Unit IV Political Organization of Space Political Geography

Unit IV: Political Organization of Space

Political Geography • organization & distribution of political phenomena

Territory • effort to control land • world divided by borders – countries (or “states”)

I. States 1. independent political unit 2. w/ defined territory 3. must be recognized by others

World States • 192 recognized by UN

Issues defining states • some territories not recognized: – Taiwan – Tibet – Western Sahara

• A cultural unit bound by sense of shared beliefs/customs II. Nations

“Stateless Nations” • Nations without a country – Palestinians – Kurds – Basques

Multinational State • A state with more than one nation. The Former Yugoslavia

The Nation-State • a nation & a state (country w/ homogenous culture) • about 20 countries Exs: Iceland, Portugal, Poland, Japan

Types of Relationship s Between “states” & “nations” a. nation-state b. multi-national state (Cyprus) c. part-nation state (Arab) d. stateless nation

Spatial Characteristics of States • Smallest: City-states: • Singapore, Monaco, San Marino Microstates: Andorra, The Vatican • Largest: Russia

5 basic shapes: – Compact (Uruguay, Zimbabwe, Poland) – Prorupt (extension out; Thailand) – Elongated (Chile) – Fragmented (difficult to defend; Philippines, Indonesia) – Perforated (country that surrounds another; South Africa

B E A D C

Relative Location • size and shape matter! • absolute & relative location matter! Ex: Singapore, Switzerland • Landlocked countries usually at disadvantage – Bolivia

Boundary Types 1. Physical: mountains, rivers, lakes 2. Geometric: lines of latitude/longitude

3. Cultural: separated by language/religion – India & Pakistan

Boundary Origins 1. Antecedent: border before populated Ex: U. S. 2. Subsequent: border drawn after 2 types: • Consequent (Ireland & N. Ireland) • Superimposed (British India)

Consequent – Ireland & N. Ireland

3. Relict/relic Boundary: historical boundary

U. N. Convention of the Law of the Sea • Territorial waters: 12 NM out • Exclusive Economic Zone: Zone 200 NM (fish, mineral resources)

Types of Boundary Disputes 1. Positional: over border 2. Functional: over policies (immigration) 3. Resource (oil) 4. Territorial - irredentism

Capital Cities: • usually centralized (“core” area) Primate City: dominates economic activity • some capitals relocated: – Forward Thrust Capital (Abuja, Brazilia, Canberra, Islamabad)

Nigeria - Abuja

Geopolitics Ratzel’s Organic Theory: countries are living organisms Mackinder Heartland Theory: land-based power (pivot area Europe) Spykman Rimland Theory: naval power

Forms of Government Unitary: centralized gov’t (strong capital) Federal: gov’t organized by territories

Centripetal Forces • • promote cohesion nationalism unify better transportation/communication

Centrifugal Forces • challenges to the state • ethno-nationalism • devolution (autonomous regional gov’t); regionalism • inequality

Ethnocultural Devolutionary Movements Eastern Europe devolutionary forces since the fall of communism

Economic Devolutionary Movements Catalonia, Spain Barcelona is the center of banking and commerce in Spain and the region is much wealthier than the rest of Spain.

Electoral Geography Gerrymandering: redrawing of voting districts to benefit 1 political party • protects minority districts

Supranational Organizations: 3 or more states form an alliance - military (NATO) - economic (EU, NAFTA) -political (UN)

Global Scale – The United Nations

Regional Scale – The European Union