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Jules Verne and French geography of the second half of the 19th century This article presents and analyzes the specific connections existing between Jules Verne and French geography of the second half of the 19th century. His links with the Geographical Society of Paris and his ties with the work of the Arago brothers and the New Universal Geography of Élisée Reclus are specified. A more detailed analysis of the novel The Mighty Orinoco (published in 1898) follows and makes it possible to clarify the nature of the borrowings that enabled the French novelist to introduce imaginary elements in a basically geographical narrative.

The spatial dimension of landscaping action Whereas over the past 20 years analysis of public policies on landscape and landscaping action has tended to favour a theory of culturalist landscape (Roger, 1995), this communication explores recent research on theorization of social space (Levy, Lussault). Viewing landscape in terms of active processes through this analytical framework makes it possible to link two concepts (space/landscape) that in recent years researchers and landscape practitioners have usually considered as distinctly opposing notions. The hypothesis advanced is the reverse of that view : linking the two brings new light to contemporary landscaping practice and policies.

The multinational firm in the maquiladora industry of Nicaragua (2007 vs. 1998) : more of the same Nicaragua, the poorest country of Central American, hosts many foreign owned plants in its industrial free trade zones (export processing zones). The great majority of these plants belong to the clothing industry and most of them are of Asian capital (Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong). The question considered is if the multinational enterprises of this maquiladora industry - an assembly industry of imported intermediate goods that benefits from a preferential tax and tariff regime – help trigger off a sustainable process of industrial development. This article attempts to give some answers to this question by studying the evolution (1997-2008) of the Nicaraguan plants (some 16 000 workers in 2007) of a big Taiwanese company of the clothing industry : Nien Hsing Textile Co. Our study shows that the Nicaraguan plants of Nien Hsing Textile Co. continue to form, just as in 1998, an enclave. They are cost centres that assemble trousers with imported intermediate inputs (fabric, zippers, buttons, thread, etc.). There are no linkages with local suppliers and the managers and technicians are mostly foreign expatriates. Moreover, the permanence of Textile Nien Hsing Co. in Nicaragua is uncertain because the principal motivation for which it settled in this country is “artificial” (to circumvent US protectionist barriers and to benefit from the tax advantages of the free trade zone after 2009). Since the other Asian clothing enterprises implanted in Nicaragua share many characteristics with Nien Hsing Textile Co., we can fear that they also form a precarious enclave in the host economy. In short, we doubt that this kind of company can play the role of a catalyst in the industrialization of the country as certain researchers and political leaders pretend.

Land tenure, what perspectives for Guinea ? Thoughts on land tenure reform based on an example from Costal Guinea. Much thought has been given to land tenure issues in rural West Africa. In Guinea, a land tenure reform has been planned for several years but various political events have delayed its implementation. The issue is pending and will certainly be on the agenda of the future government. In this article, through detailed description of customary law, we suggest, to reflect upon the issues facing land reform and propose a way forward to conciliate current practice and legal framework.