Harvey, David (1935-)

David Harvey is perhaps the most influential contemporary human geographer in the world. Over several decades, he played a role in the quantitative revolution, but in the early 1970s, he was the seminal figure in the introduction of Marxism into the discipline. In a long series of highly influential books, he has steadfastly advocated on behalf of social justice and offered biting critiques of capitalism, neoliberalism, inequality, and oppression in all its forms.

Born in Gillingham, Kent, England, his initial interest in geography, he has said, came from his early desire to run away from home and see the world. He has certainly done that, both in his academic career and at internationally diverse public speaking engagements. His university training was at Cambridge University, where he ...