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What is Political Geography?
Political Geography- political organization of the planet. A constantly changing collage of countries. On an individual level, residents of cities along national borders frequently migrate between the two countries, demonstrating that an individual has an investment in both nations
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Where are states located?
State-an area organized into a political unit and ruled by an established government that has control over its internal and foreign matters. In political geography we do NOT refer to the 50 regional governments within the USA. Sovereignty-independence from control of its internal affairs by other states Country is a synonym for state. When two countries have a practice of allowing their citizens to immigrate between and work freely in both countries, individuals are most likely to have fluid, or ever-changing, national identities. The lack of formality needed to cross the countries’ borders allows citizens of both countries to have a great deal of interaction with one another
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The only landmass not a part of a state?
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A nation’s power affects its international role
Governments set up boundaries and exercise their power within these boundaries, creating political units Political maps show political units, such as countries, and their borders Political power is distributed spatially within a political region or unit A nation’s power affects its international role A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions under a central (federal) government. A federal state is the most likely state to possess multiple systems of checks and balances so that federal and localized governments do not threaten each other’s powers and responsibilities
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The concept of territoriality
Government refers to leadership and institutions that make policy decisions for a country. Politics is basically all about power. Who has it? How did they get it? A unitary state is a state governed as a single power in which the central government is ultimately supreme and any administrative divisions exercise only powers that the central government chooses to delegate. The United Kingdom’s power is concentrated in the British Parliament. Although the United Kingdom is divided into several countries – England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – the UK’s centralization of legislative activity makes it a unitary state.
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Territoriality Territoriality refers to efforts to control pieces of the earth’s surface for political and social ends. Territoriality is the key to political geography. a confederation is a more or less permanent union of countries with some or most political power vested in a central authority. A confederation, or union, between states is most likely to arise in a federal state. A federal state contains multiple states with limited powers, one of which is the opportunity to strike up an alliance
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Various size of states States vary in land area.
Russia-6.6 million square miles Tonga-a microstate (small land area and small population) of 289 square miles. Monaco-1.5 square miles. The development of a self-governing region has the potential to disrupt and supplant the power of a unitary state, which has a single national governing body
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States in the world In 1930 there were 70
In 2007 there were more than 200
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Look at Africa
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Boundaries A confederation or several unitary states moving toward becoming one state is most likely to attempt to govern itself through a series of agreements, signed by all parties. These agreements would be similar to a series of treaties Boundaries= invisible lines that mark the extent of a state’s territory and the control its leaders have.
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What you already know about boundaries!
Boundaries can be physical or cultural. Boundaries may be set by physical features like lakes, rivers, mountains. Boundaries can be drawn to separate ethnic groups from one another. Boundaries may be set by negotiation or war with neighbors, which can be subject to change in the future. Most of the world’s unitary states are located on the continents of Africa and Asia. Unitary states include Niger, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Sri Lanka
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Geometric Boundaries (the last type of boundary)
Straight, imaginary lines with good reasoning behind them. Korea is divided at the 38th parallel by a line of demarcation.
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Boundaries Boundaries mark the place where two or more states come into direct contact. They have the potential to create conflicts among them. A buffer state is a politically neutral state that lies between two more powerful states and acts to balance power between the states. A buffer state is thought to allow the balance of power between two major neighboring states to continue to exist
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Frontiers
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Frontiers Frontiers rather than boundaries separated states.
A frontier is a geographic zone where no state exercises power. Frontiers provide buffers between states. Today, nations act to establish control over disputed areas of the sea primarily by engaging in economic activities in coastal areas and open waters. Nations use their frequent presence in the region to justify exercising jurisdiction over the territory
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Shapes of states Territorial morphology is the term that describes the shapes, sizes and relative locations of states. There are five basic shapes of states: Compact- Prorupted Elongated Fragmented Perforated Territoriality is the practice of creating geographic boundaries in response to social and political conditions and typically acts to separate different populations by culture. Territoriality, which involves the separation of human populations by boundaries, influences the development of different cultures
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Shapes of states-Compact
Compact-distance from center to any boundary is about the same, giving it a shape similar to a circle. Capital is usually in the center, easy to rule. Compactness promotes good communications among all regions. People divide a continent into regional trade blocs primarily to promote economic unity between member states. The point of creating a regional trade bloc is to exclude nonmember states from preferential arrangement, thereby conferring economic advantages, and encouraging political alliances, among member states
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Shape of states-prorupted
A compact state with a large projecting extension or it separates two states that would otherwise share a boundary.
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Shape of states-elongated
Long narrow state-sometimes for either political or economic reasons. Can have transportation and communication problems between geographic ends of the country. Potential for isolation.
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Shape of states-fragmented
Several discontinuous pieces of territory. Remoteness of islands can cause problems. Population concentrations or lack of lead to control problems. If fragments are separated by another country problems can arise.
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Shape of states-Perforated
A state that completely surrounds another one. Transportation issues can be created.
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Relative location Landlocked states- Lack ocean frontage
Surrounded by other states At a disadvantage for trade Try to arrange use of a port with another country. There are 40 in the world. Double landlocked-must travel through two countries to reach the ocean. There are two in the world- Uzbekistan and Liechenstein A federal state can engage in inclusionary territoriality by extending the benefit of citizenship to all members of a particular ethnic group
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Functions of boundaries
Boundaries mark limits of state jurisdiction, serve as symbols of sovereignty or the ability to carry our actions or police actions. Modern nationalism is a sense of unity with fellow citizens and loyalty to the state to promote its interests over those of others.
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Boundaries Boundaries are a vertical plane that cuts through the subsoil. Resources underground are split between countries. Boundaries also include the airspace that is above the country.
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Evolution of Boundaries
Definition-treaty-like document where boundary is described. Delimitation-Cartographers put the boundary on the map. Demarcation-The boundary is marked on the ground by concrete posts or steel pillars, fencing or other visible means.
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Types of Boundaries 1. Geometric-straight-line boundaries: USA /Canada West of the Great Lakes. 2. Physical/Political or Natural Political Boundaries: Conform to physical features-Rio Grande River May follow old trespass lines. Mountains, water or desert
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Types of Boundaries 3. Cultural Political Boundaries-Boundary between Christian Armenia and Muslim Azerbaijan. These can shift over time. Can also be religious, language based or “Green Line’ (the buffer zone on Cypress for the Greeks and the Turkish)
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Ocean Boundaries- which are examples of physical boundaries
In the Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCOLS) the UN generally paved the following guidelines: Coastal states can lay claims to the sea up to 12 nautical miles from the shoreline. Ships from other countries have the right to pass through these waters.
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Ocean Boundaries A coastal state can claim up to 200 nautical miles of territory beyond its coastline as an exclusive economic zone, over which it has economic control and can explore and mine natural resources in the waters. When there is not enough water for each country on opposite sides of the sea to have 200 nautical miles of exclusive economic zone, the two countries will divide the water evenly under the medial line principal.
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Functions of Boundaries
Mark limits of state jurisdiction. Symbols of sovereignty. Foster nationalism Physical boundaries of states are those that create an actual barrier and can be felt and seen, such as lakes, walls, mountains, and seas
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States and distribution of power
Unitary System- concentrates all policymaking powers into one central geographic place. Common in European countries ex. France Confederate System- spreads the power among many sub-units with a weak central government. Federal System- divides the power between the central government and sub-units. Ex. United States Geometric boundaries are defined as political boundaries that take the form of a straight line or arc, such as the straight line between the states of Colorado and Kansas
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ETHNICITY RACE Ethnicity vs. Race
Ethnicity is an identity with a group of people who share the cultural traditions of a particular homeland or hearth. Race is the identity with a group of people who share the same biological ancestor. Ethnicity is learned Developed in the 1800’s by anthropologists based on skin color, bone structure and hair. Ethnicity comes from the Greek “ethnikos” which means national. Race comes from the middle French word for Generation. African American and Hispanic are the two largest ethnic groups in the USA. Biological descendant- Race is inherited.
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Centripetal Forces (remember the p= positive)
Unify people Bind together the people of a state Gives state strength Nationalism-allegiance to a country, promotes loyalty and commitment. Schools, armed forces, flags, religion. Pledge of Allegiance Empires often posted small groups of guards or soldiers at defensive fortresses along borders to enforce rules of entry and exit, as well as maintain the border itself
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Centrifugal Forces (remember the f=foul)
Tend to fragment Destabilize the government Encourage a country to fall apart. Separatist movements in a region Devolution Deep religious conflicts Internal boundary conflicts.
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What is Devolution? Can divide and destabilize the government. These forces can be divided into three basic types: Ethnic forces ethnonationalism-tendency for an ethnic group to see itself as a distinct nation with a right to autonomy Examples-Quebec, India and Pakistan- Hindus and Muslims, Myanmar- Muslims and Buddhists Legislators and the leaders of political parties typically use the results of a census to determine the new population and ethnic makeup of regions. They then use this information to draw lines for districts that represent communities of interest in a fair and balanced manner
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Devolution 2. Economic Forces- economic inequality, especially if regional. Example: Italy-Ancona Line-the north (industrialized) is clearly more prosperous than the south (rural). Spatial Forces- Distance, remoteness, landforms Example: Puerto Rico
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States and distribution of power
Unitary System- concentrates all policymaking powers into one central geographic place. Common in European countries ex. France Confederate System- spreads the power among many sub-units with a weak central government. Federal System- divides the power between the central government and sub-units. Ex. United States
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Gerrymandering-used to disperse or concentrate groups for political purposes
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Supranational Organizations
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and the achieving of world peace. UN was founded in 1945 after World War II. There are currently 192 member states, including nearly every sovereign state in the world.
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Trade Agreements 1993-NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement Bill Clinton signed the agreement between the US, Canada and Mexico. Reduced tariffs, opened up more trade.
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Trade Agreements 1993-European Union (EU) Trade bloc to abolish tariffs and quotas for members. Common import rules Euro is the common currency. England will not join, as other countries are added incrementally.
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Supranational Organizations
African Union (AU) Among the objectives of the AU's leading institutions are to accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of the continent The AU is an intergovernmental organization consisting of 54 African states. Established on July 9, 2002
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Supernational Organizations
Union for the Mediterranean (Med U or Club Med) Initiated on 13 July 2008 by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The act unites all EU members with several non-EU countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. The idea is to form economic/political connections between Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
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OPEC and Arab League OPEC-Organization of Petroleum Exporting countries. Formed to coordinate policies to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum product producers. Arab League- Promoting common interests of primarily Arabic speaking countries. Founded in 1945 in Egypt.
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Democratization More nations moving to a form of popular government
The modern world is in a third wave of democratization. Why? Loss of legitimacy of authoritarian regimes. Expansion of urban middle class New emphasis on human rights Snowball effect Internet, satellite TV, and seeing what others have.
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Movement toward market economies
Market or Mixed economies are replacing command economies. Marketization-state’s re-creation of a market in which property, labor , goods and services can function in a competitive environment. Privatization-transfer of state-owned property to private ownership An allocational boundary dispute occurs when two powers disagree on the division or ownership of a resource, usually a natural resources that is present in both of their territories
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Revival of Ethnic or Cultural Politics
Fragmentation-divisions based on ethnic or cultural identity are becoming important in world politics. Politicization of religion has dominated world politics in the early 21st century.
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New World Order International relations no longer driven by the communist/anticommunist groups. International relations are multilayered and complex. Challenges of terrorism and other types of warfare.
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Multipolar World A multipolar world is emerging in which the heartland and rimland are represented by power cores. Four potential world Superpowers on the World Island: Russia, Europe, China and the United States An unstable multipolar conflict with potential for conflict. A separation fence typically exists to show where two countries have agreed their national borders should be situated as part of the terms of a cease-fire agreement. A separation fence is usually a militarized border, and crossing it without the correct documentation is seen as a hostile act
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