TheThe Basics Basics of of

GeographyGeography

Part 8Part 8

Political Political FeaturesFeatures

Politically, the term Politically, the term STATESTATE is used to is used to describe an independent place that describe an independent place that occupies a specific territory and has full occupies a specific territory and has full control of its affairs. Sometimes we also control of its affairs. Sometimes we also call it a call it a COUNTRYCOUNTRY..

NATIONNATION refers to a group of people refers to a group of people with a common culture living in a with a common culture living in a territory and having a strong sense of territory and having a strong sense of unity. When a nation and a state unity. When a nation and a state occupy the same territory, we often call occupy the same territory, we often call it a it a NATION-STATENATION-STATE. There are some . There are some nations without a state, such as the nations without a state, such as the Kurds.Kurds.

The Kurdish People of the Middle East have The Kurdish People of the Middle East have always to have their own state or country.always to have their own state or country.

Types of GovernmentTypes of GovernmentAll countries must choose a type of government, or else there would be

anarchy. ANARCHY is the total absence of government rule, law, and

any type authority. It can lead to complete chaos and mob rule. Whatever

type of government a country has, it must deal with issues that have to do with the territory and people of the

state.

Democracy or RepublicDemocracy or Republic

Citizens hold political power either directly or through elected

representatives. In ancient Athens in Greece, all citizens

were required to vote. Today, in the United States, we use voting to elect men and women to be our representatives and speak

out for us. It would be too complicated if every American had to stop and vote on every

single issue.

MonarchyMonarchyA ruling family headed by a king or queen

holds the political power. They may or may not share that power with citizen groups

such as Parliaments like Great Britain has.

DictatorshipDictatorshipAn individual or group holds

complete political power over the people.Fidel

Castro of Cuba and

Kim Jong-iL of North Korea.

CommunismCommunismIn this government and economic

system, nearly all political power and economic power is held by the

government in the name of the people. You are promised great things and to be

taken care of, but your individual freedoms and liberties are limited. 6

countries still officially practice this type of government. Although during the Cold War years between 1945-1990,

there were many more.

Characteristics and BoundariesCharacteristics and Boundaries The The sizesize of a country can help determine of a country can help determine

its wealth and power. It might have a lot its wealth and power. It might have a lot of natural resources or a big population of natural resources or a big population that can get a lot of things done. that can get a lot of things done. However, Great Britain, a smaller country However, Great Britain, a smaller country achieved one of the greatest empires the achieved one of the greatest empires the world has known. Keep in mind that large world has known. Keep in mind that large countries also need to worry about countries also need to worry about defending longer borders and longer defending longer borders and longer stretches of sea coasts as well. stretches of sea coasts as well.

The The shapeshape of a country may determine its of a country may determine its relationship with other countries, how it is relationship with other countries, how it is

governed, and how goods are moved. governed, and how goods are moved.

GermanyIs

Compacted

ChileIs

Elongated

JapanIs

Fragmented

A country’s A country’s locationlocation means a great deal. means a great deal. For instance, a For instance, a landlocked country may find country may find itself more isolated from the world.itself more isolated from the world.

A A LANDLOCKEDLANDLOCKED country has no direct country has no direct outlet to the sea and must find other ways outlet to the sea and must find other ways to build connections with the rest of the to build connections with the rest of the world to get goods in and out the country.world to get goods in and out the country.

Bolivia and Paraguay, both in South America Bolivia and Paraguay, both in South America are examples of landlocked countries.are examples of landlocked countries.

However, tiny Singapore lies in the shipping However, tiny Singapore lies in the shipping lanes between southern and eastern Asia, lanes between southern and eastern Asia, and has become a very wealthy trading port.and has become a very wealthy trading port.

Bolivia has mountains

, lakes, and rivers,

but no way to get

to the Pacific or Atlantic

Oceans. It must work

with its neighbors.

Singapore is located in the key shipping and trading

zone of Southeast Asia.

Most countries are protective of their borders Most countries are protective of their borders or boundaries. They usually want to make or boundaries. They usually want to make their own laws, and control things like natural their own laws, and control things like natural resources. There are two basic types:resources. There are two basic types:

NATURAL BOUNDARIESNATURAL BOUNDARIES are based on are based on physical features such as rivers, lakes, physical features such as rivers, lakes, or chains of mountains.or chains of mountains.

Example:Example: our Rio Grande River border our Rio Grande River border with Mexico.with Mexico.

ARTIFICIAL BOUNDARIESARTIFICIAL BOUNDARIES are usually are usually fixed lines, following latitude or fixed lines, following latitude or longitude.longitude.

Example:Example: our 49our 49°N border with Canada.°N border with Canada.

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Regional Political SystemsRegional Political Systems Countries often Countries often

divide into smaller divide into smaller units to make units to make governing easier.governing easier.

For instance, they For instance, they may break up into may break up into things like states things like states and provinces.and provinces.

They may further They may further break into cities, break into cities, towns, and villages.towns, and villages.

Countries may often Countries may often join together in join together in international international political, military, or political, military, or economic units.economic units.

The largest political The largest political unit, is the United unit, is the United Nations with nearly Nations with nearly 200 member 200 member countries in it.countries in it.

Urban GeographyUrban GeographyThe term RURAL refers to life in the country, or in small villages, while URBAN refers to city dwelling. During the last two centuries, the number of people living in cities has skyrocketed. The built up areas around a city are called SUBURBS, while the central city and several suburbs form a METROPOLITAN AREA.

The dramatic rise in the number of cities and the changes in lifestyle that result is called URBANIZATION. Today, some

cities are enormous in physical area and have populations exceeding 10 million residents. They are known as mega-

cities. In 1950, New York City was the only mega-city with over 10 million

people. Today, there are at least 25! The largest in the world is Tokyo, Japan

with a combined mega-city, metropolitan population of 33,800,000!

City LocationsCity LocationsCities have developed around the

world for a variety of reasons. Many were founded along good

transportation routes such as on a lake, river, or on the coast. Others were founded near the sources of natural resources. Whatever their

geographic advantage, cities serve as economic bases, attracting businesses

and workers.

Located at the start of the Ohio River, Located at the start of the Ohio River, Pittsburgh is in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Pittsburgh is in the heart of Pennsylvania’s

coal country.coal country.

Chicago developed as a shipping and Chicago developed as a shipping and trading center on the Great Lakes.trading center on the Great Lakes.

Starting out as a little village before the Starting out as a little village before the Gold Rush, San Francisco is now a major Gold Rush, San Francisco is now a major

Pacific Coast port.Pacific Coast port.

Salt Lake City – Salt Lake City – “The Crossroads of the West”“The Crossroads of the West”

Salt Lake City is right in the middle of the 11 Salt Lake City is right in the middle of the 11 western states, and has been a major western states, and has been a major

center of transportation, travel, and trade center of transportation, travel, and trade since the 1850s.since the 1850s.

Some cities grow as centers of business and finance, while others may be home to manufacturing and industry. Still others may serve as tourist destinations, or combinations of these.

A city’s core is called its central business district (CBD), and often has expensive property values. That is one reason the birth of the SKYSCRAPER happened.

Chicago and New York City were where the skyscraper was born.

From 1931-1972,

the Empire State

Building was the tallest

structure on earth.

Check It Out

What the new World Trade Center will eventually look like.

Check It Out

The Chicago Spire was just being started when the current economic recession started. If completed at 2000 feet tall, it will be North

America’s tallest skyscraper.

The Burj Dubai, in the Middle Eastern city of Dubai, is the tallest man-mad structure on earth. When it opened in January 2010, it topped out at over 2,700 feet. Check It

Out

The rest of a city outside the downtown area is usually divided into

the following three zones:

RESIDENTIAL – Which usually includes single-family housing and apartments.

INDUSTRIAL – Factories and warehouses for making and storing goods.

COMMERCIAL – Used by businesses for buying and selling goods.

Other Functions of CitiesOther Functions of Cities ShoppingShopping EntertainmentEntertainment RecreationRecreation Educational OpportunitiesEducational Opportunities Cultural ActivitiesCultural Activities Religious and Social ServicesReligious and Social Services Government ServicesGovernment Services

Economic SystemsEconomic SystemsAn ECONOMY consists of the

production and exchange of goods and services among a group of people.

Economies operate on a local, regional, national, and international level. The way people produce and

exchange goods and services is called an ECONOMIC SYSTEM. In the

world today, there are four basic types of economic systems.

TraditionalTraditional Economy Economy

ororBarteringBartering

In a TRADITIONAL ECONOMY, goods and services are traded without exchanging money. This is also known as “bartering”.

In a COMMAND ECONOMY production of goods and services is determined by a central government, which usually own the means of production. Production does not necessarily reflect what the consumers want. They will

make what the government tells them to. The old Soviet Union had this kind of economy.

In a MARKET ECONOMY

production of goods and services is

determined by demand from

consumers. This is also called a

demand economy or

CAPITALISM.

In a MIXED ECONOMY, there is a combination of command and market economies which provides goods and services so that all people will benefit.

For an economy to survive, it needs NATURAL RESOURCES.

Renewable – Can be replaced through natural processes such as trees or seafood.

Non-renewable – Cannot be replaced once they have been removed from the ground. Includes fossil fuels, coal, gemstones, and some metals.

Inexhaustible – These are resources used for producing power that include sunlight, geothermal heat, winds, and tides.

InfrastructureInfrastructure Along with needing Along with needing

natural resources, natural resources, an economy needs an economy needs INFRASTRUCTURINFRASTRUCTUREE, or basic support , or basic support systems in order to systems in order to be successful.be successful.

These basic These basic support systems support systems include: power, include: power, communications, communications, transportation, transportation, water, sanitation, water, sanitation, and educational and educational systems.systems.

Measuring DevelopmentMeasuring Development Countries of the world are all at different levels Countries of the world are all at different levels

of development. Currently the countries of of development. Currently the countries of North America, Western Europe, and Japan are North America, Western Europe, and Japan are the most economically developed, with nations the most economically developed, with nations such as China making great strides.such as China making great strides.

PER CAPITA INCOMEPER CAPITA INCOME – the average amount of – the average amount of money earned by each person in a country.money earned by each person in a country.

GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCTGROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT (GNP) (GNP) – the total – the total value of all goods and services produced by a value of all goods and services produced by a country. Also measured as Gross Domestic country. Also measured as Gross Domestic Product, Gross National Income.Product, Gross National Income.

Top Per Top Per Capita Capita Income Income NationsNations

1. Luxembourg -- $37,499.201. Luxembourg -- $37,499.20 2. Switzerland -- $36,987.602. Switzerland -- $36,987.60 3. Japan -- $35,474.103. Japan -- $35,474.10 4. Norway -- $35,053.304. Norway -- $35,053.30 5. United States -- $33,070.305. United States -- $33,070.30 6. Denmark -- $30,191.506. Denmark -- $30,191.50 7. Iceland -- $27,473.807. Iceland -- $27,473.80 8. Sweden -- $25,105.508. Sweden -- $25,105.50 9. United Kingdom -- $24,486.709. United Kingdom -- $24,486.70 10. Austria -- $23,824.1010. Austria -- $23,824.10

Top Top Gross Gross

National National Income Income NationsNations

1. United States -- $9.78 Trillion1. United States -- $9.78 Trillion 2. Japan -- $4.52 Trillion2. Japan -- $4.52 Trillion 3. Germany -- $1.94 Trillion3. Germany -- $1.94 Trillion 4. United Kingdom -- $1.48 4. United Kingdom -- $1.48

TrillionTrillion 5. France -- $1.38 Trillion5. France -- $1.38 Trillion 6. China -- $1.13 Trillion6. China -- $1.13 Trillion 7. Italy -- $1.12 Trillion7. Italy -- $1.12 Trillion 8. Canada -- $682 Billion8. Canada -- $682 Billion 9. Spain -- $588 Billion9. Spain -- $588 Billion 10. Mexico -- $550 Billion10. Mexico -- $550 Billion