The Geography of Paul Vidal de la Blache and the Guianese Border Dispute: Science vs. Justice

The article analyses a largely overlooked book by the French geographer Paul Vidal de la Blache (1845-1918) : La riviere Vincent Pinzon. Etude de la cartographie de la Guyane (The Vincent Pinzon river. Study of the cartography of Guyana). Published in 1902, this book contains an important part of the proof submitted in 1899 by France to the Swiss Federal Council which had to settle the dispute between France and Brazil with regard to their common border in Guyana. This part of the French's argumentation was written by Vidal de la Blache, who decided to publish it afterward. The book shows a tension between patriotic fervour and scientistic commitment. It also reveals a misconception of science and justice.