Chapter 8 1.2

Political Geography• Study of the political organization of the world.

Political geographers study the spatial manifestations of political process at various scales (Fouberg et al., 2009)

• The study of the organization and distribution of political phenomena in their areal expression (Getis et al., 2008).

• Many scales, world, regional, state, county, city, etc.

What Makes Mexico Mexico and The U.S. The U.S.?

• Territorialityo Robert Sack’s version: “the attempt by an individual or group to affect,

influence, or control people, phenomena, and relationships, by delimiting and asserting control over a geographic area” (Fouberg et al., 2009).

o Typically a historical reason (U.S./Mexico War). o Typically either an external government or an internal government. o Guns, strength, and money often win.

What Makes Mexico Mexico and The U.S.

The U.S.? (cont.)• Sovereignty

o “Means having the last say over a territory-politically and militarily” (Fouberg et al., 2009).

o Having control or authority, the last say, over a territory. o Recognition is key.

• By other sovereign nations.

Mexico is recognized as a sovereign nation, the U.S. is recognized as a sovereign nation. As a sovereign nation it has control and the last say within its geographic region.

Where did the geographic region

come from?• About 400 years ago, Spain was defined as the

area with Spanish speaking individuals, England with English, etc.

• Religion might serve as an identifier of regions.• The emergence of mercantilism changed

boundaries and sought to make them more defined.

Mercantilism Explainedby someone other than me: (3:52) http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=9W4e_rN15xA

• Only watched until (3:52) into it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W4e_rN15xA

My precious…• Peace of Westphalia

o “Negotiated in 1648 among the princes of the states making up the Holy Roman Empire, as well as a few neighboring states” (Fouberg, 2009).

o Holy Roman Emperor (Ferdinand III), Spain, France, Swedish Empire, Dutch Republic, various princes within Holy Roman Empire, multiple cities present that acted like independent nations.

o The Empire of Rome became smaller states.o Sovereignty emerged, meaning that it was agreed upon that states

were to stay clear of one another’s internal business. o Westphalian system clearly outlined territories of why one area is

different from another area. • Who had control over what resources.

Treaty of Westphalia• Errors in video:

o England was not present.o Luxemburg was not divided up.o Point is to talk about arbitrarily drawing up boundaries and the

stewards comments regarding people being ignored.

o http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=U3z0zh8kow4