Texts, actors and higher managers: judges, bureaucrats and the political organization of space

As an empirical discipline, human geography seeks to account for particular events and spatial patterns. Structuralist theories provide generalized explanations for these, but not for their details. To understand particular phenomena, an approach is needed which covers the role of individual actors operating within a structural frame. Giddens' theory of structuration provides a framework for such an approach. It is used here to inform a discussion of the roles of higher managers-executive, legislature, judiciary and senior bureaucrats-within the state apparatus. Particular attention is paid to the activities of the judiciary and of senior bureaucrats in the political organization of space.