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Géographie de l'Afrique du Nord-Ouest by Jean Despois; René RaynalReview by: Benjamin E. ThomasEconomic Geography, Vol. 43, No. 4 (Oct., 1967), pp. 374-375Published by: Clark UniversityStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/143262 .
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provides a valid picture of the extent of this spect for the heritage of the past, as well as type of blight. on the demands of changing social and economic
The author is fully aware of the problems conditions. Notable also is the constant pre- cited in this review as well as other pitfalls. He occupation with the fact that cities are to be makes this unmistakably clear on more than built as environments for people to live in. one occasion. As it stands, the study is an in- Social needs are basic determinants of what is teresting attempt to deal with a tremendous desirable in assembling the building compo- mass of data and to recognize broad trends. nents of the urban community-daylight, space, However, it falls to bring out sharply the prob- recreational and social services, and adequate lems faced by the various types of store con- provision for local pedestrian movement, as well centrations. Consequently the advice which as for vehicular traffic flows on separate high- could be offered to planners is only of a general ways. It needs to be emphasized that the neigh- nature. borhood idea is skillfully modified and adapted
JACOB SPELT to the needs of community life, as in the world-
University of Toronto renowned Lansbury project in the East End of University of Toronto London. This preoccupation with social needs and values stands out to the reviewer of this book as a pronounced feature in the rebuilding
Rebuilding Cities, by PERCY JOHNSON-MAR- of British cities (in frequent contrast to trends SHALL. vii and 390 pp.; diagrs., halftones, in the States), even though the realization may index. Aldine Publishing Company, Chi- often be far from the desirable target. cago, 1960. $15.00. 18 x 12 inches. The photos and plans follow, and are indeed
a commentary on, each chapter. There are many This is a really important book for all those invaluable sequences, such as, for example, the
who are in any way interested in cities. As building of Lansbury, the Barbican, or, in the Lewis Mumford comments in an introduction, first chapter on the historical development of it has a "particular distinction and value." urban forms, the emergence of St. Marks Square The author, professor of Urban Design and in Venice. The chapters read as follows: the Regional Planning at the University of Edin- historical background of growth, the compo- burgh, spent some 20 years with distinguished nents of planning (the building structures), colleagues, such as Sir Robert Matthew and visions and designs, new planning legislation Dr. Arthur Ling, in the rebuilding of London- and techniques (in Britain), comprehensive de- in the Stepney-Poplar area, notably in Lans- velopment in London, Coventry, Rotterdam, the bury, in which the "neighbourhood concept" City of the Twenty-First Century, and a series was adapted to the resettlement of 100,000 of pictures of Work in Progress. The book is a people; the "city," notably the Barbican and pleasure to read, a source of much-needed in- St. Pauls projects; and the South Bank, which struction on the ideas of a most distinguished is emerging as a grouping of cultural and office group of men, and the progress of their work. buildings on the south bank of the Thames. It is significant that the author acknowledges His professional work started in Coventry under repeatedly and frankly his debt to certain build- Sir Donald Gibson and he was involved in the ings and plans in the States, and a number of reconstruction of its blitzed core. his photographs are of American cities. In return,
The book is lavishly produced, with glossy in the formidable task of transforming and paper, and contains numerous excellent photo- building American cities, the American city- graphs and plans, with informative and very planner has much to learn from British philos- readable captions. The writing reveals the know- ophy and practice. This book is the answer to how of a highly skilled practitioner who portrays, that need. It should be acquired by all who are with a simple and direct style based on experi- in any way concerned with the build, building, ence at high levels, the concepts and techniques and redevelopment of cities. of post-war city planning in Britain and the ROBERT E. DICINSON difficulties with which the planner has to con- tend in a social-democratic society. In spite of University of Arizona these difficulties, however, the record of this book is one of substantial achievement of which British planners may be proud. The book is Geographie de l'Afrique du Nord-Ouest, by JEAN an authoritative exposition of the procedures of DESPOIS and RENE RAYNAL. 570 pages; city planning in Britain by one who knows full maps, diagrs., bibliogrs., index. Payot, well what he is talking about as a practitioner. Paris, 1967. $10.00. 8% x 532 inches. Much can be learned by city planners in other countries from the British example and this book This regional geography on Morocco, Algeria, is the place to find the record up to date. Tunisia, and the western Sahara helps to fill
Particularly notable is the fact that the the need for a volume which includes the many expertise of the rebuilder of cities, as illustrated economic and social changes since independence by Johnson-Marshall's case, is based on a re- and the recent discoveries of petroleuni in
provides a valid picture of the extent of this spect for the heritage of the past, as well as type of blight. on the demands of changing social and economic
The author is fully aware of the problems conditions. Notable also is the constant pre- cited in this review as well as other pitfalls. He occupation with the fact that cities are to be makes this unmistakably clear on more than built as environments for people to live in. one occasion. As it stands, the study is an in- Social needs are basic determinants of what is teresting attempt to deal with a tremendous desirable in assembling the building compo- mass of data and to recognize broad trends. nents of the urban community-daylight, space, However, it falls to bring out sharply the prob- recreational and social services, and adequate lems faced by the various types of store con- provision for local pedestrian movement, as well centrations. Consequently the advice which as for vehicular traffic flows on separate high- could be offered to planners is only of a general ways. It needs to be emphasized that the neigh- nature. borhood idea is skillfully modified and adapted
JACOB SPELT to the needs of community life, as in the world-
University of Toronto renowned Lansbury project in the East End of University of Toronto London. This preoccupation with social needs and values stands out to the reviewer of this book as a pronounced feature in the rebuilding
Rebuilding Cities, by PERCY JOHNSON-MAR- of British cities (in frequent contrast to trends SHALL. vii and 390 pp.; diagrs., halftones, in the States), even though the realization may index. Aldine Publishing Company, Chi- often be far from the desirable target. cago, 1960. $15.00. 18 x 12 inches. The photos and plans follow, and are indeed
a commentary on, each chapter. There are many This is a really important book for all those invaluable sequences, such as, for example, the
who are in any way interested in cities. As building of Lansbury, the Barbican, or, in the Lewis Mumford comments in an introduction, first chapter on the historical development of it has a "particular distinction and value." urban forms, the emergence of St. Marks Square The author, professor of Urban Design and in Venice. The chapters read as follows: the Regional Planning at the University of Edin- historical background of growth, the compo- burgh, spent some 20 years with distinguished nents of planning (the building structures), colleagues, such as Sir Robert Matthew and visions and designs, new planning legislation Dr. Arthur Ling, in the rebuilding of London- and techniques (in Britain), comprehensive de- in the Stepney-Poplar area, notably in Lans- velopment in London, Coventry, Rotterdam, the bury, in which the "neighbourhood concept" City of the Twenty-First Century, and a series was adapted to the resettlement of 100,000 of pictures of Work in Progress. The book is a people; the "city," notably the Barbican and pleasure to read, a source of much-needed in- St. Pauls projects; and the South Bank, which struction on the ideas of a most distinguished is emerging as a grouping of cultural and office group of men, and the progress of their work. buildings on the south bank of the Thames. It is significant that the author acknowledges His professional work started in Coventry under repeatedly and frankly his debt to certain build- Sir Donald Gibson and he was involved in the ings and plans in the States, and a number of reconstruction of its blitzed core. his photographs are of American cities. In return,
The book is lavishly produced, with glossy in the formidable task of transforming and paper, and contains numerous excellent photo- building American cities, the American city- graphs and plans, with informative and very planner has much to learn from British philos- readable captions. The writing reveals the know- ophy and practice. This book is the answer to how of a highly skilled practitioner who portrays, that need. It should be acquired by all who are with a simple and direct style based on experi- in any way concerned with the build, building, ence at high levels, the concepts and techniques and redevelopment of cities. of post-war city planning in Britain and the ROBERT E. DICINSON difficulties with which the planner has to con- tend in a social-democratic society. In spite of University of Arizona these difficulties, however, the record of this book is one of substantial achievement of which British planners may be proud. The book is Geographie de l'Afrique du Nord-Ouest, by JEAN an authoritative exposition of the procedures of DESPOIS and RENE RAYNAL. 570 pages; city planning in Britain by one who knows full maps, diagrs., bibliogrs., index. Payot, well what he is talking about as a practitioner. Paris, 1967. $10.00. 8% x 532 inches. Much can be learned by city planners in other countries from the British example and this book This regional geography on Morocco, Algeria, is the place to find the record up to date. Tunisia, and the western Sahara helps to fill
Particularly notable is the fact that the the need for a volume which includes the many expertise of the rebuilder of cities, as illustrated economic and social changes since independence by Johnson-Marshall's case, is based on a re- and the recent discoveries of petroleuni in
provides a valid picture of the extent of this spect for the heritage of the past, as well as type of blight. on the demands of changing social and economic
The author is fully aware of the problems conditions. Notable also is the constant pre- cited in this review as well as other pitfalls. He occupation with the fact that cities are to be makes this unmistakably clear on more than built as environments for people to live in. one occasion. As it stands, the study is an in- Social needs are basic determinants of what is teresting attempt to deal with a tremendous desirable in assembling the building compo- mass of data and to recognize broad trends. nents of the urban community-daylight, space, However, it falls to bring out sharply the prob- recreational and social services, and adequate lems faced by the various types of store con- provision for local pedestrian movement, as well centrations. Consequently the advice which as for vehicular traffic flows on separate high- could be offered to planners is only of a general ways. It needs to be emphasized that the neigh- nature. borhood idea is skillfully modified and adapted
JACOB SPELT to the needs of community life, as in the world-
University of Toronto renowned Lansbury project in the East End of University of Toronto London. This preoccupation with social needs and values stands out to the reviewer of this book as a pronounced feature in the rebuilding
Rebuilding Cities, by PERCY JOHNSON-MAR- of British cities (in frequent contrast to trends SHALL. vii and 390 pp.; diagrs., halftones, in the States), even though the realization may index. Aldine Publishing Company, Chi- often be far from the desirable target. cago, 1960. $15.00. 18 x 12 inches. The photos and plans follow, and are indeed
a commentary on, each chapter. There are many This is a really important book for all those invaluable sequences, such as, for example, the
who are in any way interested in cities. As building of Lansbury, the Barbican, or, in the Lewis Mumford comments in an introduction, first chapter on the historical development of it has a "particular distinction and value." urban forms, the emergence of St. Marks Square The author, professor of Urban Design and in Venice. The chapters read as follows: the Regional Planning at the University of Edin- historical background of growth, the compo- burgh, spent some 20 years with distinguished nents of planning (the building structures), colleagues, such as Sir Robert Matthew and visions and designs, new planning legislation Dr. Arthur Ling, in the rebuilding of London- and techniques (in Britain), comprehensive de- in the Stepney-Poplar area, notably in Lans- velopment in London, Coventry, Rotterdam, the bury, in which the "neighbourhood concept" City of the Twenty-First Century, and a series was adapted to the resettlement of 100,000 of pictures of Work in Progress. The book is a people; the "city," notably the Barbican and pleasure to read, a source of much-needed in- St. Pauls projects; and the South Bank, which struction on the ideas of a most distinguished is emerging as a grouping of cultural and office group of men, and the progress of their work. buildings on the south bank of the Thames. It is significant that the author acknowledges His professional work started in Coventry under repeatedly and frankly his debt to certain build- Sir Donald Gibson and he was involved in the ings and plans in the States, and a number of reconstruction of its blitzed core. his photographs are of American cities. In return,
The book is lavishly produced, with glossy in the formidable task of transforming and paper, and contains numerous excellent photo- building American cities, the American city- graphs and plans, with informative and very planner has much to learn from British philos- readable captions. The writing reveals the know- ophy and practice. This book is the answer to how of a highly skilled practitioner who portrays, that need. It should be acquired by all who are with a simple and direct style based on experi- in any way concerned with the build, building, ence at high levels, the concepts and techniques and redevelopment of cities. of post-war city planning in Britain and the ROBERT E. DICINSON difficulties with which the planner has to con- tend in a social-democratic society. In spite of University of Arizona these difficulties, however, the record of this book is one of substantial achievement of which British planners may be proud. The book is Geographie de l'Afrique du Nord-Ouest, by JEAN an authoritative exposition of the procedures of DESPOIS and RENE RAYNAL. 570 pages; city planning in Britain by one who knows full maps, diagrs., bibliogrs., index. Payot, well what he is talking about as a practitioner. Paris, 1967. $10.00. 8% x 532 inches. Much can be learned by city planners in other countries from the British example and this book This regional geography on Morocco, Algeria, is the place to find the record up to date. Tunisia, and the western Sahara helps to fill
Particularly notable is the fact that the the need for a volume which includes the many expertise of the rebuilder of cities, as illustrated economic and social changes since independence by Johnson-Marshall's case, is based on a re- and the recent discoveries of petroleuni in
374 374 374 ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
This content downloaded from 194.29.185.42 on Fri, 9 May 2014 07:21:43 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
BOOK REVIEWS BOOK REVIEWS
Algeria and natural gas and iron ore in the Sahara. The contents are similar to the earlier scholarly French geographies on the same re- gion: L'Afrique du Nord (1949) by Jean Despois and Le Sahara Francais (1953) by Robert Capot- Rey. All three volumes are good examples of the French regional school in which both physi- cal and human features are considered with an especially thorough treatment of the features of economic and social geography which give character to each region.
The two earlier volumes were organized sys- tematically, with chapters on topics ranging from landforms to ways of life. But Geographie de I'Afrique du Nord-Ozest has a regional organi- zation, as well as content. The focus contracts from large areas to progressively smaller ones, until there is consideration of each river basin, plateau, and mountain range and the people who inhabit it. A picture often emerges of land- scapes with both physical and cultural features, and nuances provided by variations from place to place in such things as villages, slopes and vegetation, pastoral migration patterns, or agri- cultural products.
Part One is an overview containing a long chapter (41 pages) on landformrs and climates and another (27 pages) on population, societies, economies, and other human conditions for northwest Africa as a whole. Part Two is on Algeria, with 12 chapters. The first of these has an introduction and a section on Algiers. The next 10 chapters are on regions of Algeria, each covering both physical features and human con- ditions such as ways of life, economies, and towns for the region and its sub-regions. The last chap- ter of Part Two is on the Algerian economy, including changes in population, agriculture, in- vestment, and manufacturing since independ- ence. Part Three, on Tunisia, is shorter but follows a similar format: an introductory chap- ter that includes Tunis, two chapters on regions, and a final chapter on the Tunisian economy. Morocco, in Part Three, is given the same treat- ment with the introductory chapter including Casablanca as well as Rabat-Sale, followed by seven regional chapters and a concluding one on the economy. Part Five, on the Sahara, has just five regional chapters. There are dozens of detailed maps, diagrams, and charts, but no pictures.
The book has the strengths and weaknesses which logically follow from the viewpoint and organization. One advantage is that a particular area, such as northeastern Algeria, is considered both as a portion of a larger country and as an area of individual interest, with its own sub- divisions. The index at the back of the volume matches the contents: most of the entries are the names of regions, localities, or towns; sys- tematic topics are less common. A disadvantage is that systematic features, such as the railnet joining the three countries, is given less emphasis than local places. The hierarchy of cities and
Algeria and natural gas and iron ore in the Sahara. The contents are similar to the earlier scholarly French geographies on the same re- gion: L'Afrique du Nord (1949) by Jean Despois and Le Sahara Francais (1953) by Robert Capot- Rey. All three volumes are good examples of the French regional school in which both physi- cal and human features are considered with an especially thorough treatment of the features of economic and social geography which give character to each region.
The two earlier volumes were organized sys- tematically, with chapters on topics ranging from landforms to ways of life. But Geographie de I'Afrique du Nord-Ozest has a regional organi- zation, as well as content. The focus contracts from large areas to progressively smaller ones, until there is consideration of each river basin, plateau, and mountain range and the people who inhabit it. A picture often emerges of land- scapes with both physical and cultural features, and nuances provided by variations from place to place in such things as villages, slopes and vegetation, pastoral migration patterns, or agri- cultural products.
Part One is an overview containing a long chapter (41 pages) on landformrs and climates and another (27 pages) on population, societies, economies, and other human conditions for northwest Africa as a whole. Part Two is on Algeria, with 12 chapters. The first of these has an introduction and a section on Algiers. The next 10 chapters are on regions of Algeria, each covering both physical features and human con- ditions such as ways of life, economies, and towns for the region and its sub-regions. The last chap- ter of Part Two is on the Algerian economy, including changes in population, agriculture, in- vestment, and manufacturing since independ- ence. Part Three, on Tunisia, is shorter but follows a similar format: an introductory chap- ter that includes Tunis, two chapters on regions, and a final chapter on the Tunisian economy. Morocco, in Part Three, is given the same treat- ment with the introductory chapter including Casablanca as well as Rabat-Sale, followed by seven regional chapters and a concluding one on the economy. Part Five, on the Sahara, has just five regional chapters. There are dozens of detailed maps, diagrams, and charts, but no pictures.
The book has the strengths and weaknesses which logically follow from the viewpoint and organization. One advantage is that a particular area, such as northeastern Algeria, is considered both as a portion of a larger country and as an area of individual interest, with its own sub- divisions. The index at the back of the volume matches the contents: most of the entries are the names of regions, localities, or towns; sys- tematic topics are less common. A disadvantage is that systematic features, such as the railnet joining the three countries, is given less emphasis than local places. The hierarchy of cities and
trade regions for the whole area is given scant attention. But there is recent economic data on each country including, in places, statistics that have been brought up to 1966.
Each chapter was carefully written by a geographer with years of experience in his re- search areas: Despois in Algeria, Tunisia, and the Algerian Sahara; and Raynal in Morocco and the Moroccan Sahara. Also, the special talents of Raynal in physical geography and Despois in human geography are reflected in the portions of Part One which each wrote. There has obviously been close and effective collabora- tion; the volume forms a unified regional study. The style of writing is sometimes easy, colorful, and literary and sometimes technical and per- haps pedantic, but the details are correct and the generalizations are thoughtfully and skill- fully presented. This is one of the most thorough and mature regional studies to appear in recent years.
BENJAMIN E. THOMAS
University of California, Los Angeles
Geography and Economics, by MICHAEL CHIs- HOLM. ix and 230 pages; maps, diagrs., charts, tables, index, references. Frederick A. Praeger, Inc., New York, 1966. $6.50. 812 x 51/ inches.
This volume presents a timely contribution to economic geography in its presentation of the ways of thinking involved in those aspects of economics that relate to the location of economic behavior. Since these approaches fre- quently enter into the construction of hypotheses used in economic geography, a distinct need has come to exist for a statement that would extract those kinds of ideas from the vast litera- ture of economics and present them systemati- cally. That function is ably performed in the present volume.
The viewpoint is predominantly economic, but the emphasis is on the processes involved in locational decisions. Motivation for these deci- sions is expressed originally in terms of profit maximization, in which the principal deter- minants normally are the costs of production in the traditional framework of a freely com- petitive economic system. Within this frame- work the operations of economic forces such as supply and demand, the conditions surrounding optimum and marginal locations, and similar aspects of the matrix of economic causation are presented simply and clearly. This analysis is continued in a discussion of scale economies, innovation, multipliers, mobility of the factors of production, the laws of trade, and related features of economic motivation.
In the final chapters, the assumption of free competition is relaxed and attention is directed to locational decisions involving the various sorts
trade regions for the whole area is given scant attention. But there is recent economic data on each country including, in places, statistics that have been brought up to 1966.
Each chapter was carefully written by a geographer with years of experience in his re- search areas: Despois in Algeria, Tunisia, and the Algerian Sahara; and Raynal in Morocco and the Moroccan Sahara. Also, the special talents of Raynal in physical geography and Despois in human geography are reflected in the portions of Part One which each wrote. There has obviously been close and effective collabora- tion; the volume forms a unified regional study. The style of writing is sometimes easy, colorful, and literary and sometimes technical and per- haps pedantic, but the details are correct and the generalizations are thoughtfully and skill- fully presented. This is one of the most thorough and mature regional studies to appear in recent years.
BENJAMIN E. THOMAS
University of California, Los Angeles
Geography and Economics, by MICHAEL CHIs- HOLM. ix and 230 pages; maps, diagrs., charts, tables, index, references. Frederick A. Praeger, Inc., New York, 1966. $6.50. 812 x 51/ inches.
This volume presents a timely contribution to economic geography in its presentation of the ways of thinking involved in those aspects of economics that relate to the location of economic behavior. Since these approaches fre- quently enter into the construction of hypotheses used in economic geography, a distinct need has come to exist for a statement that would extract those kinds of ideas from the vast litera- ture of economics and present them systemati- cally. That function is ably performed in the present volume.
The viewpoint is predominantly economic, but the emphasis is on the processes involved in locational decisions. Motivation for these deci- sions is expressed originally in terms of profit maximization, in which the principal deter- minants normally are the costs of production in the traditional framework of a freely com- petitive economic system. Within this frame- work the operations of economic forces such as supply and demand, the conditions surrounding optimum and marginal locations, and similar aspects of the matrix of economic causation are presented simply and clearly. This analysis is continued in a discussion of scale economies, innovation, multipliers, mobility of the factors of production, the laws of trade, and related features of economic motivation.
In the final chapters, the assumption of free competition is relaxed and attention is directed to locational decisions involving the various sorts
375 375
This content downloaded from 194.29.185.42 on Fri, 9 May 2014 07:21:43 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
