Political Geography Notes

Political Geography NotesChapter 8

Objective: Identify the concept of a state and political challenges that can occur between states

Key Issue 1 – Where are states located?Problems Defining States

◦Not the Fifty Nifty…◦Says who?

Development of the state concept◦Relatively recent – last few hundred

years◦Many new states, almost 200 now

StateArea organized into a political

unitRuled by an established

governmentGovernment has control over

internal and foreign affairs (sovereignty)

Occupies a territoryPermanent populationCommonly referred to as a

“country”

Korea: One State or Two?Post WWII –

north/south division along the 38th Parallel (38 degrees North)

US-Soviet involvementUS supported the SouthUSSR supported the NorthKorean War

◦Part of Cold War◦1950-1953◦current cease fire

Other ExamplesChina and TaiwanWestern Sahara (Sahrawi

Republic)

Development of “states”Prior to 1800:

◦City-states◦Empires◦Tribes◦Unorganized

territory

Ancient and Medieval States

Ancient States◦1st states in

Mesopotamia were city-states. This led to empires.

Early European States◦Roman Empire◦Feudalism◦Consolidation and

nationalism

European expansionColonialism

◦God, Gold, and Glory◦When did colonialism

begin?◦1492

Imperialism◦Control of land already

occupied◦UK had largest colonial

empire

Post-ColonialismDomino effect of independence

movementsMany new states are formed

Key Issue 2 – Why do boundaries cause problems?

Shapes of StatesTypes of BoundariesBoundaries inside states

Boundaries are formed by cultural and/or natural physical features. Latitude/longitude are often used as well.

Shapes of StatesCompact – little

variance in distance from center to any boundary◦Makes

communication & interaction easier

◦Examples: Burundi, Kenya, Switzerland, many others

Prorupted StatesAn otherwise compact state with

a large projecting extensionCan provide access to a resourceCan disrupt other states

Elongated StatesLong and narrow

shapeCan lead to

isolation or hinder communication and interaction

Example: Chile

Fragmented StateContains several discontinuous

pieces of territoryCan be caused by water or other

statesEx: Indonesia, Philippines, Russia

Perforated States

Completely surrounds another state

Diplomacy is crucial

Ex: South Africa (perforated) and Lesotho(compact)

Types of BoundariesHistorically, frontiers separated

statesOnly current regions separated

by frontiers are in the Arabian Peninsula and Antarctica

Physical BoundariesMountainsDesertsWater

Cultural Boundaries

Geometric◦Lat./Long. lines

Religious◦Ex: India, Pakistan, and

BangladeshLanguage

◦Especially important in Europe, after WWI

The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everest as seen from the International Space Station looking south-south-east over the Tibetan Plateau. Four of the world's fourteen eight-thousanders, mountains higher than 8000 meters, can be seen. The South Col Route is Mount Everest's most often used climbing route.

Boundaries Inside StatesUnitary – most or all

power is held by the central government◦Works best in a

nation-state◦Can be used to

enforce values of one nationality on minority groups

◦Ex: UK, Kenya, China, and many more

Federal SystemPower is shared by

the national and local governments

More suitable for large and/or multinational states

Ex: United States, Canada, Russia, Brazil

GerrymanderingRedrawing legislative boundaries

to benefit a political partyWasted, Excess, Stacked

Look over…UNNATOWarsaw PactEU