On Diversity and Difference in Geography: A Southern European Perspective

Abstract

At the time of the European Union’s eastern enlargement, some personal reflections are given about the need to keep alive diversity and difference in geography. Nowadays there is almost undisputed hegemony of one single geography and scholarly tradition - that of Anglo-American geography. Increasingly, it sets the guidelines and the agenda for intellectual debate (in Europe as well as in many parts of the world), and discourages other traditions from entering international academic debates and reaching wider audiences. At the moment when the European Union is enlarging with 10 new countries, we should be aware of our potential strength and take advantage of this opportunity to enhance cross-fertilization, thereby enriching our discipline.