Navigating together without a map: Metaphors for making Geography’s future

This article sets the scene for 10 papers comprising special issue ‘‘Geographical research 21 st century: trajectories and possibilities’. It asks hoary question, ‘by what means, to ends, should Geography be directed?’. does not, however, venture a substantive response because there is no single answer that will suffice. Instead, offers resources those seeking respond this question. identifies 12 parameters define ‘operating space’ most geographers worldwide now have act within, like it or not. These not only impose constraints but also offer opportunities. The then focuses on metaphors might help us better understand who we are as teaching community: after all, can distil essence of our ongoing preoccupations. I ‘new ecological’ metaphor enable accuracy hope in self-understanding enter third decade an already extraordinary century. may seem paradoxical say, navigate forward purposefully without map, avoiding polar opposites infeasible disciplinary unity undesirable Balkanisation activities.