GSSC: Keck, Dr. Markus

Dr. Markus Keck is Postdoctoral Associate at the Global South Studies Center of the University of Cologne. He is geographer by training and received his PhD in 2012 from the University of Bonn. Markus is particularly interested in how contemporary agri-food networks in the Global South (mainly South Asia) are being altered through major societal processes such as globalization, urbanization, global environmental change, and technological innovation and examines the socioeconomic consequences that are linked to these processes. He draws on a variety of analytical traditions including political ecology, practice-oriented theories, and science and technology studies. His overriding goal is to help identifying strategies for crafting more sustainable and equitable futures. Markus was principal investigator of a DFG-funded project on supermarkets in Bangladesh and their effect on food purchasing and nutrition among urban middle class consumers in Bangladesh. Currently, he leads a DFG-funded project working on genetically engineered crop seeds in Indian agriculture. Markus is author of two monographs and about 40 scientific articles and book chapters. In 2018 and 2019, he was Interim Professor of Economic Geography at the University of Frankfurt/Main and in 2020 Interim Professor of Development Studies at the University of Bonn.

Since 2020
Postdoctoral associate at the Global South Studies Center, University of Cologne

Since 2019
Guest Researcher at the Institute of Geography, University of Goettingen

2020
Interim Professor of Development Geography at the Department of Geography, University of Bonn

2018, 2019
Interim Professor of Economic Geography at the Institute of Human Geography, University of Frankfurt/Main

2013–2019
Assistant Professor at the Department of Geography, University of Goettingen

2009–2013
Research Associate and Instructor at the Department of Geography, University of Bonn

2007–2010
Research Associate at the South Asia Institute, University of Heidelberg

Disciplinary: Agri-Food Studies, Global South Studies, Economic Geography
Thematic: Agricultural Biotechnology, Consumption Practices, Food Markets, Resource Conflicts
Theoretical: Political Ecology, Practice Theories, Actor-Network Theory
Methodical: Qualitative & Quantitative Methods
Regional: South Asia (Nepal, Bangladesh, India), Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam), Europe (Germany)

2021

NAJORK, K., GADELA, S., NADIMINTI, P., SREERAMULU, G., REDDY, R., HARIBABU, E., KECK, M. (2021): The return of pink bollworm in India’s Bt cotton fields: livelihood vulnerabilities of farming households in Karimnagar District. In: Progress in Development Studies (accepted)

2020

BUTSCH, C., FOLLMANN, A., KECK, M., MÜLLER, J. (2020): Geographies of South Asia: empirical research and the pandemic. In: Asien 156/157: in press
NAJORK, K., KECK, M. (2020): From blessing to curse? The return of pink bollworm and its impacts on the livelihoods of Bt cotton farmers in Telangana, India. In: BUTSCH, C., FOLLMANN, A., MÜLLER, J. (Eds.): Geographien Südasiens. Aktuelle Forschungsbeiträge zu Südasien. Proceedings of the South Asia Study Group in the German Geographical Society (DGfG). Vol. 12: 19-22
ENGELHARDT, H., RAUH, J., REEH, T., KECK, M. (2020): Unverpackt-Läden in Deutschland – Nischenkonzept oder Zukunftsmodell? Analyse von Konsumpraktiken und Versuch einer Kundentypisierung. In: Berichte. Geographie und Landeskunde 93 (1/2): 97-121
ASABERE, J., ACHEAMPONG, R., ASHIAGBOR, G., BECKERS, C., ERASMI, S., KECK, M., SCHANZE, J., SAUER, D. (2020): Urbanisation, land use transformation and spatio-environmental impacts: retrospective analyses of trends for sustainable growth management in two metropolitan regions of Ghana. In: Land Use Policy 96 (July 2020): 104707
ERLER, M., KECK, M., DITTRICH, C. (2020): The changing meaning of millet: Organic shops and distinctive consumption practices in Bengaluru, India. In: Journal of Consumer Culture (Online First)

2019

2018

KNOBLOCH, L., KECK, M. (2018): Transgenic food crops for India? The politicization of a controversial technology. In: BUTSCH, C., FOLLMANN, A., MÜLLER, J. (Eds.): Geographien Südasiens. Aktuelle Forschungsbeiträge zu Südasien. Proceedings of the South Asia Study Group in the German Geographical Society (DGfG). Vol. 10: 16–19
WALLRAPP, C., KECK, M., FAUST, H. (2018): Institutional issues, power struggles and local solutions – governance systems of Yarshagumba collection in India and Nepal in the Kailash landscape. In: BUTSCH, C., FOLLMANN, A., MÜLLER, J. (Eds.): Geographien Südasiens. Aktuelle Forschungsbeiträge zu Südasien. Proceedings of the South Asia Study Group in the German Geographical Society (DGfG). Vol. 10: 28–31
KECK, M., HUNG, D. (2018): Burn or bury? A comparative cost-benefit analysis of crop residue management practices among smallholder rice farmers in northern Vietnam. In: Sustainability Science (Online first): doi.org/10.1007/s11625-018-0592-z

2017

KECK, M. (2017): Ernährung in Entwicklungs- und Schwellenländern. In: Geographische Rundschau 69 (12): 4–11
REEH, T., KECK, M., NAJORK, K. (2017): Das Thema "Ernährung" in geographiedidaktischen Fachzeitschriften. In: Geographischen Rundschau 69 (12): 42–43
KECK, M., FINK, M., GAEDTKE, M., REEH, T., FAUST, H. (2017): Transformationsräume: Lokale Initiativen des sozial-ökologischen Wandels. In: KECK, M., FAUST, H., FINK, M., GAEDTKE, M., REEH, T. (Eds.): Transformationsräume: Lokale Initiativen des sozial-ökologischen Wandels. Göttinger Schriften zu Landschaftsinterpretation und Tourismus. Band 9: 11–29
ENGELHARDT, H., KECK, M. (2017): Regionale Nahrungsversorgung im Raum Göttingen. In: KECK, M., FAUST, H., FINK, M., GAEDTKE, M., REEH, T. (Eds.): Transformationsräume: Lokale Initiativen des sozial-ökologischen Wandels. Göttinger Schriften zu Landschaftsinterpretation und Tourismus. Band 9: 155–170
GRALHER-KRENGEL, M., REEH, T., KECK, M., FELZMANN, D. (2017): Nachhaltige Ernährung als Themenfeld im Geographieunterricht. In: KECK, M., FAUST, H., FINK, M., GAEDTKE, M., REEH, T. (Eds.): Transformationsräume: Lokale Initiativen des sozial-ökologischen Wandels. Göttinger Schriften zu Landschaftsinterpretation und Tourismus. Band 9: 223–246

2016

KECK, M. (2016): Navigating real markets. The economic resilience of food wholesale traders in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Franz Steiner, Stuttgart
KECK, M., BUTSCH, C., KROLL, M. (2016): Geographical South Asian studies: current conceptions. In: Internationales Asienforum 47 (3–4): 171–178

2015

BECKERT, B., KECK, M. (2015): Palmöl für den Weltmarkt: Landkonflikte in Sumatras Post-Frontier. In: Geographische Rundschau 67 (12): 12–17
KECK, M. (2015): Contributions and challenges of Dhaka's food system: The case of fish provision. In: SINGH, R.B. (Eds.): Urban development challenges. Risks and resilience in Asian mega cities. Springer Japan: 469–488
KECK, M. (2015): Gewalt, Raum und Resilienz: Handeln im Kontext bewaffneter Konflikte. In: KORF, B., SCHETTER, C. (Eds.): Geographien der Gewalt. Kriege, Konflikte und die Ordnung des Raumes im 21. Jahrhundert. Borntraeger, Stuttgart: 146–162
KECK, M. (2015): Supermärkte als Sehnsuchtsorte: Zum Wandel von Einkaufspraktiken in Dhaka, Bangladesch. In: REIHER, C., SIPPEL, S. (Eds.): Umkämpftes Essen: Produktion, Handel und Konsum von Lebensmitteln in globalen Kontexten. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen: 292–316
KECK, M. (2015): Resilienzpotenziale traditioneller Lebensmittelhändler in Dhaka vor dem Hintergrund aufkommender Supermärkte. In: ENDREß, M., MAURER, A. (Eds.): Resilienz im Sozialen. Theoretische und empirische Analysen. Springer VS, Wiesbaden: 181–206
EISENBERGER, A., KECK, M. (2015): The blight in the center. Dhaka's Kawran Bazar in the context of modern space production. In: Asien 35 (1): 95–120

2014

KECK, M., ETZOLD, B., BOHLE, H.-G, ZINGEL, W.-P. (2014): Food security in Dhaka: Between global risks and local vulnerabilities. In: KRAAS, F., AGGARWAL, S., COY, M., MERTINS, G. (Eds.): Megacities. International Year of Planet Earth, UNESCO. Springer, Heidelberg: 59–73

2013

KECK, M., SAKDAPOLRAK, P. (2013): What is social resilience? Lessons learned and ways forward. In: Erdkunde 67 (1): 5–19
KECK, M., ETZOLD, B (2013): Resilience refused. Wasted potentials for improving food security in Dhaka. In: Erdkunde 67 (1): 75–91
KECK, M., ETZOLD, B (2013): Risk and resilience in Asian megacities. In: Erdkunde 67 (1): 1–3
KECK, M. (2013): Resilienz durch Informalität: Wie die Megastadt Dhaka mit Lebensmitteln versorgt wird. In: Masala Newsletter. Virtuelle Fachbibliothek Südasien, 8 (1): 23–27

2012

ETZOLD, B., JÜLICH, S., KECK, M., SAKDAPOLRAK, P., SCHMITT, T., ZIMMER, A. (2012): Doing institutions. A dialectic reading of institutions and social practices and its relevance for development geography. In: Erdkunde 66 (3): 185–195
KECK, M. (2012): Informality as borrowed security: Contested food markets in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In: WAIBEL, M., MCFARLANE, C. (Eds.): Urban informalities. Reflections on the formal and informal. Ashgate, Farnham: 111–127
KECK, M., THIELE, A. (2012): Jakir - der Rikscha-Reparateur. Aufwachsen und Leben in den Slums von Dhaka, Bangladesch. In: Praxis Geographie 42 (9): 8–12
KECK, M., BOHLE, H.-G., ZINGEL, W.-P. (2012): Dealing with insecurity. Informal business relations and risk governance among food wholesalers in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In: Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftsgeographie 56 (1+2): 43–57
KECK, M. (2012): Der Bürgerkrieg in Nepal - (Über-)Leben in umkämpften Zwischenräumen. In: Geographische Rundschau 64 (2): 34–39

2011

ZINGEL, W.-P., KECK, M., ETZOLD, B., BOHLE, H.-G. (2011): Urban food security and health status of the poor in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In: KRÄMER, A., KHAN, M.M.H., KRAAS, F. (Eds.): Health in megacities and urban areas. Springer, Heidelberg: 301–319
KECK, M. (2011): Book review: Bertuzzo, Elisa T.: Fragmented Dhaka. Analysing Everyday Life with Henri Lefebvre's Theory of Production of Space. In: Die Erde 142 (3): 36–37

2009

BOHLE, H.-G., ETZOLD, B., KECK, M., SAKDAPOLRAK, P. (2009): Adaptive food governance. In: IHDP-Update 3/2009: 53–58
ETZOLD, B., KECK, M., BOHLE, H.-G., ZINGEL, W.-P. (2009): Informality as agency. Negotiating food security in Dhaka. In: Die Erde 140 (1): 3–24
ETZOLD, B., KECK, M. (2009): Politics of space in the megacity Dhaka: Negotiation of rules in contested urban arenas. In: UGEC Update 2/2009: 13–15
BOHLE, H.-G., ETZOLD, B., KECK, M. (2009): Resilience as agency. In: IHDP-Update 2/2009: 8–13

2008

KECK, M., B. ETZOLD, BOHLE, H.-G., ZINGEL, W.-P. (2008): Reis für die Megacity. Nahrungsversorgung von Dhaka zwischen globalen Risiken und lokalen Verwundbarkeiten. In: Geographische Rundschau 60 (11): 28–37
KECK, M. (2008): Sozialgeographie gewaltsamer Regionalisierungen. Benno Werlens Konzeption als theoretische Fundierung geographischer Konfliktforschung. In: WERLEN, B., GÄBLER, K. (Eds.): Geographische Praxis I. Territorialisierungen und territoriale Konflikte. Sozialgeographische Manuskripte Band 3, Jena: 59–81

2007

KECK, M. (2007): Geographien der Gewalt. Der Bürgerkrieg in Nepal und seine Akteure. Tectum, Marburg

Politics of knowledge and non-knowledge: Agricultural biotechnology in India
(DFG) (since 2017)

Project information:

This research project aims to investigate the recent politicization of agricultural biotechnology in India from a spatial perspective. Overall, the project deals with the following key questions: (1) Which scientific institutions are involved in the production of agro-biotechnological knowledge in India and which actors shape the ongoing political negotiations on the promotion, control, and restriction of genetic engineering? (2) What scientific and technical instruments exist to transfer concepts of agricultural biotechnology from one place to another, and in which ways do political actors promote or hinder the travelling of relevant knowledge and non-knowledge? (3) How do biotechnological companies, by means of sellers and extension service actors, transfer scientific concepts of agricultural biotechnology into the life-worlds of farmers in India? The project will examine the pluralization of scientific knowledge and non-knowledge about agricultural biotechnology, as well as the political networks that shape ongoing negotiations on the application of genetic engineering in India. It will study the scientific, technical, and political tools to transfer scientific knowledge and non-knowledge from one context to another. And it will analyze how scientific knowledge is made intelligible to farmers and how the situated knowledge of farmers is transferred back into the scientific debate. By integrating concepts from Science and Technology Studies into Development Geography, it will be possible to identify basic mechanisms of the politics of knowledge and non-knowledge in the current public debate about genetic engineering in India. These mechanisms will be instructive for future studies on technological transformations in India and beyond.

University of Cologne

GSSC | Global South Studies Center

Dr. Markus Keck

Short Biography

Research interests

Selected publications

Research projects