Time–space compression: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:54, 2 June 2023

Revision as of 19:57, 13 August 2023

Line 1:

'''Time–space compression''' (also known as '''space–time compression''' and '''time–space distanciation''') is an idea referring to the altering of the qualities of space–time and the relationship between space and time that is a consequence of the expansion of [[Capital (economics)|capital]]. It is rooted in [[Karl Marx]]'s theory of the "annihilation of space by time" originally elaborated in the ''[[Grundrisse]]'',<ref>Marx, Karl. ''Grundrisse''. Penguin Classics, 1993. pp.&nbsp;539.</ref> and was later articulated by Marxist geographer [[David Harvey (geographer)|David Harvey]] in his book ''The Condition of Postmodernity''.<ref>Harvey, David. ''The Condition of Postmodernity: An Enquiry into the Origins of Cultural Change''. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell, 1990.</ref> A similar idea was proposed by [[Elmar Altvater]] in an article in ''PROKLA'' in 1987,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Altvater |first=Elmar |year=1987 |title=Ökologische und ökonomische Modalitäten von Zeit und Raum |journal=PROKLA. Zeitschrift für kritische Sozialwissenschaft |volume=17 |issue=67 |pp=35-54 |language=de |doi=10.32387/prokla.v17i67.1338|doi-access=free }}</ref> translated into English as "Ecological and Economic Modalities of Time and Space" and published in ''[[Capitalism Nature Socialism]]'' in 1990.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Altvater |first=Elmar |year=1989 |title=Ecological and economic modalities of time and space |journal=Capitalism Nature Socialism |volume=1 |issue=3 |pp=59-70 |doi=10.1080/10455758909358384}}</ref>

Time–space compression occurs as a result of technological innovations driven by the global expansion of capital that condense or elide spatial and temporal distances, including [[communication technology|technologies of communication]] ([[telegraph]], [[telephone]]s, [[fax machine]]s, [[Internet]]) and [[travel]] (rail, cars, trains, jets), driven by the need to overcome spatial barriers, open up new markets, speed up production cycles, and reduce the turnover time of capital.