Geographical Statecraft: A Conceptual Framework for Redefining the Relationship between Geography and Spatial Governance

Document Type : مقالات علمی پژوهشی

Authors
Mohsen Janparvar 1
Fereyduon Nazari 2
Sarhad Sheikhe Hamad 3
Ali Mostafaei 2
1 Associate Professor, Political Geography, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad,, Mashhad, Iran
2 Master's degree in Political Geography, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
3 PhD in Political Geography, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
10.48311/psp.2026.119101.82802
Abstract
In a context where the inefficiency of conventional statecraft models has become one of the fundamental challenges confronting states at both national and transnational scales, the absence of a spatially grounded perspective in governance systems has become increasingly evident. Drawing upon a redefinition of geography as the science of spatial organization, this article seeks to propose a novel conceptual framework entitled Geographical Statecraft. Geographical statecraft is formulated as a model for administering and managing national space, grounded in a systematic understanding of the interactions among nature, human agency, and the phenomena emerging from their mutual interplay within and beyond national spatial boundaries.
The research adopts a descriptive–analytical approach, relying on conceptual analysis and a critical re-examination of the theoretical literature. The findings indicate that geographical statecraft, by emphasizing six fundamental dimensions of geographical space and employing a systemic and harmonic perspective, can function as an effective framework for enhancing spatial governance, improving territorial management efficiency, and redefining the position of geography within both academic and practical domains.
Keywords
Geography
Spatial Governance
Statecraft
Spatial Organization
Geographical Statecraft
Subjects
Political Organizing of Space
Volume 8, Issue 2
Spring 2026
Pages 61-84