Latin America in Times of Global Environmental Change


Book Description

This volume discusses the challenges of Latin America in global environmental geopolitics. Written by leading experts, this book brings together Latin American research on global environmental change. They cover a range of topics such as climate change, water, forest and biodiversity conservation connected with science policies, public opinion, priorities of international funds, and international politics of Latin American countries. The book describes the discrepancy between the international priorities and the regional needs or country interests. It includes several case studies and analyses the cooperation in multilateral negotiations on climate change. It also offers a synthesis of debates around global environmental changes and Latin American politics, which the authors have previously promoted in different academic events in South America, including in Santiago de Chile in Chile, and Buenos Aires and Ushuaia in Argentina. This book assesses the environmental problems from different perspectives, highlights the scientific development in the environmental changes affecting Latin America and offers a new view on geopolitics to help face those issues. Specialist readers in international relations, political sciences, environmental sciences, geography and geopolitics will appreciate this up-to-date examination of Latin America and the global environmental change.




The Global Theme Park Industry


Book Description

Since the 1980s, the theme park industry has developed into a global phenomenon, with everything from large, worldwide theme parks to countless smaller ventures. From the first pleasure gardens to the global theme park companies, this book provides an understanding of the nature and function of theme parks as spaces of entertainment. Illustrated throughout by worldwide case studies, empirical data and practical examples, the book portrays the impacts of theme park as global competitive actors, agents of global development and cultural symbols, particularly in the context of their role in the developing experience economy. In conclusion, this book is a practical guide to the planning and development of theme parks.




Globalization and Environmental Challenges


Book Description

Put quite simply, the twin impacts of globalization and environmental degradation pose new security dangers and concerns. In this new work on global security thinking, 91 authors from five continents and many disciplines, from science and practice, assess the worldwide reassessment of the meaning of security triggered by the end of the Cold War and globalization, as well as the multifarious impacts of global environmental change in the early 21st century.




Coping with Global Environmental Change, Disasters and Security


Book Description

Coping with Global Environmental Change, Disasters and Security - Threats, Challenges, Vulnerabilities and Risks reviews conceptual debates and case studies focusing on disasters and security threats, challenges, vulnerabilities and risks in Europe, the Mediterranean and other regions. It discusses social science concepts of vulnerability and risks, global, regional and national security challenges, global warming, floods, desertification and drought as environmental security challenges, water and food security challenges and vulnerabilities, vulnerability mapping of environmental security challenges and risks, contributions of remote sensing to the recognition of security risks, mainstreaming early warning of conflicts and hazards and provides conceptual and policy conclusions.




Placing Critical Geography


Book Description

This book explores the multiple histories of critical geography as it developed in 14 different locations around the globe, whilst bringing together a range of approaches in critical geography. It is the first attempt to provide a comprehensive account of a wide variety of historical geographies of critical geography from around the world. Accordingly, the chapters provide accounts of the development of critical approaches in geography from beyond the hegemonic Anglo-American metropoles. Bringing together geographers from a wide range of regional and intellectual milieus, this volume provides a critical overview that is international and illustrates the interactions (or lack thereof) between different critical geographers, working across a range of spaces. The chapters provide a more nuanced history of critical geography, suggesting that while there were sometimes strong connections with Anglo-American critical geography, there were also deeply independent developments that were part of the construction of very different kinds of critical geography in different parts of the world. Placing Critical Geographies provides an excellent companion to existing histories of critical geography and will be important reading for researchers as well as undergraduate and graduate students of the history and philosophy of geography.




Brazilian Geography


Book Description

This book presents the history and theoretical contributions of Brazilian geography since the late twentieth century and shows how this sphere of knowledge has been organically integrated with social and territorial issues and with social movements. The relationship between the subjects and objects of research in Brazilian geography has been centred on the understanding and transformation of realities marked by injustice and inequality. Against this backdrop, the geography of the country has developed by integrating, relating to, and forming part of those realities as it headed out into the streets. Brazilian geography continues to hold theoretical debate in high regard as a result of the influence of critical theory. This book thus covers the theoretical approaches in Brazilian geography, its different lines of research, and above all its character as manifested in culture and society.




Mapping Worlds


Book Description

Social and cultural geography is practised by geographers from around the world. However, for various reasons including language and publishing traditions, knowledge of the research being undertaken can often remain confined to those working within those countries. This book draws together, for the first time into one volume, reports of social and cultural geography undertaken in several countries from around the world. It provides an important overview of geographic ideas and traditions, and the history of human geography more generally, allowing comparison between countries and details of key studies and references. As such, the book will be of interest to geographers schooled in different national traditions, and those interested in the production and history of geographic knowledge. Entries are written in both English and the country’s own national language.




Thinking European(s)


Book Description

Unthinking prejudice is a major challenge in an ever-changing, pluralist Europe where local and global identities intermingle and contested pasts clash. The new geographies constructed in response to this are at the core of Thinking European(s). It has been written to bring these geographies alive and to foster active and reflective citizens who are able to work productively within Europe’s changing cultural environment. This integrated work provides a framework to stimulate students’ critical thinking and to prompt reflection. It seeks to stir geographical imaginations through case studies carried out in Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. The authors of Thinking European(s) cross cultures, religions, languages, genders, ideologies and political boundaries; they stress dialogue, negotiation and value multiple geographical knowledges. University teachers and undergraduates will find Thinking European(s) a valuable resource for courses on Europe, Regional Geography, European Integration, European Studies, Cultural Studies, Social Studies or Area Studies.




Old Borders - New Challenges, New Borders - Old Challenges


Book Description

The aim of this publication is to reflect, conceptually and empirically, on border processes in Europe, paying special attention to the most current border-related developments, with a special focus on the processes of de-bordering and re-bordering. As the authors represent different academic centers and specializations, the volume reflects not only diverse perspectives but also has an interdisciplinary character. The book contains eight contributions and is divided into three thematic parts. The first set of chapters analyzes the borders and borderlands of the European Union, especially in the context of the ongoing changes observed in its direct neighborhood. The next group of articles deals with the regional level of border-related processes within the European Union. Finally, the last group of texts investigates border processes at the local level, analyzing border urban structures.




US National Security Concerns in Latin America and the Caribbean


Book Description

In this edited volume, scholars from Latin America and the United States will analyze how US foreign policy making circles have applied the concepts to the creation of new US security initiatives in the Latin American region during the post September 11, 2001 era.