Uneven development and the difference that space makes

Abstract

It is now generally accepted by social scientists that where an event takes place can make a considerable difference to how it takes place. However, social science has been less successful at explaining what causes this spatial variation, and in incorporating this variation in accounts of social change and process. This vagueness is one reason why social science answers to policy problems often appear ill-aimed. Fortunately, there has recently been a thorough debate in geography and sociology about the difference that space makes, complemented by a largely independent debate on uneven development. This paper draws together these two bodies of material in an attempt to discern how we might more adequately deal with spatial variation.