Harley, J. B.

Harley’s key contribution to geography was to acknowledge the ideological power of maps, ushering in a more critical analysis – a ‘deconstruction’ – of maps and mapping. Writing at a time when geographers were becoming more concerned with questions of text and textuality, Harley’s work on the power of maps became influential within ‘new cultural geography’ as well as posing important challenges to the practices and theories of mapping. However, drawing attention merely to his later work on the cultural politics of maps does a disservice to his considerable expertise as an archivist, analyst, and producer of maps, as well as his varied work in historical geography.