Is Geography a Unified or Divided Subject?

Discuss using timely and

relevant examples .
The word geography is derived from the Greek words for Earth and for
writing or describing, so in literal terms geography means writing about the Earth
(Unwin, 1992). A more contemporary definition of the subject is provided by the
International Geographical Union (2013), which states that geography aims to study
both natural and human realms and their interactions with a particular focus on
space, place and region in both a short and longer-term context. Within the subject
there are two main areas, human geography and physical geography. Human
geography focuses on the dynamics of culture, economies and peoples in the world,
and physical geography, focuses on increasing the understanding of the dynamics of
physical landscapes, processes and the environment. (Royal Geography Society ,
2013) It is between these two sub-disciplines that the debate over unity within the
subject occurs.
Some, like Magilian (2004), suggest that the scale of recent changes in the
sphere of physical geography, particularly the classification of physical geographers
as scientists, have resulted in the two areas becoming increasingly separate. This
trend can also be seen at a University level as noted by Unwin (1992). He notes that
separate departments or degree programmes are beginning to emerge within
Universities which is resulting in a void of research between the social and earth
sciences, particularly, round environmental and sustainably issues, limiting the
contribution geographers can make within the political sphere. Another contributing
factor to the divergence of geography is the improvements of technology, as
environmental determinism is having a lesser impact on patterns of human behaviour
(Groudie, 1986). For instance the improvements in agricultural and irrigation
technology has meant that climate no longer determines where certain types of crops
can be grown. This can be seen along the river Nile in Egypt where modern water
transport and irrigation technology is being used to transfer water from the Nile to
arid areas, which are now able to support crops. As a result the physical landscape
and climate of the area are no longer determining how people live. To some, like
Groudie 1986, this is resulting in a divergence between human and physical
geography.
On the other hand many believe the subject of geography still remains united.
Unwin (1992) argues that geography is a bridging discipline one that brings
together the arts and sciences. For instance, although technological improvements
have reduced the impact the physical landscape has on human behaviour, there still
remains a level of environmental determinism. For instance, Japan is described as
being the country best prepared for an Earthquake (Foster, 2011), however this does
not mean that the physical processes do not impact the populations every day life, if
anything the opposite is true. Japanese school children undergo monthly earthquake
safety drills and all offices are required by law to have emergency earthquake packs
for trapped survivors (Foster, 2011). As a result the potential risk the physical
environment presents is constantly impacting human life and so both the physical
processes and human response to earthquakes must be studied. Similarly Richards
(2004) notes global problems such as climate change and sustainability cannot be
tackled from a purely physical or purely human point of view; sustainability cannot
be understood without proper scientific (sensu lato) enquiry into both environment
and society. Such processes must be understood physically as well as from a human
perspective in order to understand the situation and how best to tackle it, it is this
aspect of the study of geography that causes it to remain united.
Rachael Lally

Overall, there are aspects of geographical study that are becoming increasingly
divided as physical geography becomes more scientific and human geography
continues to expand into newer areas. However the physical environment will always
impact the patterns of behaviour of the human population as, despite increasing
understanding and technological innovation, there remains areas humans do not
understand or have the ability to control. Further more the human population will
continue to use and alter the physical environment and the long term impacts of this,
for people and the environment, must be understood to ensure the sustainability of
human actions. As a result, not only is geography a unified subject, as the
understanding of both areas is necessary in order to understand their interactions, it
must remain so in order to play a role in solving the major problems that face the
world today.

References

Foster, P. (2011, 3 11). Japan earthquake: country better prepared than anyone for
quakes and tsunamis. Retrieved 10 18, 2013 from The Telegraph Online:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8375591/Japan-earthquakecountry-better-prepared-than-anyone-for-quakes-and-tsunamis.html
Groudie, A. S. (1986). The integratio of human and physical geography. Transactions of
the Instirute of British Geographers , 11 (4), 454-458.
International Geographical Union . (2013). What is Geography? Retrieved 10 17, 2013
from International Geographical Union Online : http://www.igu-online.org/site/?
page_id=657
Royal Geography Society . (2013). What is Geography? Retrieved 10 17, 2013 from
Royal Geographic Society : http://www.rgs.org/HomePage.htm
Stephan Harrison, D. M. (2004). Thinking accross the divide: perspectives on the
conversation between physical and human geography. AREA , 36 (4), 435-442.
Unwin, T. (1992). The Place of Geography . Essex : Longman Group Limited .

Rachael Lally