The Centrality of the Category of Region in Milton Santos’s Geography

Abstract

In Milton Santos’ extensive body of work, it is common to highlight the relevance of categories such as geographic space, place, events, used territory, period, and the technical-scientific-informational environment. However, few studies discuss the category of region based on Miltonian theoretical foundations. Due to this gap, this study aims to examine how the category of region was addressed by Milton Santos from the 1970s until his final works. The analysis is organized by decades to demonstrate the clear evolution in the author’s conception of the region, highlighting its limits, possibilities, and centrality. Furthermore, it is argued that this concept holds a central position in Milton Santos’ theoretical framework and démarche, particularly in his later studies, as it integrates and plays an essential role in the coherent system of ideas proposed by the author. The conclusion is that Milton Santos undertakes a theoretical effort to redefine the category of region, making it operationalizable and connected to reality.