4 - The quest for identity in Vidalian geography

Summary

The differences between this geographical science and the purely human sciences, such as sociology and history, result clearly enough from the explanations that we have given that it would be superfluous to emphasize them. Though of different orders, they [these sciences] are called upon to render great services to each other; however it is essential that each remains keenly aware of its object and its own method.

Vidal de la Blache, Revue de Synthèse Historique, 1903

In their quest for legitimacy, French sociologists challenged not only the established field of history but also the relatively new field of human geography as represented by Vidal de la Blache and his followers. The claims both for scientific status and for a distinctive object of study for human geography were questioned – particularly when the geographers seemed to impinge on material that the sociologists could claim for their own. Once again, the discussions took place within the confines of the Nouvelle Sorbonne among academics who shared normalien backgrounds and staunch support for the Republic.

Though his active political involvement was somewhat limited, Vidal, like many of his historical colleagues devoted much of his pedagogical and academic work to the creation of a renewed and strengthened vision of France.