Mapy. Atlas Republiky Československé

Summary

This article records an academic debate published in 1937 in the Journal of the Czechoslovak Geographical Society concerning the Atlas of the Czechoslovak Republic. Geographer Říkovský criticized the atlas for being predominantly analytical and statistical, lacking synthetic geographical maps (e.g., original landscape, hydrological types, settlement geography), and argued that it represented a missed opportunity for advancing geographical science. Editor Švambera responded that the atlas's scope was constrained by the availability of authors, data, and technical resources, and acknowledged that the absence of synthetic maps stemmed from practical difficulties rather than ideological opposition. The exchange addressed fundamental questions regarding static versus dynamic-genetic approaches in geography and the distinction between analytical and geographical maps. The debate concluded with the editor's final remarks, followed by the program of the 4th Congress of Czechoslovak Geographers.