Overview•In many cases, states are FRAGILE!•Some states are held together by strong
CENTRIPETAL FORCES•While others are fractured by
CENTRIFUGAL FORCES•Throughout history, borders have shifted
and they continue to do so today.•In fact, most of the maps in your textbook
(printed in 2010) are already out of date!▫The country of Sudan broke into 2 in 2011.
Centripetal/ Centrifugal ForcesCentripetal Forces- hold states together
Centrifugal Forces- pull states apart
•Nationalism (flags, anthems, strong govt)
•Similar culture (religion, language, ethnicity, shared past, sports)
•Compact shape, good transport and communication
•Separatist movements
•Weak national govt.• Internal boundary
conflicts•Cultural differences
(religion, ethnicity, lang)
•Physical barriers, frag. or elong. states
Yugoslavia and Balkanization• The former Yugoslavia is an excellent example of a
multi-ethnic country that broke apart into many smaller nation-states.
• Where? Balkan Peninsula (SE Europe, north of Greece)
• When? Yugoslavia was created after WWI.• Who? Many ethnic groups, inc. Bosnians, Albanians,
Croats, Serbians, Slovenes. Also, different religions (Christianity, Islam) and languages.
• On paper, a recipe for conflict.
Yugoslavia and Balkanization• Yugoslavia was held together by a strong dictator
(centripetal force), Joseph (Josip) Tito from 1953-1980.• Tito kept the various ethnic/ religious group from
fighting each other. • After Tito’s death in 1980, various groups began
fighting for power and land, resulting in war and genocide (ethnic cleansing)
• The break up of a state into many smaller states based on ethnic divisions is known as balkanization.
• Today, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herz, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Macedonia are all independent nation-states.
Quebec •A province of Canada
•80% French speaking
•The rest of Canada is 90% English speaking.
•Generally not violent.
East Timor, Indonesia
•Indonesia is a fragmented state.
•Half of the Island of Timor
•Predominantly Catholic
•Became independent in 2002.
Russia and Chechnya
•Chechnya is region in Russia
•Chechens want independence from Russia.
•Has resulted in fighting, including a terrorist attack in 2002, leaving 130 dead.
Korea
•Divided into Communist North Korea and pro-Western South Korea.
•Both groups are ethnically Korean.
•Desire to re-unite.
China and Taiwan•Taiwan is a island off
the coast of China. •Following
Communist Revolution in China, non-Coms fled to Taiwan.
•China sees Taiwan as a part of China; Taiwan claims independence.
India/ Pakistan
•Kashmir is a region between India and Pakistan.
•Region is heavily Muslim (75%)
•Temporary border is agreed upon, but no official border.
Alsace/ Lorraine • Regions between
Germany and France.• Historically, claimed
by both France and Germany.
• Today controlled by France.
• Peaceful, in large part to the European Union.