Staff profile

Paul’s research interests lie at the intersection of geography, philosophy and social and cultural theory. His work focuses on the development of specifically geographic engagements with phenomenology, post-phenomenology and deconstruction. In the context of contemporary geographic work his work has been associated with the development of 'non-representational' theories.

Paul’s current research has three main themes. First; an focus on the ‘radically passive’ or non-intentional nature of corporeal existence, (for example, vulnerability, susceptibility, suffering, lassitude, sleep, boredom), and the existential, ethical and political significance of these aspects of being a body. Second; an examination of the act of bearing witness or giving testimony to traumatic or so-called ‘unspeakable’ events. Third; an on-going interest in the implications of finitude and mourning for social and political thought.

Paul joined the Geography Department in 2000. He completed his BA (hons) in Geography (1994) at the Department of Geography, University of Liverpool, and an MSc in Society and Space (1996) and PhD (2000) at the School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol.

• phenomenology
• testimony
• post-structuralism
• ethics
• deconstruction
• dwelling
• affect and emotion
• embodiment
• subjectivity

• Economy & Culture
• Geographies of Life

Chapter in book

• Anderson, B. & Harrison, P. (2010). The Promise of Non-Representational Theories. In Taking-Place: Non-Representational Theories and Geography. Anderson, B. & Harrison, P. Farnham: Ashgate. 1-36.
• Harrison, P. (2010). The broken thread: on being still. In Stillness in a Mobile World. Bissell, D. & Fuller, G. London: Routledge.
• Harrison, P. (2010). Testimony and the truth of the other. In Taking-Place. Non Representational Theories and Geography. Anderson, B. & Harrison, P. London: Ashgate. 161-179.
• Harrison, P. (2006). Poststructuralist Theories. In Approaches to Human Geography. Aitken, S. & Valentine, G. London: Sage. 122-133.

Edited book

• Anderson, B. & Harrison, P. (2010). Taking-Place. Non Representational Theories and Geography. London: Ashgate.

Journal Article

• Harrison, Paul (2022). Strange witness: Rachel Whiteread’s art of the immemorial. Scottish Geographical Journal 138(3-4).
• Harrison, P. (2015). After affirmation, or, being a loser. On vitalism, sacrifice, and cinders. GeoHumanities 1(2): 285-306.
• Harrison, P. (2009). Remaining Still. M/C Journal 12(1).
• Harrison, P. (2009). In the absence of practice. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space 27(6): 987-1009.
• Harrison, P. (2008). Corporeal remains: vulnerability, proximity, and living on after the end of the world. Environment and Planning A 40(2): 423-445.
• Harrison, P. (2007). The space between us: Opening remarks on the concept of dwelling. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space 25(4): 625-647.
• Harrison, P. (2007). 'How shall I say it.?' Relating the nonrelational. Environment and Planning A 39(3): 590-608.
• Anderson, B. & Harrison, P. (2006). Questioning Affect and Emotion. Area 38(3): 333-335.
• Harrison, P. (2002). The Caesura: remarks on Wittgenstein's interruption of theory, or, why practices elude explanation. Geoforum 33(4): 487-503.
• Dewsbury, J.D., Harrison, P., Rose, M. & Wylie, J. (2002). Enacting geographies. Geoforum 33(4): 437-440.
• Harrsion, P. (2000). Making Sense: embodiment and the sensibilities of the everyday. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space 18: 497-517.