ABSTRACT
As stressed in the introduction to this chapter, the ‘cultural turn’ has had a huge impact upon human geography. Foucault’s work in particular has been especially influential (Driver, 1985; Philo, 1989). For example, recognition of the plurality of knowledge has led to talk of geographies rather than the geography of a subject. However, there have been relatively few direct applications of Foucault’s ideas, as in the industrial relations example cited above; rather, Foucault’s ideas have influenced geographers’ wider notions about knowledge, power and representation. Furthermore, relatively little of this work has dealt directly with the changing structure of the welfare state. One notable exception is the work of Painter (1992). He utilises the same material on the diffusion of CCT that was discussed in Chapter 4. However, cast in the wake of cultural studies, the insights are more convincing than those taken from regulation theory. Painter notes six implications that may be derived from the ‘cultural turn’:
1. There can be no single ‘corporate culture’ in any organisation. Organisational cultures are inevitably diverse and contested.
