An Analysis Of Edward Soja’s Critical Theory Of Space

After the 1970 s,the historical and ideological contexts of social-critical theory underwent fundamental changes.As people continued to reflect on the question of modernity,the question of space came to the forefront as fundamental and important in the study of social-critical theory,and gradually changed the physical-geographical landscape of the contemporary world and the interpretive domain of social-critical theory.Among them,Edward Soja proposes an overarching social-critical theory,in which society is critiqued in its totality from the dialectical dimensions of history,society and space.Soja’s advocacy of the treatment of space as an ontological category and his advocacy of spatial equality and justice make him an innovative and truly significant spatial theorist.Soja’s critical theory of space can be summarised in three approaches: first,the creation of positive theories by virtue of logical deduction;second,the use of spatial materialist readings in the analysis of concrete facts;and third,the identification of ’reverse connections’ between theories.These three approaches can be condensed into three key words: ’socio-spatial dialectic’,’third space’ and ’spatial justice’.Firstly,the "socio-spatial dialectic" consists of three elements:spatial,social and historical,and is structured by the dual relationship between spatiality and historicity,spatiality and sociality,thus establishing an overarching social critical theory;secondly,the "third space" theory created on this basis;Secondly,the "third space" theory created on this basis overcomes the mere logical persuasion and moves towards an empirical study using "Los Angeles" as a paradigm.The essence of the theory is to establish an open spatial vision of criticism and imagination,a different kind of spatial critical consciousness;once again,spatial justice is the result of Soja’s long-term application of critical postmodern analysis to the study of space,society and the city,and is a new shining point in his thinking.The theory of spatial justice analyses the relationship between critical theory,space,unbalanced geography and justice,and thus critiques the widespread injustice in the economic and political spheres,reshaping spatial consciousness and territorial justice,and laying the theoretical foundation for the struggle for the right to the city.Soja strongly resists the stereotypes of traditional research methods in which theory and practice are often separated,and promotes context-specific analysis and interdisciplinary research methods,which makes his critical theory of space extremely open and interdisciplinary.Not only does it promote a shift in the way we think about space,but it also inspires a revision of the way we study history and society.It has helped us to think about the co-temporality,complexity and interdependence of space,society and history,and has had a very important impact on contemporary spatial studies,urban studies,and literary and cultural studies.