The Insertion of Milton Santos’ Geographic Space in the Althusserian Interpretation of the Social Whole: A Structure Like the Others?

Author(s)

Bruno Moreira Riani Costa ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geografia - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: GEOUSP; v. 27, n. 3 2023-11-24.

Abstract

Abstract The present article intends to investigate some of the possible theoretical approximations between Santos’ propositions about geographic space and the Althusserian interpretation. Mainly, the discussion revolves around the following question: How far could one go by reading certain propositions by Milton Santos through the lens of structural Marxism? It is concluded that, as a necessary support for the historicization of social structures, space assumes unique importance for the analysis of reality through an Althusserian prism: its consideration suggests a forwarding of the contradiction between history and structure, allowing to contemplate the diachrony and contradiction present in each socio-spatial formation. Thus, just as the analysis of the Althusserian ballast of certain elaborations by Milton Santos helps to illuminate certain points of his work, Santos’ work can also contribute largely to the theorizations of structural Marxism, highlighting the role of space in the construction of an analytical framework capable of unravelling the determinations of the present. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 22/03409-6 - Infrastructure and valorization of space: new uses of territory under the financialization
• Grantee: Bruno Moreira Riani Costa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• FAPESP's process: 21/05752-7 - The participation of institutional investors in São Paulo state territorial infrastructure concessions: new uses of territory under the financialization
• Grantee: Bruno Moreira Riani Costa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master