Political Geography Study of human political Political geographers

Political Geography • Study of human political • Political geographers also organization of the Earth at study the changing role of various levels the/a country in the world’s political affairs – Studied at three scales • Supranational scale – Ex. United Nations • Country/nation scale – How government is organized • Sub-national (local) scale – Boundaries for voting districts – Geopolitics • The state’s power to control space or territory and shape international political relations

Human Territoriality • Territoriality is creating ownership over a defined space • Territoriality can apply to your bedroom or an entire country – Often evokes emotional response • Ex. Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait triggered the Gulf War • Ex. Germany’s invasion of Poland triggered WWII • Personal Space – Territoriality can also be applied to personal space – Personal space is the area we claim as our own territory into which others may not enter without our permission • How much is personal varies

Sovereignty • Definition: – Internationally recognized control a place has over the people and territory within its boundaries • Nearly 200 countries on earth with sovereignty • Disputes – – Sovereignty of Taiwan Sovereignty of Kurdistan Sovereignty of Kosovo Oceans

States and Nations • State refers to: – Arguably most powerful institution in globalization – To be a state: • Political unit with permanent population – citizenship • Territorial boundaries that are recognized by other states • Effective government • Working economy • Sovereignty Ø Nation refers to: Ø a group of people who share a common culture and identity as a cohesive group Ø Needed: Ø Language Ø Religion Ø Shared history Ø Territory (not always) Ø Example: Jewish nation • Nation-state refers to: – State with only one nation in its borders • Ex. Japan, Iceland

Multinational States vs. Nation-States • Multinational state – Country that includes more than one nation within its borders • Ex. Soviet Union • Multistate nation – Nation extends across many states boundaries • Ex. Korea, the former Yugoslavia • Stateless nation – When a nation does not have territory to call its own • Assyrian Christians of Iraq • Kurds of Iraq, Turkey, Iran • Ughirs of Western China