POLITCAL GEOGRAPHY

C8K1K2

What is Political Geography?

• Political geography is concerned with the study of the way governments organize and administer space on Earth's surface, and especially the geographic dimensions of conflict.

• Case Study: Changing Borders in Europe

• Lorraine GE or FR• Yugoslavia• Russia

Objectives: Where are States Located?

• Problems of Defining States• Varying Size of States• Development of the State Concept

Problems of Defining States

• Rapid political change since 1940’s (50 vs 192 states)

• State/Country: political area ruled by an establish government that has control over its internal and foreign affairs (sovereignty).

Korea: One State or Two?

• Early 20th century/ Japanese colony

• After WWII: occupied by US and USSR (38th NL) 1950 Korea War.

• 50 year stalemate

China & Taiwan

• 1949 Nationalist vs Communists. Both claim legitimate Chinese state.

• 1971: US finally recognizes mainland China.

Western Sahara

• 1976 Spanish colony until Moroccan/ Mauritania independence.

• Most of Africa recognizes Polisario Front independent. Controls one fifth of the territory.

Polar Regions: Many Claim

• Antarctica is uninhabited but claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and United Kingdom. Not universally recognized.

• 1959: Antarctic Treaty = research station but not military.

Varying Size of States

• Russia: Largest state• Microstates:

Development of the State Concept• Ancient & Medieval States:

organized as city-states, kingdoms, empires, and tribes.

• Fertile Crescent: city-states: surrounded by walls

• Roman Empire: included 38 provinces

• Kingdoms: large estates controlled by lords/ kings

• Colonies: territory that is legally tied to a sovereign state

• Colonialism/ Imperialism: state controlling foreign lands politically, economically, and cultural principles. (promoted religion, extract resources/ tax, and extend power

British vs French Imperialism

• Direct: assimilation of culture. Use of French leaders to control political affairs.

• Indirect: varying gov. structures and policies for various territories. More autonomy of local culture.

• Post WWII: Most of Africa/ Asia became independent

• Today: 43 remaining colonies of indigenous pop.

K2: Why Do Boundaries Btw States Cause Problems?

• Shapes of States• Types of Boundaries• Boundaries Inside States

• Objectives

Shapes of States

• Why shapes matter? (controls boundaries with other states/ affects communication & conflict)

• Five Types: compact prorupted, elongated, fragmented, or perforated.

Five Basic Shapes of States

• Compact: evenly dispersed (circle) with central capital.

• Elongated: long and narrow• Prorupted: disrupted usually to

give access• Perforated: state completely

surrounded by another state• Fragmented: state interrupted

1) by bodies of water. 2) by another state

• * Landlocked States: no direct outlet to sea/ ocean (mostly found in Africa

Types of Boundaries

• Physical: desert, mountain, water

• Cultural: geometric (straight lines) & differences such as language, ethnicity, religion

• Frontiers: space where no state exercises complete political control (Saudi & neighbors

Boundaries Inside States

• Separate different nationalities or ethnicities (self-determination within single state)

• Unitary state: most power in the hands of central government (France)

• France: 96 elected general council but it’s administrative head is a prefet (appointed by national gov. rather than local people)

Trend Toward Federal Government

• Federal states: allocates strong power to local government (USA)

• Poland: restructured from unitary to federal after collapse of communism.

• Electoral Geography: boundaries separating legislative districts.

• Gerrymandering: redrawn to benefit a particular group