Political Geography Chapter Overview F Political Geography F

Political Geography

Chapter Overview F Political Geography F Perception of Place F Organization of States F Supranational Organizations F Power Inventory F Super Powers in a Multi-polar World

Key Term F Political Geography: Location and organization of the earth’s surface into a collection of political units. u Units may be international, national or local – Spatial Analysis or examination of the distribution of these units u patterns, concentrations, densities, boundaries, relative location, size, and shape.

Perception of Place F Mental F U. S. Maps Perception – a people are who they think they are F Other Perception – a people are who others think they are F Changing Perceptions

State F An area organized into a political unit and ruled by an established government with control over its internal and foreign affairs. F An organized political unit with: ã 1. Territory with boundaries ã 2. Population ã 3. Government ã 4. Sovereignty

Number of States F 1947: 50 States F 1994: 180 States F 1998: 190 States

Key Terms F State: an organized independent political unit F Nation: a group of people with a commonality u common ancestry or historical events u common race u common religion F Nation State: A state whose territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular nation (90% or greater)

Separation Areas F Frontier: A zone of separation between two states in which neither state exercises political control. F Buffer Zone or State: a country or area created for the purpose of separating two countries u usually an open space or an area of little power

Organization of States F Unitary - one central government – (France) F Federal - a strong central government but local authority with autonomy is given to regional governments. (U. S. )

U. S. Government F Federal – strong central government – some power given to regional and state governments F Republic – elected representatives – written constitution – not a monarch

Supranational Organizations F Alliances, trade associations, and organizations designed to represent the interests of multiple states. – Economic organizations - OPEC, COMECON, NAFTA – Political organizations - UN, OAS, – Military organizations - NATO, ANZUS, Warsaw Pact

Boundaries F Limits of territorial control – demarcation - physical marking of a boundary u fence, wall, hedge – delimitation - a line on a map

Boundary Types F Physical Boundaries mountains u oceans u rivers u lakes u F Cultural Boundaries walls/fences u geometry (lat & long) u neutral zones u

Power Inventory F Size of State F Shape of State – compact – elongated – fragmented – perforated – prorupted

Power Inventory (continued) F Boundaries F Relative Location of State F Resources F Demographic Characteristics F Technology & Industry F Infrastructure

The Power Game F Economic Power u ----> Political Power u -----> Military Power F Superpowers in a Multi-polar World – Old Model - US vs. USSR – New Model – EC, China, Russia, US, Japan

Chapter Overview F Political Geography F Perception of Place F Organization of States F Supranational Organizations F Power Inventory F Super Powers in a Multi-polar World

Political Geography C. J. Cox