An Introduction to Population Geographies ─ Lives Across Space

Population Geography has traditionally sought to examine spatial aspects of three key aspects of the lifecourse, namely population growth (births), decline (deaths), and redistribution (migration). However, with developments such as complex and dynamic changes in the global economy, unprecedented movements of people across the world, an increasing awareness of the sheer complexity of people’s lives, and the constant transfer of ideas and technology, the field has been forced to turn its attention to new questions and to embrace more fully alternative methodologies and perspectives. These include: a renewed emphasis on the importance of acknowledging variation within people’s lives across different geographic scales, and specifically the importance of the local; extension of principle models such as the demographic transition and inclusion of new theoretical conceptualizations, methodologies and perspectives; and greater consideration of the relationships between human lives and their environments, both social and physical.

This new textbook embraces an extended definition of Population Geography that provides a more complete emphasis on the multiple geographies of the lifecourse through encompassing issues of ageing, morbidity and differential ability – i.e. arguably equally important to births, deaths and migrations. This frames Population Geography more broadly, emphasizing all the sequential lifecourse stages in order to encompass more holistically those aspects that are often provided little attention in current textbooks.

The text is designed as an introduction to the incredibly diverse and interesting field of Population Geography in the twenty-first century, seeking to establish the substantive concerns of the resulting Population Geographies, to acknowledge the sheer diversity of approaches, key concepts and theories around today and to engage with the resulting major areas of debate that stem from this richness. It will be written in a clear, accessible style, assuming little prior knowledge of the topics covered.

Holly R. Barcus is a Professor and Chair in Geography at Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.

Keith Halfacree is a Reader in Human Geography at Swansea University, Swansea, UK.