Lost in space? The geographical and political dimension of uneven capitalist development

The chapter is divided in two main parts. The first one deals with the concept of space in different theoretical traditions, with the aim to highlight merits and drawbacks of each of them. In order to do this, space within the neoclassical traditions (i.e. general economic equilibrium, new economic geography and Marshall’s districts) and the Marxian ones is taken into consideration. Each of these approaches introduces a certain concept of space, which is in line with the general framework of each traditions, thus uncovering some limitations of the concept itself. Therefore, the chapter proposes to integrate Marx with Schumpeter and Keynes in order to reach a more valid concept of space, enabling to explain the current phase of capitalist development. The second part of the chapter focuses on the analysis of this current phase. The end of the so-called Fordist era is here analysed together with its repercussion on the spatial organisation of production, which causes strong pressure on labour. Therefore, the chapter ends with a detailed analysis of both the micro and the macro pressures on labour in this current phase of globalisation and the need of the remaking of the working class.