TOWARD A DEFINITION OF POST-WAR GERMAN SOCIAL GEOGRAPHY.

Research in German social geography has developed rapidly since 1945. It counteracts the long dominance of physical geography in that country, This socio- geographic research is based on the assumption that man molds the landscape as a member of a social group. The study of social groups in the cultural landscape will therefore help to explain the patterns and processes of landscape change. Changes in social groups will be reflected in a variety of landscape features; these range from house types to changes in land use. Such features have been given the name of social indices, Most of the detailed research work discussed in this article deals with the identification and evaluation of such social indices. Many German social geographers have maintained that social geography, as it studies the role of man, is best suited to be the unifying element of all work in non-physical geography. Some of their colleagues, however, fear this could lead to a social determinism which would stifle research methods. This is a view which does not detract from the value of social geography as a method of regional analysis and landscape synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]