1. Political Geography Study of human political organization of the Earth at various levels – Studied at three scales Supranational scale – Ex. United Nations Country/nation scale – How government is organized Sub-national (local) scale – Boundaries for voting districts Political geographers also study the changing role of the/a country in the world’s political affairs – Geopolitics The state’s power to control space or territory and shape international political relations

2. Human Territoriality Territoriality is creating ownership over a defined space Territoriality can apply to your bedroom or an entire country – Often evokes emotional response Ex. Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait triggered the Gulf War Ex. Germany’s invasion of Poland triggered WWII Personal Space – Territoriality can also be applied to personal space – Personal space is the area we claim as our own territory into which others may not enter without our permission How much is personal varies

3. Sovereignty Definition: – Internationally recognized control a place has over the people and territory within its boundaries Nearly 200 countries on earth with sovereignty Disputes – Sovereignty of Taiwan – Sovereignty of Kurdistan – Sovereignty of Kosovo – Oceans

4. States and Nations State refers to: – Arguably most powerful institution in globalization – To be a state: Political unit with permanent population – citizenship Territorial boundaries that are recognized by other states Effective government Working economy Sovereignty  Nation refers to:  a group of people who share a common culture and identity as a cohesive groupgroup of people  Needed:  Language  Religion  Shared history  Territory (not always)  Example: Jewish nation Nation-state refers to: – State with only one nation in its borders Ex. Japan, Iceland

5. Multinational States vs. Nation-States Multinational state – Country that includes more than one nation within its borders Ex. Soviet Union Multistate nation – Nation extends across many states boundaries Ex. Korea, the former Yugoslavia Stateless nation – When a nation does not have territory to call its own Assyrian Christians of Iraq Kurds of Iraq, Turkey, Iran Ughirs of Western China