Regional geography has been a significant part of geography since the late 19th century. It was dominant until the 1950s-1960s, then declined but remained important in education. In the 1980s, "new regional geography" emerged, focusing on regions' social and cultural aspects. Scholars studied power relations, regional identity, and development. This new approach saw regions as dynamic and interconnected, shaped by societal power dynamics. Today, regions are seen as temporary constructs that reflect societal power dynamics and can be both open and closed in different social practices.