultural, political, and social contexts in which law is practised. By transcending the boundaries between disciplines, the book engages in a critical exploration of the complex interplay between law and geography, offering valuable insights into the ways in which these two fields shape our world. Whether you are a legal professional, a scholar of geography, or simply someone interested in understanding the world around us, this book is a must-read that will challenge your perspectives and inspire you to think critically about the relationship between law and geography.

Weight: 641g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031194092
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022