Geography As A Social Science

Geography is the study of "space" and "areal differentiation," which includes the entire planet Earth (in general) and each unique region, with their characteristics, relief features, climate, weather, and almost every other feature, whether living or non-living (in particular). And, when we talk about planet earth as a whole, then obviously, it does not include only the physical aspects of the earth but also the social-cultural aspects, which directly include human beings and their socio-economic activities. Interestingly, the socio-economic activities of human beings are always under the influence of many geographic factors.

On the other hand, all the subjects of social science are human-centric. Based on its nature, every subject has a human-related study area. For example, sociology studies about human beings of different races, tribes, castes, and classes along with their socio-cultural activities. Economics studies about the occupational activities of human beings. Political science is concerned with the study of government-making activities and the provision of basic necessities to society through the act of good governance, among other things.

Likewise, we already know that geography is broadly classified into three categories as −

• Physical Geography (which is related to natural science)

• Human Geography (related to social science) &

• Regional Geography (focuses on the study of different areas of planet earth, which have some similar characteristics).

In this article, our area of study is human geography and its relationship with the subjects of social science. So, in order to understand geography’s relationship with social science, let’s first have a list of all those subjects (of social science) which are directly related to human geography −

• History

• Sociology

• Economics

• Political Science

• Anthropology

• Philosophy

• Demography

Now, let’s discuss each one of them separately −

Human Geography’s Relation with History

History is one of the most significant disciplines of social science that describes past events in a chronological order and examines their patterns of cause and effect. Through historical interpretation, we cannot only understand the past life and incidents, but we can also analyse the various geographic and socio-cultural changes that occurred during the different periods of time. Furthermore, historians used different sorts of tools to investigate, analyse, interpret or even reinterpret the past, which included written documents, ancient buildings, paintings, pictures, and sketches carved on stones, etc., and, these ultimately describe the socio-geographical aspects of our planet earth in chronology.

Now, the question is −how is history related to geography?

The study of geography without history and the study of history without geography is simply impossible. Both are inseparable and supplementary to each other because they manifest two fundamental dimensions of human lives. On the one hand, history interprets human and human activities in a "time" perspective, and on the other hand, geography analyses human activities from the perspective of "space." These two dimensions of "time" and "space" are reinforcement for each other, as they interact constantly with each other.

Moreover, historians describe how, during the beginning of civilization, people started settling along the waterbodies (specifically, along the banks of rivers). And on the other hand, geographers explain, why they settled on the banks of rivers.

The branch of geography that describes geography’s relationship with history is known as "Historical Geography."

Human Geography’s Relation with Sociology

Sociology is one of the disciplines of social science that analyses and explains all the socio-cultural aspects of the world in general and the social activities of a specific society, or community, or even one person in particular. At the global level, sociology studies the different human races, tribal groups, and religions along with their distinctive socio-cultural activities. And, at a personal level, sociology studies the personal behaviours and its social causes that shape and influence these personal behaviours. It includes a range of social aspects, such as family love and conflict, racial diversity and conflict, religious affairs and practices, gender identity, deviant behaviours, and many more. In addition to this, sociology also investigates and explains different societal issues, such as crimes, poverty, prejudice and discrimination, different social movements, etc.

Now, the question is − how is human geography related to sociology?

By that time, we understood very well that geography is the study of all the physical aspects of a human society, which includes the earth’s surface, rivers, mountains, plains, flora, fauna, weather patterns, soils, and natural resources. Interestingly, all these geographical aspects directly or indirectly affect the lives and behaviours of human beings. Likewise, it is an unquestionable fact that there is an integral relationship between physical conditions and socio-cultural activities.

For example, people living in equatorial regions manifest very different modes of living and lifestyles than those living in temperate regions; similarly, people living in tropical regions manifest different modes of living than those living in arctic regions. Their food habits, occupations, attire, fashion styles, languages, body shapes, colors, and sizes, and even ways of thinking, everything is pretty different and distinctive (region specific). 

For example, sociologists study the specific types of socio-cultural practices, such as family relations, clothing style, marriage type, etc., of the Bushmen tribe of South African countries; on the other hand, geographers try to explain, why Bushmen people perform such specific acts and how geography plays a role in defining their social lives. Similarly, the Eskimo tribe, living around the arctic circle, have a very specific kind of lifestyle, such as their clothing, their cultural practices, their food habits, etc. Geographers again explain, why these people have a peculiar practice.

Likewise, geographers help social researchers to understand all these distinctive characteristics of the people living in different geographic regions and also explain why such social distinctiveness occurs.

The branch of geography that describes geography’s relationship with sociology is known as “Social Geography.”

Human Geography’s Relation with Economics

Economics is one of the disciplines of social science that analyses and explains the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services at a global level in general and at a personal level in particular. Likewise, economics investigates and describes the interactions of individual agents (such as households, buyers, sellers, and firms) and markets and then explains the outcomes of such interactions. Further, it also explains the relationships among them in terms of production, consumption, saving, and investment, along with the factors that influence these activities, such as availability of labours, suitable land, natural resources, government policies, currency inflation, etc.

Now, the question is − how is geography related to economics

We have studied that geography focuses on the study of physical aspects of a region, such as types of soil, weather, relief features, rivers, mountains, plateaus, availability of natural resources, human settlement, etc. On the other hand, economics focuses on the study of production, distribution, and consumption of agricultural and industrial products. And, types of agricultural produce are decided by the type of soil, type of climate, relief features, presence of rivers, etc. Furthermore, geographical factors, such as the availability of natural resources, labor, transportation systems, and markets, determine the locations and types of industries.

Likewise, geography decides the types of agricultural products and industries and predicts the future prospects of economic growth in a specific geographic region.

The branch of geography that describes geography’s relationship with economics is known as “Economic Geography.”

Human Geography’s Relation with Political Science

Political science is a social science discipline that analyzes and explains government formation, types of government, and methods of governance at the local, state, national, and international levels. Furthermore, it investigates and analyzes political activities (such as citizen voting behavior and regional voting patterns; the formation of political parties, pressure groups, strikes, and processions, among others); political thought and behavior; and related constitution, rules, and administration.

Now, the question is − how is geography related to political science?

Some of the geographical factors, such as types of land, climate, availability of natural resources, rivers, mountains, everything that directly or indirectly plays an important role in respective politics. Further, these factors not only affect domestic politics but also influence international politics and relations.

Interestingly, geopolitics is one of the study areas of geography and political science that focuses on the study of the "effects of geographical factors (specifically, physical aspects of the region) on politics and international relations." For example, India’s and China’s political relationships with Nepal, are very important, as Nepal is a buffer zone between India and China. A recent example is, Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

The branch of geography that describes geography’s relationship with political science is known as “Political Geography.”

Human Geography’s Relation with Anthropology

Anthropology is one of the disciplines of social science that analyses and explains the evolution of human beings and also describes how and why the people of one geographic region are different from the people of other geographic region in reference to the past and present. Further, based on human remains (fossils), anthropology investigates, analyses, and interprets their body colour, shape, and size, along with their socio-cultural behaviours.

Now, the question is − how is geography related to anthropology?

Some of the geographical factors, such as climate, availability of natural resources, arable lands, etc., played pretty important roles in the evolution of human beings. Likewise, knowledge of geography helps anthropologists understand the evolutionary pattern of human beings.

The branch of geography that describes geography’s relationship with anthropology is known as “Anthropogeography.”

Human Geography’s Relation with Philosophy

Philosophy is one of the disciplines of social science that analyses and explains the fundamental questions of our lives; such as, the existence and reasons of our lives, mind, knowledge, values, and languages.

On the other hand, geographers focus on the study of the evolution of specific geographic phenomena in particular places, times, and contexts. Further, it also focuses on the approaches with which, geographers attempt to understand the physical aspects of the earth and related phenomena; for example, behaviouristic approach, the humanistic approach, the positivistic approach, etc. These approaches that developed during the different periods of time, focus on different patterns of geographical studies that different geographers adopted during the different periods of time.

Moreover, like philosophy, geography also raises philosophical questions about the existence of human beings, their different behavioural patterns (in different geographic regions) and tries to explain those questions with the help of geographic knowledge.

The branch of geography that describes geography’s relationship with philosophy is known as “Geographical Thought.”

Human Geography’s Relation with Demography

Demography is one of the disciplines of social science that analyses and explains the geographical distribution of the human population; age structure; and gender composition. Further, it also studies the growth patterns, the changing patterns, and the structure of the human population in different geographic regions.

On the other hand, the branch of geography that studies about the human population is known as population geography. In fact, sometimes demography and population geography are used interchangeably because their content is almost similar, the only difference is in the approach to studying them.

Conclusion

Moreover, it has been observed that geography has had an umbilical relationship with humans. All those natural activities and geographical factors, which are directly or indirectly related to humans have significant influence as well as impact on the humans’ social activities. The physical elements and phenomena have an inseparable relationship with social activities. And, for all these reasons, geography keeps a relationship with all the subjects of social science.