Research

Human Geography in Zurich emphasises the study of development and change in regions of the South (South Asia and Southeast Asia) as well as of the North (Switzerland). One focus is on rural livelihoods in high mountain regions, especially the Himalayas and the Alps. Another is on local consequences of globalization, its potentials and constraints, and a third is on differences between social practice of the use of natural resources and "planned interventions", in order to induce sustainable development.
The many facets of peoples' strategies for using available resources are related with policies, economies and institutions at national and global levels. Particular emphasis is given to traditional knowledge, social structures, local institutions, relevant discourses, perceptions and potential for participation that for instance play a decisive role in the use of natural resources, such as water or forests.

We are interested in questions such as: "Who has access to natural resources?", "How can their utilization be controlled in a just and sustainable way?", "What effect does conservation have in a developing country?", "How do local people act when confronted with decisions of international actors?", or "How do different groups of people perceive conflicts in a specific context?"

The Development Study Group coordinates development-related research of the department and serves as an umbrella for the research activities of our division.The Development Study Group is participating in the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) North-South.