The idea of the region has been a central concept in the
understanding of the natural environment, of human society and
culture, and of their interactions, from the ancient Greeks to the
present. In this book Paul Claval provides a critical introduction
to the ways in which the concept of the region has been, is, and
could be used to make sense of spatial organization and areal
variation in human activities. He examines both economic and policy
issues, and relates these to culture, regional identity and
ecology.

The book is divided into three parts. Part I provides a concise
account of regional studies from the ancient Greeks to the present.
It then outlines the main current issues in regional geography.
Part II describes the main perspectives on the division of space,
the different kinds and typologies of regions, and contrasting
modes of regional representation. Paul Claval also examines here
how ecological, economic, social, cultural, and political phenomena
can be understood through their areal variations. Part III looks at
how states and non-state societies organize themselves regionally
and of the evolution in contemporary dynamics of such modes of
organization. The author shows how the perception, representation,
imposition and claiming of regions changes from non-state
societies, through traditional to industrial societies, and
considers the merging of territorial borders of a globalized world
economy.

This is a complete and penetrating survey of the regional
concept as a key to the geographical imagination. Written by
France's most prominent geographer, it draws equally on
Anglo-American intellectual traditions, and is illustrated by a
wide range of examples drawn from all over the world.