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'''Time–space compression''' (also known as '''space–time compression''' and '''time–space distanciation'''), articulatedis a [[Marxism|Marxist]] 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 1989[[Karl Marx]]'s theory of the "annihilation of time by space" originally elaborated in the ''[[Grundrisse]]'',<ref>Marx, Karl. ''Grundrisse''. Penguin Classics, 1993. pp. 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> refers to any phenomenon that alters the qualities of and relationship between space and time. Harvey's idea was rooted in Karl Marx's theory of the "annihilation of time by space". A similar idea was proposed by [[Elmar Altvater]] in an article in ''[[PROKLA]]'' in 1987, translated into English as "Ecological and Economic Modalities of Time and Space" and published in ''[[Capitalism Nature Socialism]]'' in 1990.
Time–space compression often 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), anddriven [[economics]]by (the need to overcome spatial barriers, open up new markets, speed up [[production cycle]]scycles, and reduce the turnover time of capital).
According to theorists like [[Paul Virilio]], time-space compression is an essential facet of contemporarycapitalist life:, "Todaysaying that "we are entering a space which is speed-space ... This new other time is that of electronic transmission, of high-tech machines, and therefore, man is present in this sort of time, not via his physical presence, but via programming" (qtd. in ''Decron'' 71<ref>Decron, Chris. ''Speed-Space.'' Virilio Live. Ed. John Armitage. London: Sage, 2001. 69–81.</ref>). In ''"VitesseSpeed etand Politique"Politics'', Virilio coinscoined the term '''dromology''' to describe the study of "speed-space.". Virilio describes velocity as the hidden sidefactor ofin wealth and power, which represents a determining factor concerning societies' structures.where Historicalhistorical eras and political events, out of this perspective, are alsoeffectively speed-ratios. In his view, acceleration destroys space and compresses the time in ways of perceiving reality.
Theorists generally identify two historical periods in which time–space compression occurred; the period from the mid-19th century to the beginnings of the [[First World War]], and the end of the 20th century. In both of these time periods, according to Jon May and Nigel Thrift, "there occurred a radical restructuring in the nature and experience of both time and space ... both periods saw a significant acceleration in the pace of life concomitant with a dissolution or collapse of traditional spatial co-ordinates".<ref>May, Jon and [[Nigel Thrift]]. "Introduction." ''TimeSpace: Geographies of Temporality''. NY: Routledge, 2001. pp. 1–46.</ref>
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