Small scale socio-cultural thematic maps for development and administrative planning

Because of the domination of development and administrative planning by economists there has in the past been a concentration on variables that are mostly economic and measurable and a tendency to give insufficient attention to socio-cultural and socio-political variables. Now perspectives are changing and there is an awareness of the need to use more accurate and complete data on social and cultural phenomena. There is as a result a need to appreciate the contribution that geographers and cartographers can make. This article reviews the small scale socio-cultural mapping of third world countries. It considers the available range of such maps and carto-bibliographical guides, and proceeds to consider how socio-cultural mapping could be extended in a way that would be useful for development planners and administrators.