Political Geography Evolution of the contemporary political
pattern Territoriality how Earths surface should be organized
Slide 2
The contemporary political pattern is a nation-state
Slide 3
The nation-state concept Nation state is a European idea that
the map of states should look like the map of nations aspiration of
governing elites around the world; a politically organized space in
which nation and state occupy the same space, in reality few states
are perfect nation states (textbook example: Japan, why?)
Slide 4
Nation-state: ancient history Ancient states city-states :
sovereign state that comprise a town and the surrounding
countryside, walls clearly delineated the boundaries, land outside
the walls is controlled and used for agriculture, where a society
lived constituted its territory, Empires were created when one
state or tribe would gain military dominance over the other cities
(in Mesopotamia) Egypt was a separate empire, a narrow region along
the banks of the Nile
Slide 5
The nation-state: Early European States around CE100 CE1500
Roman Empire height of political unity in the ancient world
(Europe, N Africa, SW Asia), same set of laws, 38 provinces,
massive walls, one official language, one currency Fall of the
Roman Empire decentralized, competing estates Powerful kings emerge
in Europe beginning CE1100 basis for modern England, France, Spain
(German and Italy not consolidated until 19 th century)
Slide 6
The nation state concept: 1 st emerged Modern state system
Peace of Westphalia, 1648, recognized defined, demarcated
territories, now the territory defines the society territory is a
fixed element of political identity, exclusive, non overlapping
territories
Slide 7
.
Slide 8
Across the Aisle Question What is the difference in Colonialism
& Imperialism?
Slide 9
Colonialism (1400s early 1800s) A colony is a territory that is
legally tied to a sovereign state and not completely independent,
the sovereign state controls the colonys military and foreign
policy and sometimes internal affairs also Colonialism effort by
one country to establish settlements on previously uninhabited or
sparsely inhabited land and to impose political, economics, and
cultural principles on such territory, Europe (Spain and Portugal
first) colonized for glory, gold and God organizing the flows of
raw materials for their own benefit, affecting the cultural
landscape with plantations, ports, . mines, RR.
Slide 10
imperialism Europes colonization of Africa and Asia1800s
1900s..imperialism Europes colonization of Africa and Asia1800s
1900s.. Imperialism 1800s-1900s control of territory already
occupied and organized by an indigenous society Berlin Conference
1884-1885, projected European power to organizing political space
into the non- European world, became the model adopted around the
world, Europe designed the rules of capitalist world economy,
created a system of economic interdependence that persists today,
Former colonies, now politically independent remain economically
dependent infrastructure is organized to get raw materials out
Slide 11
Berlin Conference (1884): European countries decided they could
claim African colonies just by setting up government offices in
African territory. This set off a Great Scramble as Europeans
rushed to colonize Africa. Why???
Slide 12
Who is missing from this picture??? Europeans: Carving up a
Continent
Slide 13
Berlin Conference 1884 Divided Africa with no consideration for
culture Results of superimposed boundaries African nations divided
Hostile nations within state Historical trade routes disrupted
Migration routes disrupted
Slide 14
By 1914, there were only two independent countries left in all
of Africa. What new countries were growing empires? We do not want
to put anyone in the shade, but we also demand our place in the sun
Germany Where do these lines come from???
Slide 15
African colonies
Slide 16
Decolonization, 1940s-1990s
Slide 17
Slide 18
Slide 19
Imperialism 1800s-1900s control of territory already occupied
and organized by an indigenous society UK - largest colonial
empire, on every continent, including E and S Africa, S Asia,
Middle East, Australia, Canada created different government
structures and policies for various territories decentralized
approach protected diverse cultures, local customs, educational
systems possibility of peaceful transition to independence in some
colonies Commonwealth
Slide 20
Imperialism 1800s-1900s control of territory already occupied
and organized by an indigenous society France 2 nd largest W Africa
and SE Asia assimilated its colonies into French culture, educated
an elite group to provide local administrative leadership, colonies
often retained close ties after independence Portugal, Spain,
German, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium Most African and
Asian colonies become independent after WWII Most of the colonies
that remain are islands in the Pacific or Caribbean
Slide 21
Slide 22
Slide 23
Democratization Process began as land/nobility power declined
due to increasingly powerful wealthy middle class, upheavals in the
1780s, the French Revolution, political authority will rest with
citizenry not with a hereditary monarch Also the idea that people
are sovereign, the nation has ultimate say over what happens within
the state, true democracy exists when the nation has its own
sovereign territory 1800s quest to form nation-states in Europe
associated with a rise in nationalism as well as democratization
Most African and Asian colonies become independent after WWII and
attempted democratization Democratization
Slide 24
.
Slide 25
Monarchies: Constitutional Monarchy Traditional Monarchy
Absolute Monarchy Republics:Democracy Restricted Democratic
Practice Authoritarian Regime Totalitarian Regime
Non-Sovereign:Protectorate Colonial Dependency Empire Source:
Matthew White, 2003. http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/othergov.htm
Adapted from
FreedomHouse.orghttp://users.erols.com/mwhite28/othergov.htm Forms
of Government
Slide 26
Monarchies: Constitutional Monarchy Traditional Monarchy
Absolute Monarchy Republics:Democracy Restricted Democratic
Practice Authoritarian Regime Totalitarian Regime
Non-Sovereign:Protectorate Colonial Dependency Empire Source:
Matthew White, 2003. http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/othergov.htm
Adapted from
FreedomHouse.orghttp://users.erols.com/mwhite28/othergov.htm
Slide 27
Monarchies: Constitutional Monarchy Traditional Monarchy
Absolute Monarchy Republics:Democracy Restricted Democratic
Practice Authoritarian Regime Totalitarian Regime
Non-Sovereign:Protectorate Colonial Dependency Empire Source:
Matthew White, 2003. http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/othergov.htm
Adapted from
FreedomHouse.orghttp://users.erols.com/mwhite28/othergov.htm
Slide 28
Monarchies: Constitutional Monarchy Traditional Monarchy
Absolute Monarchy Republics:Democracy Restricted Democratic
Practice Authoritarian Regime Totalitarian Regime
Non-Sovereign:Protectorate Colonial Dependency Empire
Slide 29
Fall of communism legacy of the Cold War post WWII The Soviet
Union and the Iron Curtain Countries behind the former Iron Curtain
deal with developing economics and ZPG or lower, as well as
environmental degradation due to lack of pollution controls China
and the Bamboo Curtain
Slide 30
Fall of communism legacy of the Cold War post WWII China and
the Bamboo Curtain
Slide 31
Slide 32
..
Slide 33
EU 2014 .
Slide 34
Patterns of local, regional, and metropolitan governance
Federalism Divides power between the central government and local
governments allows strong power to units of local government within
the country (the US), gives local people more power and
representation can lead to tension due to regional/local
representatives fighting for their own constituents
Slide 35
Patterns of local, regional, and metropolitan governance
Unitary places power in the hands of the central government
officials (Cuba) the local government cannot make its own decisions
or repairs, must request and wait for answer from the central
government local people have little voice
Slide 36
Gerrymandering redrawing legislative districts for the purpose
of benefitting the party in power, ex NC district 12
Slide 37
Somali woman voting Soviet repression Catalonia wants
independence the Kurds would like a state