Wallace, Iain

Professor Emeritus

B.A., D. Phil.(Oxford)
Email Wallace, Iain

Biography

I am comfortable with the label of “economic geographer”, but by temperament and outlook I value most the eclecticism and search for connectedness that geography as a discipline allows one to pursue. Doctoral research on freight transportation led me to work on the mineral sector in Canada and to broader interests in the economy of resource-based regions. Interest in the society/natural environment interface lies behind research on the conceptualisation of economy/environment relations and on the agri-food system. Exploration of geography’s relations to social theory has been shaped by perspectives derived from Christian theology. I think the literature (and especially the textbooks!) of economic geography have still not realised their potential for linking the economic system with the earth system and in retirement I would like to improve on things, though probably not in conventional published formats.

Research Interests

Economic globalization in the Anthropocene Era
Human dimensions of global environmental change
Theology, epistemology and the nature of geography

Recent Publications

“Agriculture and Rural Resources”, in Bruce Mitchell, ed., Resource and Environmental Management in Canada: Addressing Conflict and Uncertainty (4^th edition), Oxford University Press, Toronto, 2010, 274-297. (with M. Brklacich).

“Space, Place and the Gospel: Theological Exploration in the Anthropocene Era”, in J.K.A. Smith, ed., After Modernity? Secularity, Globalization and the Re-Enchantment of the World, Waco TX, Baylor University Press, 2008, 123-141.

‘Territory, Typology, Theology: Geopolitics and the Christian Scriptures’ Geopolitics 11 (2), 2006, 209-230.

‘Commentary 2: Classics in human geography revisited Corbridge, S. 1986: Capitalist world development: a critique of radical development geography’ Progress in Human Geography 29 (5), 2005, 603-606.

Reflections from Canada: a ‘nearest neighbour’ analysis’ GeoJournal 59 (1) 2004, 43-44.

A Geography of the Canadian Economy, Oxford University Press, Toronto, 2002, xiii + 265 pp.

“Sustaining Geography; sustainable geographies: the linked challenge,” Canadian Geographer 46, 2002, 98-107.

“Globalization: discourse of destiny or denial?” Christian Scholar’s Review 31 , 2002, 377-391.

“Manufacturing in North America”, in F.W. Boal and S.A. Royle, eds., North America: A Geographical Mosaic, Arnold, London, 1999, 141-154.

“A Christian reading of the global economy “, in H. Aay and S. Griffioen, eds., Geography and Worldview: A Christian Reconnaissance , University Press of America, Lanham, MD, 1998, 37-48.

“The Canadian Shield: the development of a resource frontier”, in L.D. McCann and A. Gunn, eds., Heartland and Hinterland: A Geography of Canada , Prentice-Hall of Canada, Toronto, 1998 (3rd Edition, revised), 227-267.

“Contested terrains: social space and the Canadian environment”, in W. Clement, ed., Understanding Canada: Building on the New Canadian Political Economy , McGill-Queen’s University Press, Montreal, 1997, 386-408 (with R. Shields).

“Societies in space and place”, in F.O. Hampson and J. Reppy, eds., Earthly Goods : Global Environmental Change and Social Justice , Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1996, 75-95 (with D.B. Knight).

“Restructuring in the Canadian mining and mineral processing industries”, in J. Britton, ed., Canada and the Global Economy: The Geography of Structural and Technological Change , McGill-Queen’s University Press, Montreal, 1996, 123-136.

Memberships

Canadian Association of Geographers (President 1998-2000)
Royal Canadian Geographical Society (Fellow)