POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY

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POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
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Objectives

• Distinguish Political Geography as a field of
  Human Geography
• Define the concept of state
• Describe the relationships and issues between
  states and between nations and states

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What is Political Geo All About?

• Helps to explain the cultural physical factors
  that underlie political unrest in the world
• Studies political boundaries how weve carved
  up earths surface (boundaries are artificial
  geometric)
• Govnt systems at all scales (natnl, state,
  local)
• How people have organized earths surface into
  countries and alliances, reasons underlying these
  arrangements, and conflicts that arise

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Intro

• 2 opposing but complementary perspectives _at_ PG
• Look _at_ impact of econ, cultural, and physical
  geog on political systems (i.e. theocracies are
  excellent ex. of culture imposed on politics)
• Look at pol systems as driving force behind a
  countrys econ and cultural systems (ex
  political borders affect culture of N/S Korea)

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The STATE

• Country State
• fundamental unit of PG
• State area org into a political unit ruled by
  an est govn't w/ control over its internal and
  foreign affairs (state and country are synonymous)

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Sovereignty

• States have sovereignty independence from
  control of its internal affairs by other states
• What is the ultimate power over people in a
  territory???
• No other country will stop it

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STATES NATIONS

• States may be composed of more than 1 nation but
  every nation does not have their own state.
• Nation group of people w/ common political
  identity, culture, and history (like ethnicity)
• Palestine people of nation w/ no state
• Ideal political boundaries nation states
• Cohesive pop w/ similar identities political
  goals
• ethnicity national boundaries coinciderare

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TYPE Definition Characteristics Examples
Nation-State
Multi-State Nation
Multi-Nation State
Stateless Nation
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Nations States- Examples

• Japan
• Nation-State
• Geog and pol isolation
• Canada Russia
• Multi-nation states
• geographically very large, w/ lots of people

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Relationships Between Nations States- Examples

• Arab nation extends across many states boundaries
  in ME (i.e. pan Arabism) multi-state nation
• Kurds multi-state nation
• also a
• stateless nation
• What is the
• US?

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Ethno-nationalism

• Occurs in multi-nation states
• A minority nation contained within a state
  dominated by another nation
• Strong feelings of being different from the
  dominant nation
• May lead to separatism/secession
• May lead to devolution transfer of powers from
  a state to separate locations.

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Ethno-Nationalism Example

• Chechens in Russia terrorist attacks want
  secession

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Irredentism

• Homeland spills into other statedesire to join
  groups
• Occurs in multi-state nations (groups spread out
  across countries)
• Ex Jews before Israel Serbs in
  Austro-Hungarian empire WW I
• Texas

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The United States of America

• In political geo, the term state does not refer
  to the 50 regional governments with the US
• Multi-state nation or Multi-nation state?

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It gets messy.

• Germany? Vietnam? Koreas? China/Taiwan?
• Raison detre reason for being
  unifying/centripetal forces to unify a
  peoplefosters patriotism (to the state) over
  nationalism (to the nation)
• Examples in US?

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Shatterbelt

• Shatterbelt - a region or group of states that
  exists within a sphere of competition between
  larger states
• State boundaries drawn and redrawn multiple times
  b/c of ethnic conflictYUGOSLAVIA
• of states has increased.50 yrs ago only _at_ 50
  states globally. As of 2003, 191 states.
• Antarctica only large landmass on earth not
  part of a state

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Bell Ringer

• What are the defining characteristics of a state?
• Why do you think political geographers are
  interested in colonialismand de-colonization?

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Todays Objectives

• Describe the development of the state concept
• Define boundary and recognize different
  boundary types.
• Explain the different ways boundaries originate.
• Define morphology and recognize different
  territorial types.

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Development of State Concept

• Arose in 18th c Europe.emphasized in American
  and French revolutions
• New questions about the power and legitimacy of
  the state distinct from the people, or
  nations, in the state

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Ancient States

• Previously earth was organized into
  city-states-sovereign units that consisted of
  town and surrounding countryside.
• Originated in Mesopotamia
• Sometimes city-state would attack and control
  another to build empire
• ex Sumerians, Assyrians, Babylonians

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Early European States

• When Roman empire collapsed 5th C, Eur was broken
  into large estates owned by competing kings and
  nobles
• 1100 - Powerful kings consolidated holdings
  emerged to rule much of W. Eur (Eng, Spain,
  France)
• Early nation-states

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Colonies

• Colony territory legally tied to mother country
  (not independent)
• 1500s - great colonial era of W. hemisphere
  (Spain, Portugal, France, Dutch, British carve up
  New World)
• Colonialism one country est settlements
  imposes pol, econ, and cultural controls on
  another territory.
• Motives for colonization 3 Gs

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Imperialism

• 18th/19th C colonization of Africa and Asia
• Imperialism cultural econ dominance w/out
  official govnt institutions
• Conf of Berlin 1884 Euro powers meet in Berlin
  divide Africa w/ artificial boundaries.results
  in severe political problems ethnic violence
  for years to come

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Conf of Berlin Scramble for Africa

• Superimposed
• borders
• that
• divided
• ethnicities or
• put groups
• together that
• didnt belong

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Colonial Practices

• France attempt to assimilate its colonies into
  French culture
• France 2nd largest
• Great Britain largest empire sun never sets on
  British empire
• Different gov. structures and policies for
  various territories

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• Decolonization most African and Asian nations
  gain ind in 20th C, esp after WW II.
• Dangerous power vacuums left behind ethnic
  violence

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Few Remaining Colonies

• Most remaining are islands in the Pacific or
  Caribbean
• Most populous Puerto Rico
• 4 million residents are citizens of the US
• They do not vote, nor do they have a voting
  member of Congress

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Few Remaining Colonies

• Least populous Pitcairn Island
• Possessed by the UK
• In the South Pacific
• Its 47 people survive on 2 sq. miles by selling
  fish and postage stamps to collectors

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Back to States

• Varying size of states.huge range
• Russia largest w/ 11 time zones (China, Canada,
  U.S., Brazil, Australia all big)
• Other extreme microstates extremely small
  (ex Monaco is only 6 square miles, Vatican City,
  etc.)

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Small vs. Big

• Small states easy to govern but hard to sustain
  viable econ
• Big states better chance of diverse resources
  and econ and difficult to conquer b/c of size,
  BUT transportation and government often diff

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Homework

• Read (review) Ch 7, p.217-223 and read Ch 8,
  p.240-247
• Answer questions 1-22 in your Guided Reading
  Packet, based on the chapter and todays notes

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BOUNDARIES

• Boundary a thin, imaginary, invisible line
  marking states territory
• Boundaries are ARTIFICIAL
• Based on
• Natural/physical features (mntns, river)
• Rivers can be problematic b/c they shift
• In a drought who gets the water? If oil spill
  who cleans it up?
• Meridian Line Principle boundary right down
  middle of river
• Ex Who owns the Potomac R?

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Boundaries - contd

1. Ethnographic/Cultural lang, relig, etc.
2. Geometric follow straight line that has nothing
   to do with nature or culture (US/Canada line of
   latitude)

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How Does a Boundary Start?(aka Boundary Origins)

• Subsequent Boundaries est. after pop has est.
  itself follows existing social/cultural/ethnic
  lines
• Antecedent Boundaries boundary given to region
  before population
• Ex W boundary between US and Canada est by
  treaty in 1846 when few people lived there

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• Superimposed Boundaries drawn after a pop has
  been settled but ignores social, cultural, ethnic
  lines
• Ex colonialism in Africa
• Relic Boundaries boundaries that no longer exist
  but you can still see effects
• Ex east and west Germany/Berlin

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FRONTIERS

• Historically frontiers, not boundaries, separate
  states.
• Tangible geographic area
• Frontiers zone where no state exercises
  complete political control

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Frontiers vs. Boundaries

• Frontiers are tangible, geographic areas
  boundaries are invisible, imagined
• Frontiers are a buffer zone of safety
  boundaries are thin lines that bring people right
  up to each other, increasing chances of dispute

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OCEANS

• Most highly contested frontier today who can
  claim the sea its resources?
• Law of the Sea - est in 1983
• Restricts territorial seas to 12 nautical miles
  from shoreline, in which ships of other countries
  have right of passage
• EEZ Exclusive Econ Zone state has econ rights
  to 200 nautical miles from shore
• In this zone each state has the right to explore
  and exploit natural resources in water, seabed,
  and soil

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Territorial Morphology (Shapes of States)

• Shape controls the length of boundaries with
  other states
• 5 Basic Shapes
• Be aware the states can fit into more than 1
  category!

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• Compact State relatively round
• Efficient
• Easy communication
• Ex Poland

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• Prorupt State compact state w/ one large
  projecting extension... often to get water access
  
• Ex Namibia

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• Elongated State
• long and narrow
• isolation of extremes,
• communication diff
• Ex Chile, Italy, Vietnam

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• Fragmented States territory broken up into
  several discontinuous pieces
• Ex Indonesia, Philippines (often islands, but
  not always)

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Shapes of States

• Perforated States
• state that completely
• surrounds another
• S. Africa surrounds
• Lesotho

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Landlocked States Exclaves

• Landlocked States no outlet to seaBAD situation
  makes you dependent on other state for sea
  access/shipping/trade
• Most landlocked states are in Africa 14
• Others in S. America, Europe, Asia
• Exclaves small, detached holdings that are
  completely separate from the rest of the country
  and lie within boundaries of another state
• ex W. Berlin to W. Germany Kaliningrad

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Centrifugal V. Centripetal Forces

• Centrifugal Forces pull apart and lead to
  dissolution
• Ex. - tribes, ethnic strife, regionalism, lang
  or relig diffYugoslavia, Czechoslovakia,
  China-Taiwan, USSR, Basques in Spain, French in
  Canada, etc.
• Centripetal Forces unify, create common identity
  natnl institutions, pledge, anthem, common
  lang/relig, common external threats or big events
  (9/11, Pearl Harbor, Eritrea, Cold War)

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Class Work Homework

• Classwork Territorial Morphology
• You may work with a partner
• Try to finish in class today
• Your HW reading will help
• Homework Read Info Sheets 1-4 and answer
  questions 23-34 in your packet

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Todays Objectives

• Compare and contrast unitary and federal state
  governments (boundaries and power relationships
  within states).
• Explain gerrymandering and its role in electoral
  geography.

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Government

• Most states org themselves into hierarchy of
  local govnt agencies (territorial org).i.e.
  state, county, city, school district, etc.

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2 Types of Gov

• Federal (federalism) A form of internal
  organization of a state that allocates most
  powers to local govts or territories rather than
  centrally controlling the entire country.
• Smaller units than the state can make decisions
  for themselves.
• This serves several functions..

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Federalism

• Federalism.
• Enables more efficient administration, esp in
  large states
• Gives voters greater influence in political
  processes
• Allocates resources through local agencies that
  are more in touch w/ needs of their jurisdiction
• Local autonomy power to enact laws, tax
  citizens, police land BUT disputes over who has
  what power betwn state and nation can cause probs
  (i.e. states rights Civil War)

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2 Types of Gov

• Unitary In a unitary state, most power and
  decisions are made by the central government for
  the entire state.
• Works best in..
• Shape
• Size
• MNS or N/S
• Other Purposes?
• Unitary states are less common now..why?

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Electoral Geography

• Subset of Political Geography ? elections and
  voting
• Geographic issues
• Drawing district boundaries for voting and
  representation
• Redrawing them as population and demographics
  change
• Geography politics ?

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VOTING

• Popular Vote all votes cast in all states
• Electoral College specific of electors from
  each state proportional to states pop. Candidate
  who wins state gets all the stets electoral votes
• Reapportionment after census Congressional
  districts redrawn
• Gerrymandering purposefully drawing districts to
  favor one party 3 types
• Wasted vote
• Excess vote
• Stacked vote

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Gerrymandering

• Excess Vote, Wasted Vote, Stacked Vote?

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Classwork/Homework

• CW Begin Phase 1 of National Identity Project
• HW
• Read Info Sheet 5 and answer questions 35-38
  (due tues 2/12)
• Phase 2 On your own, read How nationalism is
  symbolized and answer reflection questions.
• Be ready for Phase 3 on Tues

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Todays Objectives
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International Political Geog

• 3 Theories of Intnl Political Org
• 1.) Late 19th C Friedrich Ratzel propose Organic
  Theory which evolved into geopolitics nations
  must expand land base to maintain vibrancy
  countries that do not expand eventually
  disintegrate
• Ex Hitler
• or Napoleon

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3 theories contd

• 2.) Heartland Theory dev by Sir Halford Mackinder
  beginning in 20th C. Said great pivotal point of
  all human hist was in N/central Asia (most
  populous landmass on earth)who rules the
  heartland rules the world
• 3.) Rimland not heartland, but oceans most
  valuable for power. Oceans provide avenue to
  colonial conquest, not land

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International Alliances

• Intnl Organizations alliance of 2 or more
  countries cooperate w/ each other w/out giving up
  autonomy or self-determination
• United Nations created after WW II to replace
  League of Nations
• Intnl peacekeeping
• Can pass econ sanctions
• UN peacekeeping troops voluntary
• 5 permanent members of Security Council veto
  power China, France, Russia, UK, US

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UN Intnl Alliance

• UN Headquarters, NYC
• UN Logo

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Intnl Alliances contd

• Regional Alliances Economic
• NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement - US,
  Canada, MX econ ties and free trade
• OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting
  Countries Middle East and Venezuela.keep oil
  process high

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Intnl Alliances contd

• Regional Alliances Military
• NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
  created after WW II (US and W. Eur) agreement of
  military cooperation against E.Eur/Comm/Warsaw
  Pact.
• After fall of Comm, NATO expanded membership to
  much of E. Eurupe

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Supranational Organizations

• Like intnl org, but to some extent member nations
  relinquish some level of state sovereignty in
  favor of group interests (more binding)
• EU (European Union) started
• 1958 w/ 6 countries,
• today over 20
• Free trade and econ
• cooperation
• Euro common currency
• Helped Eur become leading
• econ superpower

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EU Membership 500 million
people 27 countries
Countries shaded gray are candidates for EU
membership
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EU Facts
27
Member States
500 million
Combined population of EU Member States
7
Percent of worlds population
30
Percent of global GDP
Percent of combined worldwide Official Development
Assistance
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Confederations

• Confederations intnl org that brings several
  autonomous states together for a common purpose
• Ex CIS Commonwealth of Independent States
  confederacy of ind states of former USSR whove
  united b/c of common econ and admin needs
• Ex Confederate States of America loose tie

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Changes in Intnl Alliances

• Cold War 1945-1989 East (USSR, Comm) Vs. West
  (US, dem, capitalism)
• Iron Curtain
• Domino Theory dominates foreign policy
• Since fall of Comm., alliances have shifted
  dramatically.
• Today division is N/S wealthy northern
  hemisphere of MDCs, poorer S. hemisphere of LDC

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• The E-W divide of the Cold War was
  ideological/political but the N-S divide today is
  economic and the division/disparity is increasing
• Future of nation-state is uncertain. Power being
  drawn away from nation states to powerful intnl
  corporations. Businesses crossing political
  boundaries and pushing buttons of politics. (i.e
  Blood Diamond)