Production (as conceptualised by Henri Lefebvre)

From Geography

Production of space

This concept is designed by Henry Lefebvre. Henri Lefebvre (16 June 1901 – 29 June 1991) was a French sociologist, intellectual and philosopher who was generally considered a Neo-Marxist. Althus (who’s considered to be an Marxist) first started the discussion on the production of space, he considers that the economic factor were the dominant factors in creating spatial structure. Lefebrvre tried to broadens that idea by arguing that other aspects are important too. According to Lefebvre space is a social product, a reproduction of social relations of production. This social product can be seen as a social construction (based on values, and the social production of meanings) which affects spatial practices and perceptions. It is used as an instrument for the dominant class to reproduce its power. Lefebvre broadens the concept of space from absolute space, which is a neutral grid, to processes of spatial production. These processes may be contradictory, conflictual or political and lead to the production of space. This space is vital to the reproduction of society and capitalist social relations. Every society has its own mode of production, which produces its own space. Space is produced differently in feudalist, socialist and capitalist societies. Lefebvre created a spatial triad, which consists of espace percu (perceived space), espace concu (conceived space) and espace vecu (lived space). Lived space can also be considered as Thirdspace.

When you try to apply the theory of social production on the real world, the result will be that every society produces its own space. So the old European cities cannot be simply understood as agglomeration of people and things in space. Rather cities are made by people who have their own spatial practice, and produce their own space.

In his book Right to the City Lefebre calls for a radical restructuring of social, political, and economic relations, both in the city and beyond. Key to this radical nature is that the right to the city reframes the arena of decision- making in cities: it reorients decision-making away from the state and toward the production of urban space. Instead of democratic deliberation being limited to just state decisions, Lefebvre imagines it to apply to all decisions that contribute to the production of urban space. (Purcell, 2002)

References:

Lefebvre, H (1991) The production of Space. Oxford, Blackwell publishers

Purcell, M. (2002) Excavating Lefebvre: The right to the city and its urban politics of the inhabitant, GeoJournal 58: 99–108.

Edited by Bert Hegger on October 9th 2012