Space as mediation: limits and potential of contemporary Marxism

Abstract

This article addresses the historical absence of a theory of space in classical Marxism and reviews attempts to overcome this absence by authors such as Lefebvre and Harvey. Despite placing space at the center of their analysis, their contributions remain trapped in unresolved dilemmas: determinism versus reflectionism, fetishization of the city, and scalar limitations. In response, a conception of space as a (material) medium of (cultural) communication is proposed. This hypothesis allows us to articulate the problem of mediation between economy and culture without reducing space to a mere backdrop or subsuming it under historical temporality. Space thus appears as an active terrain of hegemonies and counter-hegemonies, organizing access, rhythms, and resistances, while at the same time condensing meanings, memories, and expectations.