Welcome to Chapter 8 POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY

Key Issue 1: Where are States Distributed? Introducing Political Geography Challenges in Defining States Key Issue 1: Where are States Distributed?

Here ya go, some definitions: State Four criteria Organized into a political unit Ruled by an established government That government has control over its internal affairs Occupies a defined territory Contains a permanent population Example: Mexico Country is a synonym for State Non-example: Kentucky

Microstate: states with very small land areas Largest State: Russia Microstate: states with very small land areas Vatican City. World’s smallest microstate

Another one… Sovereignty Just learn how to say it now: SOV-ERN-TEE You might as well memorize how to spell it too Independence from control of its internal affairs by other states Freeee!!!! Formal or uniform region Its own government, laws, army, leaders

Q: Just how many states are there Q: Just how many states are there? A: There is no definite answer Y: Why? Well I’ll tell you… Korea Used to be a colony of Japan U.S. and Soviet Union got it after WWII and divided it into North and South Two separate governments were formed ( and ) North invaded South in the 1950s starting a 3 year war North hasn’t made very good decisions. One of the poorest and isolated countries But… “Both Korean governments are committed to reuniting the country into one sovereign state”

Q: Just how many states are there Q: Just how many states are there? A: There is no definite answer Y: Why? Well I’ll tell you… China and Taiwan Most say that they are two separate, sovereignties China says it’s a part of China In the 1940s the nationalists went to Taiwan to establish a government separate from the Communists during a civil war Its been back and forth, the UN finally declared the communist government the “in” government in China Taiwan is not a member of the U.N.

Q: Just how many states are there Q: Just how many states are there? A: There is no definite answer Y: Why? Well I’ll tell you… Western Sahara Most Africans say its sovereign Morocco claims it and built a big wall around to keep out the rebels It has never really been totally sovereign Morocco controls most of the area that is populated

Key Issue 2: Why are Nation-States Difficult to Create? Development of States Nation-States and Multinational States Russia: The Largest Multiethnic State Nation-States in the Former Soviet Union Colonies Key Issue 2: Why are Nation-States Difficult to Create?

Nation State Nation State: A state whose territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular ethnicity.

Development of the State Concept Ancient The Fertile Crescent Originated in the Middle East (Fertile Crescent) Center for land and sea communications in ancient times City-states came first Sovereign state that= City+Surrounding countryside City states that had surrounding power were called empires Egypt and Mesopotamia

Development of the State Concept Medieval States Roman Empire The Roman Empire controlled most of the ancient world (Eastern) When the Roman Empire collapsed, the European portion was fragmented Various kings, dukes, barons, etc. became leaders of different European estates

Development of the State Concept States in 20th Century Europe All world leaders met at Versailles Peace Conference after WWI to redraw Europe. Goal: to divide Europe into nation-states using language as the factor for identifying ethnic groups.

Multiethnic States Multiethnic state: a state that contains more than one ethnicity. Multinational state: a state that contains more than one ethnicity with traditions of self-determination and self-government. In some ethnicities coexist, culturally diverse Russia = Largest multinational state 81% ethnic Russians 19% is made up of 39 other ethnic groups Example: the Former Soviet Union

Colonies Colony: territory that is legally tied to a sovereign state They are not independent Example: Puerto Rico. Commonwealth of the U.S. Citizens of the U.S but they don’t participate in elections or representation in congress. Colonialism: The effort by one country to establish settlements in a territory God, Gold, Glory Imperialism: Control of territory already occupied and organized by indigenous society

Colonial Possessions in 1914