معرفی
Richard Ek is a Professor in Human Geography at Karlstad University and editor of Geografiska Annaler B: Human Geography. He holds a Bachelor's in Political Science and a PhD in Human Geography, focusing on political geography and spatial visions. His research explores neoliberal spatial strategies, biopolitics, and the inhuman dimensions of the service economy. Recent interests include 'dromocratic Europe,' postpolitical tendencies, and the spatial logic of tourism enclaves. He has served as a referee for over 30 journals, including Antipode and Environment and Planning A.
Education:
- Bachelor of Science in Political Science
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Geography
Research Interests:
Ek critiques how capitalism and globalization reshape human agency through studies of service economies, tourism, and urban planning. His work examines 'inhuman' societal structures, such as the reduction of citizens to consumers in all-inclusive resorts, and the biopolitical control in spatial policies. Key themes include:
- Postpolitical governance and biopolitical subjectification
- Ontological figures like the 'tourist-vampire' and service workers
- Critical analyses of tourism's spatial enclosures (e.g., 'Tourismocene')
Awards: None explicitly listed.
Advising/Grants: No student advisees listed. Collaborative projects include waste management studies and microbrewery economic impacts on Gotland.
Labs/Teams: Active in interdisciplinary research groups focusing on tourism, urban studies, and critical management theories at Karlstad University.
