Political Geography

The study of the interaction of geographical area and political process

It is the formal study of territoriality. Covers forms of government, borders, treaties,

trading blocs, conflicts and war.

POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY

Interaction of politics and place

A politically organized territory

Administered by a sovereign government

Recognized by a significant portion of the international community.

A state must also contain:

a permanent resident population

an organized economy

STATE

I. Political geography

State: an area organized into a political unit and ruled by an established government that has control over its internal and foreign affairs (sovereignty)

Defined territory, permanent population Synonym for country A nation is not a country, but rather the

people A formal region

Stateless nation: people without their own state

Kurds live in Iraq, Eastern Turkey, Iran, Syria

http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/special/photo/salgado/kurds.jpg

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/images/kurdistan1.gif

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/world/europe/10turkey.html?em&ex=1192161600&en=eec6b40cbf94a082&ei=5087%0A

Turkey Authorizes Troops to Enter Iraq to Fight Rebels

NY Times

October 10, 2007

Turkish troops have received authorization to cross the Iraq border to eliminate separatist Kurdish rebel camps in the northern region.

Number: approximately 200 countries in the world

A country whose population possesses a substantial degree of cultural homogeneity and unity.

NATION - STATE

Classic Example of a Nation-State: Japan

East versus West: View of Communist “Red Bloc” during Cold War

Lumping failed to recognizedifferences among Communists,or local causes of conflict

WHERE ARE STATES LOCATED?

How Americans View the World?

Varying Sizes of State

Size

GiantsRussia: 6.6 million square miles (far exceeds any other country)

Canada: 3.8 million square milesCanadians invented GIS to simplify mapmaking

China: 3.7 million square milesUSA: 3.6 million square milesBrazil: 3.3 million square milesAustralia: 3 million square miles

MicrostatesSmallest of the smallMost in Europe (leftover of medieval

feudal period, afterwards was consolidation and they invented the nation-state)

Less than 200 square miles (2.5 times Washington, D.C.)

Examples: Andorra Malta Liechtenstein San Marino Monaco Vatican City

Problems of defining states

Morocco and Western Sahara (Morocco claims the territory, but it is considered by many African countries as a sovereign state)

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (island in eastern Mediterranean inhabited by Greeks and Turks) Republic of Turkey occupies a portion of the

island U.S. doesn’t recognize it, so is it a country?

China and Tibet: Tibet is occupied

China and Taiwan: different passports, money, political systems The world treats them as two countries, but

China says it is part of China Taiwan says it is separate

Disagreements Over States North & South Korea

Taiwan

Western Sahara

City States City State, is a

sovereign state that comprises a town and the surrounding countryside.

European States

Roman Empire Colonialism, which is the effort by

one country to establish settlements and impose it’s political, economic, and cultural principles on a territory. “North America”

“God, gold, and glory”

Africancolonies

Imperialism , which is control of a territory already occupied and organized by an indigenous society

Control of the State

Unitary state A state

governed constitutionally as a unity, without internal divisions or a federalist delegation of powers

Federalism A system of

government in which power is distributed among certain geographical territories rather than concentrated within a central government

Pressures on state primacy

Over the centuries, power has changed hands from church to state to corporations

Trends that weaken a state:1. Globalization of economy, transnational

corporations2. Proliferation of international institutions3. Increase in nationalist and separatist

movements

Geopolitics

International organization An alliance of two

or more countries seeking cooperation with each other without giving up either's autonomy or self-determination

Supranational organization Organization

of three or more states to promote shared objectives

Supranational Organizations

United Nations A global

supranational organization established at the end of World War II to foster international security and cooperation

UNITED NATIONS

Global Issues

HOW THE UN WORKS

• Established on 24 October 1945

• 51 countries were committed to preserving peace through international cooperation

• UN Membership: 192 countries

• States agree to accept obligations of the UN Charter, an international treaty that sets out basic principles

HOW THE UN WORKS

• According to the Charter the UN has 4 basic principles:

1. Maintain international peace and security

2. Develop friendly relations among nations

3. Cooperate in solving international problems and promote respect for human rights

4. Be the center for harmonizing the actions of nations

HOW THE UN WORKS• The UN is not a world government• It does not make laws• Large or small, rich or poor, and with

differing political views and social systems:

• All member states have a voice

• All member states have a vote

MAIN BODIES

• General Assembly (New York)• Security Council (NY)• Economic and Social Council (NY)• Trusteeship Council (NY)• Secretariat (NY)• International Court of Justice (Netherlands)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

• The main deliberative organ of the UN• Composed of all member states• Each member has one vote.• Decisions on important issues require two

thirds majority voteo Peace and Securityo Admissions of new memberso Budget matters

• Decisions on other issues: simple majority

FUNCTIONS AND POWERS

• Maintain international peace and security (disarmament)

• Make recommendations to the Security council• Promote international political cooperation• Develop international law• Promote human rights• Over see international collaboration in the

economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, and educational and health fields

FUNCTIONS AND POWERS

• Receive and consider reports from the Security Council and other UN organs

• Consider and approve UN budget• Establish financial assessments of Member

States• Elect non-permanent members to SC and other

UN councils and organs• Appoint Secretary General

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

• Subsidiary Organs

• Committee on Information

• Human Rights Council

• Candidacies

SECURITY COUNCIL• Primary responsibility to maintain peace and

security• A representative of each member must be

present at all times at the UN Headquarters• 15 Council Members• Five permanent members:

o Chinao Franceo Russian Federationo United Kingdomo United States

“Non Violence”

SECURITY COUNCIL

• Ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two year termso Belgiumo Congo (Republic of the)o Ghanao Indonesiao Italyo Panamao Peruo Qataro Slovakiao South Africa

• Each member has one vote Japanese Peace Bell

SECURITY COUNCIL

• In the event of fighting the Council:o Tries to secure a ceasefireo May send peace keeping missiono Impose economic sanctionso Order an arms embargoo Rare occasions “all means necessary”

• The Council makes recommendations to the General Assembly on:o appointment of Secretary Generalo admission of new Members to the UN

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

• Council has 54 members

• Elected by the General Assembly• Three year terms

• Serves as central forum for discussing international economic and social issues

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL• This Council is responsible for:

o Promoting higher standards of livingo Full employmento Economic and social progresso Identifying solutions to international economic,

social and health problemso Facilitating international cultural and

educational cooperationo Encourage universal respect for human rights

and fundamental freedomsECOSOC

TRUSTEESHIP COUNCIL

• Suspended operation 1 Nov, 1994• Palau: last remaining UN trust territory• Council amended rule to meet annually• Meet when required by President, General

Assembly, Security Council or a majority of members• Established to promote the advancement of

developing countries towards self-government or independence.

• China, France, Russian Federation, UK and US

SECRETARIAT

• International staff working in duty stations around the world

• Carry out diverse day to day work of the UN

• Survey economic and social trends• Prepare studies on human rights and

sustainable development• Inform the media about work of the UN

SECRETARIAT

• Organize international conferences• Interpret speeches• Translate documents• Staff 8,900 under a regular budget

from some 170 countries• Take oath not to seek or receive

instructions from any government

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

• Hears cases involving legal disputes among governments

• Clarifies questions of international law• Interprets the UN Charter• Composed of 15 judges, elected to office

for 9 year terms by UN GA&SC• Official languages are English and French

SPECIALIZED AGENCIES

• Linked to the UN but remain autonomous (independent)

• ILO – International Labor Organization: improve working conditions and employment agencies

• WHO – World Health Organization: solve health problems, health education, immunizations

• The World Bank – provides loans and economic assistance to nations

• WTO – World Trade Organization: oversees world trade

North Atlantic Treaty Organization An

international organization that has joined together for military purposes

“ The Parties of NATO agreed that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all. Consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defense will assist the Party or Parties being attacked, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area”

Supranational Organizations

European Union International

organization comprised of Western European countries to promote free trade among members

Supranational Organizations

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries An international

economic organization whose member countries all produce and export oil

International Agreements

North American Free Trade Agreement

Agreement signed on January 1, 1994, that allows the opening of borders between the United States, Mexico, and Canada

Heartland Theory

Hypothesis proposed by Halford Mckinder that held that any political power based in the heart of Eurasia could gain enough strength to eventually dominate the world

Rimland Theory

Nicholas Spykman's theory that the domination of the coastal fringes of Eurasia would provide the base for world conquest