Geographies of Knowledge and Power

Interest in relations between knowledge, power, and space has a long tradition in a range of disciplines, but it was reinvigorated in the last two decades through critical engagement with Foucault and Gramsci. This volume focuses on relations between knowledge and power. It shows why space is fundamental in any exercise of power and explains which roles various types of knowledge play in the acquisition, support, and legitimization of power. Topics include the control and manipulation of knowledge through centers of power in historical contexts, the geopolitics of knowledge about world politics, media control in twentieth century, cartography in modern war, the power of words, the changing face of Islamic authority, and the role of Millennialism in the United States. This book offers insights from disciplines such as geography, anthropology, scientific theology, Assyriology, and communication science.

Introduction: Derek Gregory, Peter Meusburger, Martina Ries.- The Geopolitics of Knowledge about World Politics: A Case Study in US Hegemony: John Agnew.- Two Men of War and Their Idea: Walter Christaller, Edward Ullman, and the Central Place Theory: Trevor Barnes.- Tau(gh)t Subjects: Sarah DeLeeuw.- Who gets the past? The Changing Face of Islamic Authority and Religious Knowledge: Dale Eickelman.- Another Order of Things: Military Imaginaries and the Middle East: Derek Gregory.- 'A Heavenly Kingdom Shall Descend': How Millennialism Spread from New England to the United States of America: Robert Jewett.- Elites and the Monetary Power Complex: Hans-Jürgen Krysmanski.- Telling the Future: Reflections on the Status of Divination in Ancient Near Eastern Politics: Stefan Maul.- Mutual relations between Knowledge and Power: Peter Meusburger.- Hot Spots, Dark Side Dots, Tin-pots?:The Uneven Internationalism of the Global Academic Market: Anssi Paasi.- Power/Knowledge/Geography: Speculation at the End of History: Richard Peet.- The Power of Communication: Jo Reichertz.- Enabling Knowledge: Nico Stehr.- Between Omnipotence and Powerlessness: religious Symbolizations and Theological Interpretations of Power: Klaus Tanner.- Knowledge between Language and Social Control: Ingo Warnke.- Media Control in the Twentieth Century: Jürgen Wilke.- What a book (or two) Can Do: Reflections on Man and Nature and Silent Spring: Graeme Wynn.