Space and Politics

In: Res publica: politiek-wetenschappelijk tijdschrift van de Lage Landen ; driemaandelijks tijdschrift, Band 19, Heft 1, S. 107-114

Abstract

The concept of space is discussed. "Space as cognition" includes: (1) space as metaphor--the ability to manipulate nonspatial data in spatial terms (eg, conveying the passage of time by the movement of the hands on a clock), (2) conventional space--delimited, real space, & (3) an intermediate category, technical space--"the intellectual modelling of spatial data themselves in spatial terms." "Space as affect" concerns the emotional dimension of space, the importance of the concepts of territory & boundary & the division "mine-thine." Within this category are several major concepts: (A) the formation of the territorial state, involving expansion, exploitation, provision, & consolidation, (B) the concepts of "externality" & "internality," based on the existence of boundaries, & (C) spatial. "Space as conation or striving" involves the conflicts between territorial desires & overriding needs for a universal sovereign state. B. Annesser.