political geography notes chapter 8 objective: identify the concept of a state and political...
TRANSCRIPT
Political Geography NotesChapter 8
Objective: Identify the concept of a state and political challenges that can occur between states
Key Issue 1 – Where are states located?Problems Defining States
◦Not the Fifty Nifty…◦Says who?
Development of the state concept◦Relatively recent – last few hundred
years◦Many new states, almost 200 now
StateArea organized into a political
unitRuled by an established
governmentGovernment has control over
internal and foreign affairs (sovereignty)
Occupies a territoryPermanent populationCommonly referred to as a
“country”
Korea: One State or Two?Post WWII –
north/south division along the 38th Parallel (38 degrees North)
US-Soviet involvement
US supported the SouthUSSR supported the NorthKorean War
◦Part of Cold War◦1950-1953◦current cease fire
Other ExamplesChina and TaiwanWestern Sahara (Sahrawi
Republic)
Development of “states”Prior to 1800:
◦City-states◦Empires◦Tribes◦Unorganized
territory
Ancient and Medieval States
Ancient States◦1st states in
Mesopotamia were city-states. This led to empires.
Early European States◦Roman Empire◦Feudalism◦Consolidation and
nationalism
European expansionColonialism
◦God, Gold, and Glory◦When did colonialism
begin?◦1492
Imperialism◦Control of land already
occupied◦UK had largest colonial
empire
Post-ColonialismDomino effect of independence
movementsMany new states are formed
Key Issue 2 – Why do boundaries cause problems?
Shapes of StatesTypes of BoundariesBoundaries inside states
Boundaries are formed by cultural and/or natural physical features. Latitude/longitude are often used as well.
Shapes of StatesCompact – little
variance in distance from center to any boundary◦Makes
communication & interaction easier
◦Examples: Burundi, Kenya, Switzerland, many others
Prorupted StatesAn otherwise compact state with
a large projecting extensionCan provide access to a resourceCan disrupt other states
Elongated StatesLong and narrow
shapeCan lead to
isolation or hinder communication and interaction
Example: Chile
Fragmented StateContains several discontinuous
pieces of territoryCan be caused by water or other
statesEx: Indonesia, Philippines, Russia
Perforated States
Completely surrounds another state
Diplomacy is crucial
Ex: South Africa (perforated) and Lesotho(compact)
Types of BoundariesHistorically, frontiers separated
statesOnly current regions separated
by frontiers are in the Arabian Peninsula and Antarctica
Physical BoundariesMountainsDesertsWater
Cultural Boundaries
Geometric◦Lat./Long. lines
Religious◦Ex: India, Pakistan, and
BangladeshLanguage
◦Especially important in Europe, after WWI
The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everest as seen from the International Space Station looking south-south-east over the Tibetan Plateau. Four of the world's fourteen eight-thousanders, mountains higher than 8000 meters, can be seen. The South Col Route is Mount Everest's most often used climbing route.
Boundaries Inside StatesUnitary – most or all
power is held by the central government◦Works best in a
nation-state◦Can be used to
enforce values of one nationality on minority groups
◦Ex: UK, Kenya, China, and many more
Federal SystemPower is shared by
the national and local governments
More suitable for large and/or multinational states
Ex: United States, Canada, Russia, Brazil
GerrymanderingRedrawing legislative boundaries
to benefit a political partyWasted, Excess, Stacked
Look over…UNNATOWarsaw PactEU