Spaces of Global Capitalism: Towards a Theory of Uneven Geographical Development (review)

As an undergraduate in the late 1960s, when I was first exposed to the essential tenants of (neo) Marxian analysis, I distinctly recall two, concurrent thoughts: first, how, on the surface, this basic critique seemed so, well, tautological and self-evident; and, second, how full of jargon this literature was, and how a great percentage of (neo) Marxists used "not-all-that-common" terminology and verbiage. The fundamental argument today still seems, in its rawest form, a highly apparent one that should make sense to anyone willing to take the time necessary to understand and appreciate it. Unfortunately, however, most scholars writing within this perspective still rely on convoluted jargon and "dense" writing—in my estimation, this is done mostly to create some remarkably intricate, "inner" world supposedly replete with "deep meaning" that, one can only surmise, cannot be readily elucidated in simple, everyday language. Fortuitously, David Harvey has never subscribed to this horrible practice, writing, instead, for anyone and everyone willing to read what he has to say to us. And he always has something meaningful to say.

This slim book is composed of three brief essays—brief in length yet brimming with content—that all shed light on the spatial (i.e., geographical) inequities of capitalism. The three essays—"Neo-liberalism and the Restoration of Class Power," "Notes towards a Theory of uneven Geographical Development," and "Space as a key word"—derive from Harvey's 2004 "Hettner-Lecture" at the University of Heidelberg, and each chapter title fairly well encapsulates the gist of the arguments in this three-part volume. The context for the essays is provided by an intensely brusque (two and one-half page) introduction to the collection by Peter Meusburger and Hans Gebhardt. The first two essays are considerably more theoretical in nature, while the third is decidedly more philosophical. As such, had I been the editor of this book, the last chapter would have been placed up front because it underpins the general discussion Harvey provides in the two previous chapters. Nonetheless, the basic message of the book—viz., that economic development is not only highly geographical (geopolitical) in every aspect, but that it is, likewise, in today's interconnected, globalized world, a direct result of very conscious, decision-driven processes that goad us to amass goods, resources, and profits at all and any cost—rings loud and clear. This drive to accumulate (and thus exploit) at any expense is shown to have been given even greater credence—and indeed a sharp ideological boost—under the prevailing, neo-liberalist powers—which, as Harvey aptly demonstrates, are full of numerous, internal contradictions—and are presently in control in many of the West's more powerful, and hence more influential, countries worldwide.

As a (politically speaking) "left-leaning" geographer, I suppose I should be more immediately sympathetic with the argument that the new ideological villain, neo-liberalism (and, more recently, neo-conservatism)—and particularly its dogmatic insistence on wide open (transparent) and free trade policies vis-a-vis local, national, regional, and global enterprises, whether private, corporate, or government-instigated—is one of the most, if not the most, hideous aspect of modern capitalism. After all, all free trade accomplishes according to this view is to widen further the chasm between the "haves" and the "have-nots," placing ever-increasing amounts of wealth into the hands of a very few, while the masses continue to have relatively meager assets. Moreover, as the story goes, that chasm has now widened and deepened to such an extent that the all-important (historically speaking) middle class is shrinking to the point of non-existence in most countries around the world. Clearly this has been happening here in the United States, where, no matter how much the average American sinks deeper into debt by purchasing an ever-greater litany of must-have goodies and so-called "necessary" goods—purchases that a growing number now argue are made for no other...