Why do Boundaries Cause Problems Shapes of States

Why do Boundaries Cause Problems? Shapes of States

Good & Bad • Large Country – More potential resources and greater industrial base, difficult to defend borders • Small Country – Lack resources but less area to defend – Microstates- smallest states Ex: Vatican City

5 Basic Shapes of States • 1. Compact State- the distance from the center to any boundary doesn’t vary too much (equidistant) • Good: Communication Smaller, Boundaries to defend • Bad: lack resources

5 Basic Shapes of States • 2. Prorupted Statesotherwise compact but with a large projecting extension • Good: usually has access to raw material because of proruption, trade opportunity • Bad: hard to defend and fiercely fought over

5 Basic Shapes of States • 3. Elongated Stateslong and narrow shape • Good: Easy transportation of raw material to industrial centers • Bad: May suffer from poor communication, ends of country may feel isolated leading to separatist movements

5 Basic Shapes of States • 4. Fragmented States- several discontinuous pieces of territory • Good: Hard for another country to occupy or control your country • Bad: Communication and Transportation bad.

5 Basic Shapes of States • 5. Perforated States- A state that completely surrounds another one. • State on the inside must almost completely rely on the surrounding state. • Good: Ethnic group has its own country • Bad: May get in way of transportation and communication (Ex: Telephone, railroad, highways) Lesotho would be a landlocked state and an enclave