Claude Raffestin is geographer. He was born in 1933 in Paris. He was named professor of human Geography with the Université of Geneva in 1969 and vice-rector in 1997. He also in addition directed during several years to Geneva the University center of human ecology and the Département of geography.

In the French-speaking field, it contributed to advanced Social sciences by decompartmentalizing the disciplines and is regarded as one of the important actor of the " new geography " , that it gave up quickly thereafter without denying the essential contribution in term of scientificity (legitimation of the hypothético-deductive step) which this attempt could be carrying.

An important part of its work tries to forge, through the use of the concept of Territorialité, a geographical theory relevant of social reality, likely to offer new catches to the populations, with respect to the stakes of being able which cross them.

He also insists in a recurring way on the paradigmatic distinction to operate, in research in geography, between a Géographie of the capacity of inspiration foucaldienne and deleuzienne which it defends, and a Géopolitique historically too marked and attached to a comprehension of the capacity centered on the State.

Topics approached:

• Territoriality

• Border

Its sources of inspiration:

• Gregory Bateson

• Karl Marx
• Elisee Recluse

---- brief Bibliography:

1980, For a geography of the capacity, LITEC, Paris

---- external Bonds :

To collect (Collective reflection around Territorilité): http://www.unige.ch/ses/geo/Recherche/collecter/home.php