La géographie appliquée

Summary

This article aims to define the concept and role of the emerging discipline of "applied geography." The author first points out that although the term is recent, the practice of applied geography has a venerable history, dating back to Marshal Vauban's "La Dîme royale." By comparing the developmental paths of France and Great Britain, the article reveals different ways in which geography transitioned from pure science to application: while French academic geography theoretically recognized regional geography as the basis for application, its practical implementation was slow, accompanied by concerns among leading scholars about disciplinary fragmentation; in contrast, British geographers directly engaged in national and regional planning surveys, allowing applied geography to flourish. The author emphasizes that regional geography, due to its holistic understanding of the environment, serves as the primary entry point for geography to serve society, but its application requires multidisciplinary teamwork. Subsequently, the article details the Belgian situation, citing how studies of regions like Tournaisis, Borinage, and Belgian Lorraine led the government to enlist geographers for regional planning, and outlines the contributions of Belgian university geography institutes (e.g., University of Liège) in teaching and practicing applied geography. Furthermore, the article reviews progress in other French universities (Strasbourg, Rennes, Bordeaux), including research training internships, the creation of a chair in applied geography, and the establishment of an applied humanities institute. Finally, the author calls for the systematic organization of applied geography teaching, noting that this discipline, as a logical extension of pure geography, is gaining increasing recognition among geographers.