AN INVITATION FROM THE SOVIET UNION

OnJune3,1950,twoFrenchmountaineersnaurce(1919-)andLachenalLouis(1921-1955)scaledthe8,091-meterAnnapur-naPeakforthefirsttimeinhumanhistory.Theiraccomplishmentsoundedthebugleforassaultingpeakseachwithanelevationof8,000metersormore.InspiredbytheFrenchmountaineeringcirclesintheformerSovietUnionproposedtotheirChinesecounterpartsaplantoclimbtheworld'shighestpeakinChina-theQomolangmo.SovietmountaineersdecidedtojoinhandswiththeirChinesecounter-partsbecausetheirterritorycontainednomountainsthatris…     

CHINA AND THE SOVIET UNION: WORLDS APART?

The past growth of industrial production of the Soviet Union and of China are compared. For most branches of production the present gap between the Soviet Union and China is enormous, especially on a per capita basis. Even allowing for a time lag of 25 years, levels of production in China are notably lower. A primary factor is the weak natural resource base of China. The future prospects for China to duplicate the past rapid industrial growth of the Soviet Union are judged to be poor.     

WHAT'S IN A PLACE? AN APPROACH TO THE CONCEPT OF PLACE,AS ILLUSTRATED BY THE BRITISH NATIONAL UNION OF MINEWORKERS' STRIKE, 1984–85

There have been several calls in recent years for a revival of regional geography, focusing on the individuality of places and their roles as contexts within which social structuration occurs. As yet, little has been written about the ways in which such work can be undertaken, providing a framework for the study of places that both emphasises their individuality and sets them in the context of social theory. Using the example of a particular event, the 1984–85 National Union of Mineworkers' strike in Great Britain, and the individuality of one place during that event, this essay provides an initial framework for defining the nature of a place.