Uneven Development: Nature, Capital and the Production of Space (Ideas)

Urban, regional and international development are usually seen as three very different sets of processes, but from a geographical perspective they show a similar pattern. On an urban scale, inner cities contrast with developed suburbs. At the regional level, some areas are underdeveloped when complared with other in the national economy, and the development of nations' economies in the world varies enormously. Why is this, and what is the political significance in contemporary capitalism? Integrating the political tradition of Marxist theory with the academic tradition of geographical enquiry, Neil Smith claims to demonstrate the systematic spatial patterns that are the hallmark of the geography of capitalism. He examines why the production of geographical space in certain configurations is crucial for the survival of capitalism and considers in depth the linked concepts of nature and space. The book brings together material and ideas from different disciplines to illuminate a vision of the spatial dimension of capitalism.