The Geographical Journal

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Geography in the Public Interest: The GJ publishes original research in human and physical geography which engages with public issues and policy-relevant agendas. Edited by Peter Hopkins, Paul Milbourne, Rebecca Collins & Trivik Verma

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The Geographical Journal@thegj· Jul 22

New in The GJ: 'Why we should unfold dreams: Public geographies of disabled futuring' by Jacqueline Kowalski & @tabeabork.bsky.social This commentary is part of a forthcoming Special Section on 'Geographies of the Future'. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a commentary abstract in The Geographical Journal (2026) entitled: 'Why We Should Unfold Dreams: Public Geographies of Disabled Futuring' by Jacqueline Kowalski & Tabea Bork-Hüffer, with a blue banner at the top.

101 million people in the EU live with disabilities (EU 2022). Yet, disabled voices rarely are considered in endeavours of futuring. Even more, amid rising socio-political polarisation—fuelled by the knowledge crisis, populism and identity-based divides—ableist norms are being reinforced, further marginalising and erasing disabled perspectives from public futures (Kafer 2013). To counter this trend, we must urgently begin ‘imagining otherwise’ (Olufemi 2021) and co-envision desired futures through disabled perspectives. This commentary draws on Crip Theory, Critical Disability, and Black, Feminist and Queer Studies to advocate for co-productive approaches to futuring that centre the knowledge, creativity and lived experiences of disabled people (Shrodes 2023). We propose developing ‘public geographies of futuring’ by invoking and unfolding disabled dreams. We argue that imagining futures together can make them actionable. Although futuring alone may not achieve structural change, ‘unfolding dreams’ can amplify underrepresented voices, increase public visibility and help initiate local transformations.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Jul 14

New in The GJ: 'Exploring perceptions of plastic pollutions amongst subsistence livestock farmers in subtropical rural communities' by Nomcebo C. Madonsela This paper examines the perceptions of farmers in South Africa on the negative impacts of plastic pollution. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Nomcebo C. Madonsela, Linton F. Munyai, Mwazvita T. B. Dalu & Tatenda Dalu (2026) entitled: 'Exploring Perceptions of Plastic Pollution Amongst Subsistence Livestock Farmers in Subtropical Rural Communities' with a blue banner at the top.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Jul 1

New in The GJ: 'Governing urban futures through entangled temporalities of smart urbanism' by Veronika Cummings & Elisabeth Sommerlad This commentary is part of the 'Geographies of the Future' Special Section. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Jun 26

New in The GJ: 'Mapping tsunami vulnerability in coastal Malaysia: The critical role of building characteristics & coastal proximity' by Nik Ahma Faris Nik Effendi et al. This paper assesses building vulnerability to tsunami hazards using geospatial analysis & MCDM methods doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Nik Ahmad Faris Nik Effendi, Mohd Faisal Abdul Khanan & Suzanna Noor Azmy (2026) entitled: 'Mapping Tsunami Vulnerability in Coastal Malaysia: The Critical Role of Building Characteristics and Coastal Proximity' with a blue banner at the top.

Tsunamis are rare but devastating disasters that primarily affect coastal regions. Structural mitigation measures, such as sea walls and offshore breakwaters, are effective but costly, especially for countries like Malaysia that are less prone to tsunamis. As a result, non-structural approaches are more practical. This research focuses on assessing building vulnerability using geospatial methods and multicriteria decision-making (MCDM), particularly the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and relative importance index (RII). Seven indicators with RII values exceeding 0.5 were accepted, while six were excluded. The AHP model utilised four key indicators and 17 sub-indicators to evaluate building vulnerability. The consistency ratio (CR) was calculated and validated using Monte Carlo analysis, yielding an acceptable value of 0.02. Results indicate that buildings made of wood, with one floor, located within 400 m of the shoreline and used as residences are highly vulnerable to tsunamis. This study provides valuable insights for governments, NGOs and communities to proactively prepare for tsunamis. It offers a strategic framework to enhance mitigation measures, supporting effective disaster preparedness and reducing future risks.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Jun 9

New in The GJ: 'Contested coastal governance and livelihood transitions: Evidence from Vietnam's Tam Giang-Cau Hai Lagoon' by Pham Thi Ngoc Quynh et al. This paper explores sustainability transitions in coastal fisheries, drawing on fieldwork conducted in 2022. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Pham Thi Ngoc Quynh, Thu L. T. Dinh & Edo Andriesse (2026) entitled: 'Contested Coastal Governance and Livelihood Transitions: Evidence From Vietnam's Tam Giang-Cau Hai Lagoon' with a blue banner at the top.

This article examines the livelihood transformations and governance challenges of small-scale fishers (SSF) in Vietnam's Tam Giang-Cau Hai (TGCH) lagoon. Drawing on 47 semi-structured interviews and extensive ethnographic fieldwork conducted in 2022, it reveals how fishers navigate overlapping pressures: declining stocks, pollution, spatial competition and fragmented institutional reforms. Although adaptation strategies like livelihood diversification and outmigration are common, they frequently exacerbate structural inequalities related to age, gender and socio-economic status. We argue that state-promoted alternatives, such as aquaculture and ecotourism, show limited success and often risk ‘pseudo-diversification’ due to weak governance, uneven enforcement and spatial exclusion. Conceptually, this study advances an integrated framework combining wicked problems, livelihood adaptation, and spatial justice. It demonstrates that sustainability transitions in coastal fisheries are not merely technical challenges but contested political processes. By highlighting how institutional complexity and power asymmetries reproduce marginalisation, the study contributes to more grounded, justice-oriented approaches to coastal governance in Southeast Asia.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Jun 1

New in The GJ: 'Geographies of prediction markets: Gamifying the future' by @sarah-mills.bsky.social This commentary outlines the economic, political and moral geographies of prediction markets, exploring the ethical questions being raised around the gambling industry. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a commentary abstract in The Geographical Journal by Sarah Mills (2026) entitled: 'Geographies of Prediction Markets: Gamifying the Future' with a blue banner at the top.

This commentary outlines the economic, political and moral geographies of prediction markets and maps how they are gamifying the future. These digital platforms are transforming the gambling industry and raising significant ethical questions.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· May 22

New in The GJ 'Political ecology & social production of drinking water scarcity in India's contaminated landscapes' by Avinash Ranjan et al. This paper seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of political ecology as a framework to understand disparities in drinking water access doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Avinash Ranjan, Sambit Mallick & Kajal Kumar Mandal (2026) entitled: 'Political Ecology and Social Production of Drinking Water Scarcity in India's Contaminated Landscapes' with a blue banner at the top.

Employing the political ecology framework, this article aims to: (a) evaluate the effectiveness of political ecology as a framework to understand disparities in drinking water access in India, with specific reference to the case studies of Shahpur in Bihar and Myorpur in Uttar Pradesh; (b) investigate how social hierarchy, governance and material risk shape water accessibility; and (c) identify actionable strategies for equitable and participatory water governance, particularly with regard to marginalised communities. This article is based on household surveys, groundwater analysis and spatial assessment to interrogate the dominant narrative that construes ‘scarcity’ as merely technical or natural. Putting it succinctly, ‘scarcity’ has been advocated by the hitherto-existing power structures to legitimise economic inequality. The findings of the study demonstrate that water inequities are socially constructed and maintained through power relations, historical marginalisation and sociopolitical hierarchies.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· May 11

New in The GJ: 'The social equity of spatial compactness varies by context: Evidence from Belfast, Glasgow and Liverpool' by Tianrui Sun & Cristian Silva doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Tianrui Sun & Cristian Silva (2026) entitled: 'The Social Equity of Spatial Compactness Varies by Context: Evidence From Belfast, Glasgow and Liverpool' with a blue banner at the top.

While compact urban development is widely promoted as a pathway to greater social equity, empirical evidence on the extent to which social equity is achieved remains inconclusive. To advance on this, we address three elements on compact urban development linked to social equity that have been little examined: (i) the conflation of compactness with density; (ii) the limited fine-scale analysis of compactness in relation to demographic patterns; and (iii) the underexplored relationship between demographic characteristics and urban compactness. On this basis, the study develops a multidimensional compactness measurement framework at a 500-m resolution, integrating physical, functional and socio-economic indicators. Based on this, multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) models are applied to three UK cities—Belfast, Glasgow and Liverpool—to examine how demographic variables (ethnicity, employment, education, gender and age) relate to spatial compactness. The findings show that the demographic–compactness relationship is highly context dependent, varying across both locations and social groups. This highlights the need for equitable compact development strategies that are sensitive to contextual differences and responsive to the circumstances of diverse population groups.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Apr 17

New in The GJ: 'Resilience of agricultural trade during the US-China Trade War: The role of product and geographical diversification' by Wenwan Jin et al. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Wenwan Jin, Yuxin ZHu, Xiongbin Lin & Xingchuan Gao (2026) entitled: 'Resilience of Agricultural Trade During the US-China Trade War: The Role of Product and Geographical Diversification' with a blue banner at the top.

Global shocks often destabilise international trade, and the current tensions in US-China trade relations exemplify this challenge. This study analyses China's customs data during 2019–2022 to identify optimal strategies to help Chinese agricultural products recover faster. The findings reveal that both product and geographical diversification significantly enhance the resilience of China's agricultural trade under trade war pressures, especially for China's eastern regions. While geographical diversification bolsters short-term resilience, product diversification is key to long-term trade stability. Furthermore, the positive impact of product diversification is mainly attributed to the weak relatedness among products, whereas geographical diversification benefits from the strong linkages among China's trading partners. These results highlight the critical role of such diversification in maintaining trade stability during the ongoing US-China trade war and offer valuable insights for formulating agricultural trade strategies.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Apr 9

New in The GJ: 'Vegetal infrastructure: Rwanda's eucalyptus boom and the material politics of tree planting as a "nature-based solution"' by Nathan Clay This paper critically evaluates local implications of global tree-planting mandates, drawing on fieldwork in Rwanda. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Nathan Clay (2026) entitled: 'Vegetal Infrastructure: Rwanda's Eucalyptus Boom and the Material Politics of Tree Planting as a ‘Nature-Based Solution’' with a blue banner at the top.

Planting trees has become a global obsession. Forest restoration and afforestation have been rebranded as ‘nature-based solutions’ to climate change. Nations, corporations and non-profits together aim to plant trillions of trees, roughly equivalent to a new Amazon. This article considers the local implications of this terrestrial transformation. It reports on empirical findings from Rwanda, where over fifty million trees—mostly eucalyptus species—have been planted during the past fifteen years. Based on fieldwork with four rural communities, I demonstrate how the material properties of eucalyptus intersect with state and market rationales to make tree planting profitable, scalable and legible. Building from geographic thinking on infrastructure and human-plant relations, I develop the concept of vegetal infrastructure to analyse how trees are enrolled in political projects, producing durable inequalities that become a palpable fixture on the landscape. The article emphasises the urgent need to diversify global reforestation mandates and offers vegetal infrastructure as a lens to assess their local implications.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Mar 23

New in The GJ: 'Domesticating the UK's hostile environment: Forced migrants' lived experiences of making "home"' by @robinfinlay.bsky.social et al. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Robin Finlay, Matthew C. Benwell & Peter Hopkins (2026) entitled: 'Domesticating the UK's Hostile Environment: Forced Migrants' Lived Experiences of Making ‘Home’' with a blue banner at the top.

In this paper, we analyse the lived experiences of forced migrants in dispersal accommodation in the UK, contributing to understandings of the policies and politics of the hostile environment immigration regime in relation to the domestic sphere. More specifically, our research addresses the relative dearth of work exploring the intimate lived experiences of forced migrants by considering how the asylum regime shapes understandings of home and constrains processes of homemaking. We examine how material and social aspects of dispersal accommodation work to limit forced migrants' sense of home. We show how ‘out of place’ materialities, such as leaks, damp and infestations of insects, alongside broken and absent material fittings, such as decaying and missing furniture, undermine the making of a safe and comfortable home. We also illustrate how social relations within and around dispersal accommodation, including relationships and encounters with neighbours and flatmates, can undermine one's sense of home and belonging. By illustrating the interconnections of the material and social, we contribute to understandings of forced migrants' experiences of housing that are constituted through an assemblage of people, objects, relations, emotions and broader political policies. Whilst forced migrants respond to precarious housing through diverse coping strategies, this paper shows that within the context of a hostile UK asylum and migration system, the ability to make home is highly constrained.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Mar 16

New commentary in The GJ: 'Infrastructures of (dis)connection: Declining Overseas Development Assistance and the shifting geographies of development' by Sarah Peck & @mattbailliesmith.bsky.social doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a commentary abstract in The Geographical Journal by Sarah Peck & Matt Baillie Smith (2026) entitled: 'Infrastructures of (Dis)Connection: Declining Overseas Development Assistance and the Shifting Geographies of Development' with a blue banner at the top.

This short commentary hopes to stimulate debate about reductions in Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), particularly by the United States and the United Kingdom in 2025. Drawing on three key areas of geographical scholarship, we consider firstly the intersections between ODA and labour geographies, secondly we engage with relational theorising to consider repercussions for development ecosystems, and finally we explore potential impacts on the wider geographies of aid and development. In doing so, we hope to use these geographically inspired lenses to broaden conversations about declining ODA and ‘Aidland’ and to acknowledge and surface the contradictions presented to development geographers at this critical moment. By articulating the potential of geographically inspired scholarship for thinking about declining ODA, we conclude by opening up further questions about future ‘public’ geographies of development.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Mar 12

New in The GJ: 'Does education mediate the relationship between renewable energy and ecological footprint in Africa? Evidence from new artificial intelligence methods' by Solomon Prince Nathaniel et al. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Solomon Prince Nathaniel, Dimitrios Dimitriou, Süleyman Bolat & Simplice A. Asongu (2026) entitled: 'Does Education Mediate the Relationship Between Renewable Energy and Ecological Footprint in Africa? Evidence From New Artificial Intelligence Methods' with a blue banner at the top.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Mar 9

New commentary in The GJ: 'Generating impact: Challenges faced when promoting the adoption of geographical tools for informing public policy' by Gary Higgs & Mitchel Langford doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Gary Higgs & Mitchel Langford (2026) entitled: 'Generating Impact: Challenges Faced When Promoting the Adoption of Geographical Tools for Informing Public Policy' with a blue banner at the top.

Drawing on the application of spatial analytical tools (based on floating catchment area (FCA) methods), this commentary highlights some of the challenges faced in promoting the use of geographical techniques to address aspects of government policy/delivery. There is an ever-expanding academic literature concerned with the application of FCA techniques in a range of thematic areas, the majority of which inevitably conclude with claims for some degree of policy relevance. If geographers are to have a meaningful input, there is a need to demonstrate the impact of applying these types of spatial analytical techniques to address real-world policy challenges. We draw on our experiences in using these tools in applied studies to firstly highlight an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to advocate for an alternative methodology as part of the construction of a domain of indicators in successive versions of an index of multiple deprivation in Wales. Meanwhile, researchers based within Ofsted, by drawing on the application of multi-modal FCA approaches to measure localised access to childcare in England, have shown that it is possible to work in collaboration with academics and others to address important government policy initiatives using such techniques. We conclude by briefly summarising the lessons learnt from our experiences of applying these tools in policy contexts with varying degrees of impact.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Mar 5

New in The GJ: 'Towards economic resilience in Africa: The complementary roles of economic complexity and foreign direct investment' by Ekene ThankGod Emeka et al. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Ekene ThankGod Emeka, Simplice A. Asongu, Davidmac O. Ekeocha & Vanessa S. Tchamyou (2026) entitled: 'Towards Economic Resilience in Africa: The Complementary Roles of Economic Complexity and Foreign Direct Investment' with a blue banner at the top.

This study focuses on two key objectives: first, to evaluate the unconditional effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) on economic resilience in Africa and, second, to investigate the relevance of economic complexity in shaping the FDI–economic resilience nexus. The analysis is based on a panel of 34 African countries covering the years 2011–2023, employing the dynamic system generalised method of moments (GMM) and the bias-corrected method of moments (BCMM) as the two dynamic estimation techniques for the study. While the dynamic system GMM served as the baseline estimator, the BCMM was employed as a robustness check in response to recent concerns regarding the reliability of system GMM. The BCMM approach robustly addresses and corrects for endogeneity, cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity. In this study, economic resilience is defined by macroeconomic stability, market efficiency and governance. The findings reveal a positive synergy between FDI and economic resilience, with economic complexity further amplifying the positive impact of FDI on economic resilience. In light of these findings, the study advances policy recommendations that align with both the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Mar 3

New in The GJ: '"I really don't have time to talk and listen to all those people": Care responsibilities and privileged irresponsibility in the devolution of social services in the Netherlands' by Petra de Braal et al. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Petra de Braal, Stijn Oosterlynck, Michael Leyshon, Catherine Leyshon & Shukru Esmene (2026) entitled: '‘I Really Don't Have Time to Talk and Listen to All Those People’: Care Responsibilities and Privileged Irresponsibility in the Devolution of Social Services in the Netherlands' with a blue banner at the top.

This paper analyses the micro-scale geographies of care within newly devolved social services in The Netherlands. Across Europe, welfare reforms have reconfigured the spatial organisation of care, shifting responsibilities to municipalities and expecting closer collaboration between citizens, civil-society organisations and local governments. We analyse how these spatial and institutional transformations shape the everyday negotiation of care responsibilities within Buren Helpen Elkaar, a locally organised initiative that mobilises volunteers to support residents (primarily elderly people) to continue living independently at home. Drawing on Tronto's political ethics of care, we investigate how care is interpreted, allocated and enacted across local actors. The analysis is based on qualitative data from thirty-six interviews, participatory observations and policy and organisational documents. Our findings show that, despite its promise of fostering more cooperative citizen-state relations, the initiative is marked by dynamics of ‘privileged irresponsibility’. Professionals and volunteers withdraw from particular tasks by claiming to be ‘too busy’, by narrowing definitions of legitimate need or by shifting responsibility to other actors. By tracing how responsibility is negotiated and redistributed in place, the paper offers a micro-scale account of devolved welfare that foregrounds the relational dynamics shaping local care provision. It also shows how everyday practices can undermine the intentions of welfare reforms and contribute to uneven outcomes across communities.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Feb 26

New in The GJ: 'Computational analysis of contested monuments and collective memory in a multiethnic city' by Alexandru-Sabin Nicula et al. This paper analyses how 4 monuments in Cluj-Napoca reflect Romanian-Hungarian relations & the negotiation of collective memory. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Alexandru-Sabin Nicula, Remus Crețan, Alexandru Dragan & Bogdan Oancea (2026) entitled: 'Computational Analysis of Contested Monuments and Collective Memory in a Multiethnic City' with a blue banner at the top.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Feb 2

New in The GJ! '(No) pets on university campuses: "Animaling" citizenship for pet-friendly spaces' by @threading-time.bsky.social et al. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Clare Holdsworth, Daniel Allen, Mark Lucherini & Cameron Causer (2026) entitled: '(No) Pets on University Campuses: ‘Animaling’ Citizenship for Pet-Friendly Spaces' with a blue banner at the top.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Jan 28

New in The GJ: 'Youth artisanal and small-scale miners' perspectives on the health effects of mercury' by Lydia Osei doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Lydia Osei (2026) entitled: 'Youth Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners' Perspectives on the Health Effects of Mercury' with a blue banner at the top.

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) has gained prominence in the development discourse mainly due to its contribution to national economies; but also, the occupational and environmental challenges associated with the sector. This paper concentrates on the use of mercury at ASM sites, as one of the major concerns associated with a growing sector in Ghana. The paper reveals that youth miners have limited knowledge of the grave health effects of mercury because such knowledge is based on what is transmitted by their older counterparts. Some miners have devised crude ways of protecting themselves against the effects of mercury. The paper proposes that an improved education on the effects of mercury on the health of youth miners could be an essential component of formalising the sector, which will also prove to be a key strategy to achieving the goal of reducing and eliminating mercury from ASM.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Jan 21

New commentary in The GJ: 'Can the Himalayas speak? Firework art, marketing and posthuman ethics of nature' by Yana Wengel & Ling Ma This piece examines Arc'teryx's use of Himalayan mountain landscapes for a global branding exercise, the 'Rising Dragon' fireworks in 2025. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

A photograph of a promotional art event in the Himalayas staged by Arc'teryx in collaboration with artist Cai Guo-Qiang showing colourful fireworks exploding in a snaking path pattern up the side of a snow-topped mountain.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Jan 19

New in The GJ: 'Commercialisation and visitor perceptions of Cairo's urban parks: A machine learning analysis of user-generated images' by Abdelbaseer A. Mohamed This study analyses Google reviews of public parks in Cairo to examine visitor perception. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Abdelbaseer A. Mohamed (2026) entitled: 'Commercialisation and Visitor Perceptions of Cairo's Urban Parks: A Machine Learning Analysis of User-Generated Images' with a blue banner at the top.

Urban parks in rapidly growing cities serve multiple functions. However, the interplay between natural aesthetics, recreation and commercialisation remains underexplored, especially in the Global South. This study analysed 3179 user-generated Google Reviews images from 17 public parks in Cairo. We applied topic modelling, K-means clustering and associative word analysis to examine visitor perceptions. Three main themes emerged: Family & Recreation, Natural Scenery & Greenery, and Crowds & Urban Activity. The analysis revealed both distinctive park identities and common commercial features, such as restaurants and ticketed facilities. Clustering highlighted a spectrum of park experiences, from natural, low-commercial spaces to highly commercialised, family-focused destinations. Findings show that commercialisation not only enhances attractiveness and recreational opportunities but also affects accessibility and place identity. This research provides a framework for understanding visitor perceptions and supports sustainable and inclusive park management in urban contexts of the Global South.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Dec 12

New in The GJ: 'Map and archival evidence of the historical avulsion of the Brahmaputra river' by Keith Richards et al. This paper pieces together evidence surrounding the avulsion of the Brahmaputra in the late-eighteenth century to suggest its causes. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Screenshot of a paper abstract by Keith Richards, Hugh Brammer & Patricia Saunders (2025) entitled: 'Map and Archival Evidence of the Historical Avulsion of the Brahmaputra River' with a blue banner at the top.

The Brahmaputra River is one of the world's largest rivers, entering the Bengal Basin from its extensive Himalayan catchment, flowing south through Bangladesh, and joining the Ganges to traverse a complex fan-delta and enter the Bay of Bengal. When Major James Rennell surveyed the river to establish the ‘Route Surveys’ for the East India Company between 1765 and 1777, it followed a different course, turning to the South-East into the Sylhet Basin, and joining the Meghna. Some time after this, it changed its course—it avulsed—and a re-survey was undertaken by Captain Richard Wilcox in 1828–1830 which first showed its present-day southerly route. However, there is uncertainty about when, why, and how this major adjustment occurred, and these questions can only be answered with recourse to archival materials. This paper accordingly pieces together information in the writings of travellers and East India Company officials in the region in the period between 1787 and 1854; evidence of boundary changes in 1806; archival material indicating that the East India Company was concerned enough about declining flow in the ‘Old’ Brahmaputra to consider engineering works by 1845; and contemporary evidence of the widespread impact of severe monsoon floods in 1787; to conclude that the avulsion probably took place rather earlier than often assumed. And intriguingly, it seems that although Rennell left India in 1777, in the first edition of his Memoir published after those floods had occurred (1788), he inserted a brief reference to the Brahmaputra changing its course.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Dec 9

New in The GJ: '(Not) covering climate risks: A multimodal news framing analysis of soil health reporting in the UK press' by @antalwozniak.bsky.social & @jillhopke.bsky.social This paper explores the lack of reporting on soil health in the UK between 2022-2024. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Antal Wozniak & Jill Hopke (2025) entitled: '(Not) Covering Climate Risks: A Multimodal News Framing Analysis of Soil Health Reporting in the UK Press' with a blue banner at the top.

Risks to soil health from increased flooding and drought due to climate change are a priority risk area for the UK government. Our analysis of newspaper coverage of this issue reveals very little attention to it in the two years following the release of the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2022. We conduct a qualitative multimodal framing analysis of a population of 42 news reports and their 117 accompanying images. We identify two major issue frames that include soil health as either a remedy or cause: habitat/biodiversity loss and food insecurity. Both focus on adaptation measures, mostly in industrial agriculture and community- or individual-level gardening. Climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration is a secondary aspect that cuts across both issue frames. Policymakers are largely absent, both in writing and imagery. Visuals are often generic and lack representations of loss. Implications for publicly communicating the climate risk of soil degradation are discussed.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Nov 20

New in The GJ: 'A reparative paradigm for thinking with disasters' by Gregory L. Simon et al. This commentary argues for a paradigm shift in disaster research drawing from debates on reparations and reparative thought. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Gregory L. Simon, Nathaniel O'Grady, Kevin Grove, Christine Eriksen, Ksenia Chmutina, Rony Emmenegger, Emmanuel Raju, Deniz Ay, Samuel Lüthi, Timothy Prior, Kathleen Uyttewaal & Filippo Zeffiri (2025) entitled: 'A reparative paradigm for thinking with disasters' with a blue banner at the top.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Nov 18

New in The GJ: 'Universities as spaces of possibility: Towards more creative, caring academic labour' by @geogbmore.bsky.social & Zoe Pearson This commentary shares insights and provides discussion questions for reading the book 'Higher Expectations' by Hawkins & Kern. doi.org/10.1111/geoj...

Graphical abstract for a commentary published in The Geographical Journal by Emily Billo & Zoe Pearson. It shows the cover of a book entitled 'Higher Expectations: How to survive academia, make it better for others, and transform the university' by Roberta Hawkins & Leslie Kern.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Nov 3

New in The GJ: 'Migration, circular mobility and food security in Nicaragua: An analytical framework based on food sourcing and farm household multi-localisation' by Sandrine Fréguin-Gresh & Geneviève Cortès doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Sandrine Fréguin-Gresh & Geneviève Cortès entitled: 'Migration, circular mobility and food security in Nicaragua: An analytical framework based on food sourcing and farm household multi-localisation' with a blue banner at the top.

This article explores the links between agriculture, circular mobility, migration and food security in the Global South. It focuses on farm households in Nicaragua which, for generations, have engaged in diversified livelihood strategies including mobility and migration. The article proposes an original framework, based on the concept of multi-localised family food systems, to link household socio-spatial practices with food security. Multifactorial and cross-sectional analysis shows that household food security is the result of complex strategies combining agricultural practices, pluri-activity, economic diversification and the circulation of resources linked to migrant remittances and donations from networks and public policies. Although the links between migration, circular mobility and food security are neither linear nor systematic, our findings reveal that not only the maintenance of family farming but also the multi-localisation of households, circular mobility practices and migration play key roles in food supply and security. These findings suggest that public policies and the interventions of development agencies should take a better approach to support the food coping strategies of these multi-localised households, taking greater consideration of off-farm diversification, mobility and migration.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Oct 29

New in The GJ: 'Reimagining rural policy through mission-led governance' by @jayneglass.bsky.social & @markshucksmith.bsky.social This commentary argues that mission-led policies risk perpetuating inequalities, using rural policy as a case in point. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a commentary abstract in The Geographical Journal by Jayne Glass & Mark Shucksmith (2025) entitled: 'Reimagining rural policy through mission-led governance' with a blue banner at the top.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Oct 27

New in The GJ: 'Obstacles to the touristification of historical borders' by Petr Marek. This paper draws on the boundary between the historical Czech lands of Bohemia & Moravia to investigate how residents conceptualise and engage with the border. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a paper abstract in The Geographical Journal by Petr Marek (2025) entitled 'Obstacles to the touristification of historical borders' with a blue banner at the top.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Oct 15

New in The GJ: 'Comparative peripheries and decarbonising the uneven geographies of academia' by Todd Denham et al. This commentary reflects on international conference travel, drawing on attendee experiences of the hybrid 2023 RGS-IBG Annual Conference. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky

Screenshot of a commentary abstract in The Geographical Journal by Todd Denham, Wangui Kimari, Pia Treichel & Rachel Walters (2025) entitled: 'Comparative peripheries and decarbonising the uneven geographies of academia' with a blue banner at the top.

International travel is a key source of academic greenhouse gas emissions and, therefore, is a priority for the sector's decarbonisation efforts. However, legacies of colonisation and carbon-intensive development mean that the global geography of knowledge production and exchange is highly concentrated in Europe and North America, notwithstanding increased access through decarbonisation initiatives such as conference hubs. This commentary draws on attendee experiences of two remote conference hubs, held in Nairobi, Kenya and Melbourne, Australia, in parallel with the hybrid 2023 Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) (RGS-IBG) conference, for which the in-person event was held in London. The varied experiences of these Nairobi and Melbourne RGS hubs highlight the plurality of peripheries, and how one's location within a continuum of peripheralisation shapes how academics from these sites are engaged in and can respond to academic decarbonisation efforts. We argue that the reproduction of Europe and North America as the centres of knowledge necessitates increased cognisance of the potentially conflicted aims of inclusion and the decarbonisation of academia, especially on academic peripheries. Ultimately, our argument is not against the decarbonisation of academia, which we view as critical against climate breakdown, but, rather, for greater attention to the decentring of knowledge production and its methods of transfer in decarbonisation efforts.

The Geographical Journal@thegj· Oct 1

New in The GJ: 'What's coming out of those chimneys? Energy-from-waste incineration in Teesside, UK' by Jay Sinclair This commentary examines how Teesside's role in UK Net Zero Strategy facilitates ongoing industrial pollution through 'green' industrial projects. doi.org/10.1111/geoj... #geosky