ABSTRACT

Geography is more dynamic than it has ever been, but the discipline is commonly perceived as lacking unity. The rise of integrated sciences, such as Earth System Science and Sustainability Science, is a particular challenge, which may continue the traditions of Geography but from centres and institutes outside the discipline. Geography has encouraged both specialization within the discipline and linkage with specialists in neighbouring disciplines in order to investigate particular problems. Thus, in human geography there are many links with social science and the humanities. Space, place, environment and maps are therefore proposed as labels for the four essential components at the core of Geography. Of their many distinguishing qualities, it is important that these components each applies equally and readily to both physical and human geography. At certain times in the history of Geography, particular unifying themes have tended to dominate the discipline, as exemplified by the predominance of the regional theme around the mid-twentieth century.