1. Political Organization of Space

2. Political Geography
Political Geography is the study of the political organization of the planet
Since the beginning of history, humans have divided the planet into political units, or territories
Territoriality: effort to control pieces of the Earth’s surface for political and social reasons
Political Culture: the collection of political beliefs, values, practices, and institutions that the government is based on

3. Characteristics of a State
A politically organized territory
Administered by a sovereign government
Recognized by a significant portion of the international community. (Ex: Kosovo, the Southern United States)
A state must also contain:
a permanent resident population
an organized economy

4. Morphology
Territorial Morphology is a term that describes the shapes, sizes, and relative locations of states

5. Examples: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda
Shapes of States
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Compact – The most efficient form.
A state whose territory is nearly circular. Because all places could be reached from the center in a minimal amount of time making it the most efficient for roads, railway lines, other infrastructure.
Examples: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda

7. Shape of States
The proruption can be a physical (penninsula) elongation of land or may have economic or strategic significance – access to resources, sea, establishment of a buffer zone, etc…
Examples: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Prorupt - A state that is nearly compact but possess one or two narrow extensions of territory, which isolates a portion of the state.

9. Example: Chile, Italy, and Gambia
Shape of States
Elongated – A state whose territory is long and narrow. The least efficient shape administratively. It may sacrifice national cohesion to promote eco strength.
Example: Chile, Italy, and Gambia

11. Examples: Indonesia, United States, former East and West Pakistan
Shape of States
Fragmented – Entirely made up of islands or territory, separated by another state, or is a state with an offshore island.
- contains isolated parts, separate and discontinuous.
Examples: Indonesia, United States, former East and West Pakistan

13. Example: Italy or South Africa
Shape of States
  Perforated - A state that completely surrounds a territory that it does not rule.
That area is called an “enclave” and it may be independent or part of another state.
An area outside of the state’s borders that belongs to the state is called an “exclave”. (Ex: Alaska)
Example: Italy or South Africa

15. Size of States
Microstates: a country with a land size of a few square miles
Examples: Vatican City, Monaco
Russia is the largest country in the world, followed by Canada, China, the United States, and Brazil

16. Relative Location of States
Landlocked State: countries lacking an ocean coastline, and surrounded by other states
Sometimes a landlocked country will try to access a foreign port, or become prorupted
Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked state

17. The Nation-State
State: a territorially organized piece of land, or country
Institution: stable, long-lasting organizations that help to turn political ideas into policies
Nation: a group of people that is bound together by a common political identity

18. The Nation-State
A nation-state is a state whose territorial extent coincides with a group of people, or nation
Examples: Denmark, Iceland, The United States
Binational/Multinational State: a state with more than one nation
Ex: The former USSR
Stateless Nation: a group of people without a country
Ex: Palestine, the Kurds

19. Organization of States
Core Area: the heartland of an area; identified by levels of population concentration and transportation networks
Multicore State: a state with more than one core area
Example: Nigeria

20. The Capital City
In most states, the capital is not only the center of government, but also the economic and cultural center
Primate City: the largest city in a nation and one where the second largest city is significantly smaller
Forward Capital: the capital city serves as a model for national objectives
Ex: Japan and Brazil