TOPICIV POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY PART 1 POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY Political

TOPIC#IV POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY PART 1

POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY § Political Geography: the study of the organization & spatial distribution of how people govern themselves § nation: a cultural unit made up of people with a common ancestry living in the § state: an independent political unit with a defined territory & full sovereignty over its people (also called a country) § - over 200 states in the world (ie: U. S. A. , China) same territory (a homeland) § - i. e. : Quebec, Scotland, Navajo § * stateless nation: a people without a state § - i. e. : Kurds, Gypsies, Basques, & Palestinians

BOUNDARIES AND BORDERS A. Boundaries & Borders • • • Shapes of states five basic shapes landlocked states Types of boundaries physical cultural boundary: lines that establish the limits of a state’s authority B. Types of Boundaries § geometric boundaries: grid systems § physical boundaries: natural features § mountain ranges, rivers, lakes, deserts § anthropographic: cultural boundaries § ethnicity, language, religion

Stateless Nation – The Kurds a nation without a state III. nation-state: a state that is located within a homeland - only about 9% of countries are nation-states: Japan, Sweden, Portugal, Costa Rica, Iceland, Poland, Korea * multinational state: a state with more than one nation (Russia, Canada, & many in E. U. ) * part-nation state: cultural identity over many countries (Arab Nation)

8 Characteristics of a State: § Rise of the Modern State • territory with recognized boundaries • permanent population • economic system § “Modern” State began in W. Europe in the 1600 s § Universal idea of the “state” developed with • social system § the French Revolution § diffused to rest of the world by 1900 • transportation system • government that provides order • sovereignty (control) • external recognition

CHALLENGES TO STATES § Globalization § Nuclear weapons § Terrorism § New superpowers: European Union § (EU), China, India

SIZE AND LOCATION Size and Location § Large size: access to natural resources & population, but can be difficult to administer Small size: can be a disadvantage (W. Africa vs. Singapore) Shapes § compact § elongated § fragmented § perforated § prorupt

A. BOUNDARY DISPUTES Positional Dispute – disagreement over older § antecedent boundary (Peru-Ecuador § Territorial Dispute – disagreement over the § possession/control of land (i. e. : Kasmir; Somalia; § Israel; Kurds; Basques; Spratly Islands) § irredentism: territorial expansion (i. e. : Nazi Germany)III. § Resource Dispute – over water, oil, sea (i. e. : Rio § Grande between the U. S. and Mexico; Iraq-Kuwait) IV. § Functional Dispute – problem over use of land today (i. § e. : illegal immigration)

ADDITIONAL TYPES OF BOUNDARIES antecedent boundary: drawn before population § established itself subsequent boundary: drawn after population § established itself (respects existing cultural patterns) superimposed boundary: drawn after population § established itself (DOES NOT respect existing § cultural patterns) relict boundary: boundary that has ceased to exist § but imprint remains on cultural landscape

B. CENTRIPETAL & CENTRIFUGAL FORCES § Centripetal Forces: promote unity & cohesion § (i. e. : building roads, schools, armed forces, hospitals) § Centrifugal Forces: destabilize or weaken a state § (i. e. : separatist/autonomous movements; devolution; regionalism; tribalism) Is nationalism a centripetal or centrifugal force? “balkanization”? § The fragmentation of a region into smaller, hostile § political units

§ nationalism– creating a the concept of allegiance to DEVOLUTION § devolution: movement of power from the one single country or nation § ethnonationalism– where the “nation” is defined In terms of ethnicity § central government to regional § Exs: § governments within the state § Scotland § § What causes devolutionary § movements? § • Ethno-nationalism • Economic forces • Spatial forces § Spain– Basques, Catalonia § Belgium– Flemish (Dutch) vs. Walloon (Fr. ) § Former Yugoslavia § Russia– Chechnya

GEOPOLITI CS the interplay between geography, power, politics, & international relation. S Post-WW II World Order: Bipolar World (1945 -1991): • U. S. vs. Soviet Union • The “Cold War” • Multipolar World (1991 -2000) • International cooperation • “New World Order” • Unilateral World (2000 -2008) • states taking individual action Classical Geopolitics § German School: § Ratzel’s “organic state theory” the state is a living organism, surviving by “eating” § less powerful neighbors § British/American School: § Mackinder’s “Heartland Theory”: a unified heartland-based Empire § Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland § Who rules the Heartland commands the World Island § Who rules the World Island commands the World § Spykman’s “Rimland Theory”: a rimland sea-based power

SUPRANATIONA LISM An international organization of 3 or more states that form an administrative structure for some mutual benefit Economic Cooperation - involves a global integration of political, Cooperation among States economic, environmental, and cultural activities of states Political cooperation § United Nations Military Cooperation • post-World War II most European • states joined one of two military • alliances: NATO or the Warsaw Pact § African Union • era of bipolar balance of power • ended when Soviet Union • disbanded in 1991 • most important elements of state • power are increasingly economic • rather than military • E. U. Military cooperation § NATO • NATO and the Warsaw Pact were • designed to maintain bipolar power in • Europe • NATO expanded membership in 1997 § NAFTA • to include several former Warsaw Pact § OPEC • countries Economic cooperation § European Union • A. U.

U. N. LAW OF THE SEAS (UNCLOS) Territorial waters: 12 nm from coastline Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): 200 nm from coastline (includes fish & mineral resources)

§ Supranationalism & the State? § - many political scientists point out a counter § trend to international cooperation: § FRAGMENTATION § - a tendency for people to base their loyalty on § ethnicity, language, religion, or cultural identity

§ 1. unitary: highly centralized government where the capital city serves as a focus of power § Exs: France, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan § 2. federal: a government where the state is organized into territories, which have control over policies & funds § Exs: USA, Mexico, India, Russia

Gerrymandering: 1. drawing voting districts to benefit one political party over another § a state’s electoral system is part of its political § spatial organization § In the U. S. : - territorial representation (i. e. : electoral college) § - re-districting (due to new census data every 10 yrs), which § causes “gerrymandering” § - voting rights for minority populations