1. Chapter 8: Political Geography
The Cultural Landscape:
An Introduction to Human Geography

2. Where Are States Located?
Problems of defining states
Today, most habitable land belongs to a country
In 1940 = about 50 countries
Today = 192 countries (as shown by U.N. membership)
Figure 8-2

3. Where Are States Located?
Problems defining states
Some difficult to classify
Korea: 1 state or 2?
China/Taiwan: 1 or 2 states?
Western Sahara
Claims to polar regions

4. Where Are States Located?
Varying sizes of states
State size varies considerably
Largest state = Russia 11% of world’s land area
Smallest state = Monaco
Microstate = states with very small land areas

5. Where Are States Located?
Development of the state concept
Ancient states
The Fertile Crescent
City-state
Early European states
Colonies
3 motives: “God, gold, and glory”
Today = few colonies remain
God, Gold, Glory

6. Colonial Possessions, 1914
Figure 8-8

7. Colonial Possessions, 2006
Figure 8-9

8. Why Do Boundaries Between States Cause Problems?
Shapes of states
5 basic shapes
Compact
Elongated
Prorupted
Perforated
Fragmented
Landlocked states

9. Why Do Boundaries Between States Cause Problems?
Types of boundaries
Physical
Desert boundaries
Mountain boundaries
Water boundaries
Cultural
Geometric boundaries
Human features (language, religion, ethnicity)
Frontiers

10. Why Do Boundaries Between States Cause Problems?
Boundaries inside states
Unitary states
Smaller states
Federal states
Larger states
Globally = trend toward federations

11. Why Do Boundaries Between States Cause Problems?
Figure 8-19
Why Do Boundaries Between States Cause Problems?
Figure 8-18
Electoral geography
Boundaries within the U.S. used to create legislative districts
Gerrymandering
3 types: wasted, excess, & stacked vote
Illegal (1985 U.S. Supreme Court)

12. Why Do States Cooperate with Each Other?
Political & military cooperation
United Nations (est. 1945)
Regional military alliances
Balance of power
Post–World War II: NATO or Warsaw Pact
Why Do States Cooperate with Each Other?
Figure 8-21

13. Why Do States Cooperate with Each Other?
Political and military cooperation
Other regional organizations
OSCE (est. 1965)
OAS (est. 1962)
AU (est. 1963)
The Commonwealth
Economic cooperation

14. Why Has Terrorism Increased?
Systematic use of violence to intimidate a population or to coerce a government
Latin word meaning “to frighten”
Use of bombing, kidnapping, hijacking, and murder to instill fear and anxiety in a population

15. Why Has Terrorism Increased?
Terrorism by individuals & organizations
American terrorists
9/11/2001 attack
Al-Qaeda
Jihad

16. Why Has Terrorism Increased?
State terrorism support
3 levels of involvement
Provide sanctuary
Supply weapons, money, & intelligence to terrorists
Use terrorists to plan attacks
Examples
Iraq
Afghanistan
Iran
Pakistan

17. The End.