Mastering Space: Hegemony, Territory and International Political Economy - Softcover

"Founded on extensive empirical materials, laced with cogent insights, pervaded with incisive interpretations . . . a compelling assessment of the emergent world order. The focus on a 'new geopolitics' . . . contributes a refreshing approach to international political economy as it should be studied." -James N. Rosenau, Professor of International Affairs, George Washington University "An outstanding contribution to the new critical developments in political geography and to renewed concern for the role of space in the social sciences . . . a ray of light on what is happening to our increasingly complex and confusing world." -Peter Taylor, Professor of Political Geography, University of Newcastle

For over two hundred years the domination of some countries by others has been intrinsic to international relations, with national economic and political strength viewed as essential to a nation's survival and global position. Mastering Space identifies the essential features of this "state-centredness" and suggests an optimistic alternative more in keeping with the contemporary post-Cold War climate. Drawing on recent geopolitical thinking, the authors claim that the dynamism of the international political economy has been obscured through excessive attention on the state as an unchanging actor. Dealing with such topical issues as Japan's rise to economic dominance and America's perceived decline, as well as the global impact of continued geographical change, the book discusses the role of geographical organization in the global political economy, and the impact of increasing economic globalisation and political fragmentation in future international relations. The authors identify the present time as crucial to the global political economy, and explore the possibilities of moving the world from mastering space to real reciprocity between peoples and places. John Agnew is a Professor of Geography at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. Stuart Corbridge is a lecturer in Geography at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Sidney Sussex College.