Key Issue #2 –
Where are boundaries
drawn between states?
How does shape effect a state?
 A state is separated from its
neighbors by a boundary,
an invisible line marking
the extent of a state’s
territory.


Boundaries result from a
combination of natural physical
features (rivers, deserts, or
mountains) and cultural
features (language or religion).
Boundaries completely
surround an individual state to
mark the outer limits of its
territorial control and to give it
a distinctive shape.
SHAPES OF STATES
 The shape of a state controls the length of its
boundaries with other states.


It is part of its unique identity (think Italy).
Beyond its value as a centripetal force, the shape of a state can
influence the ease or difficulty of internal administration and
can affect unity.
 Each shape displays distinctive characteristics and
problems…
Compact States
Group #1: Benefits?
Group #2: Downfalls?
Group #3: Examples?
Compact States
BENEFITS
In a compact state, the distance
from the center to any boundary
does not vary significantly.
Ease of communication
Easy to defend
DOWNFALLS
To be identified as a compact state
means to be fairly small in size
May be scarce in natural
resources (not a catch all!)
May lack population needed
for labor, protection
EXAMPLES
Burundi, Kenya, Zimbabwe,
Ecuador, Uruguay
Kenya
Burundi
Compact States
Prorupted States
Group #1: Examples?
Group #2: Benefits?
Group #3: Downfalls?
Prorupted States
BENEFITS
(1) a proruption can provide access
to a resource, such as water.
(2) proruptions can separate two
states that would otherwise
border each other.
DOWNFALLS
(1) May be difficult to govern
regions of proruptions
(2) May be difficult to protect
prorupted region
EXAMPLES
Thailand, Namibia, Democratic
Republic of Congo, Afghanistan,
Myanmar
Elongated States
Group #1: Downfalls?
Group #2: Examples?
Group #3: Benefits?
Elongated States
DOWNFALLS
BENEFITS
(1) Less land to protect?
(2) May have access to more
resources from different regions
(1) poor internal communication?
(2) Difficult to protect
(3) A region located at an extreme
end of the elongation might be
isolated from the capital, which
is usually situated at the center.
EXAMPLES
Chile, Norway, Italy, Gambia,
Vietnam, Laos
Elongated States…
Gambia
Chile
Fragmented States
Group #1: Benefits?
Group #2: Downfalls?
Group #3: Examples?
Fragmented States
DOWNFALLS
BENEFITS
(1) Local ethnicities/nationalities can
maintain a large degree of
independence
(1) Difficult to protect
(2) Difficult to mandate national
level laws/ordinances
(3) Political conflict if separated by
another state
(4) Communication hindered
(5) Transportation of goods difficult
EXAMPLES
Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines,
the Bahamas, India, Panama
Perforated States
Group #1: Examples?
Group #2: Benefits?
Group #3: Downfalls?
Perforated States
DOWNFALLS
BENEFITS
(1) ??????
(1) Unrest in the state creating the
perforation can carry into the
perforated state
(2) Negative for the state inside
because they must depend on
the surrounding state for
imports/exports
EXAMPLES
South Africa, Vatican City
Landlocked States
 A landlocked state lacks a direct outlet to the sea
because it is completely surrounded by several other
countries.


Landlocked states are most common in Africa (14).
Direct access to the ocean is critical because it facilitates
international trade. To send and receive goods by the sea, a
landlocked state must arrange to use another country’s
seaport.
 Depending on the relationship with other countries,
this may not always be possible.
TYPES OF BOUNDARIES
 Historically, frontiers rather than boundaries separated states.
A frontier is a zone where no state exercises complete political
control.


A frontier is tangible, whereas a border is invisible.
A frontier provides a buffer between states, whereas a border brings
neighbors into direct contact, increasing the potential for violence.
 Almost universally, frontiers have been replaced by borders.
 The only places remaining with frontiers are Antarctica and
the Arabian Peninsula.
Physical Boundaries
 Physical features make suitable boundaries because
they can be seen. There are 3 types of physical
boundaries:

Mountain Boundaries – Are only effective if they’re difficult
to cross. They sometimes isolate nationalities on either side
of the mountains.
 Desert Boundaries – A boundary drawn in a desert can also
effectively divide two states. Like mountains, deserts are
hard to cross and are sparsely inhabited.
 Water boundaries – Rivers, lakes, and oceans are the
physical features most commonly used as physical
boundaries. Water boundaries are visible on a map and are
relatively unchanging. They also offer good protection.
Cultural Boundaries
 The boundaries between some states coincide with
differences in ethnicity or can they be straight lines.
 Geometric
Boundaries – These boundaries are usually
fixed according to a line of latitude. The US and Canada share
a 1,300 mile border along 49º North latitude. This treaty was
established in 1846 between the US and Britain.
141 W Longitude
49th Parallel

Religious Boundaries – Religious differences often coincide with boundaries
between states, but in only a few cases has the religion been used to set the actual
border. The best example is when Britain partitioned India due to the
predominantly Muslim areas in the west (present day Pakistan).
 Language
Boundaries – Language has been an
important characteristic for drawing boundaries,
especially in Europe. France, England, Spain,
Portugal, Germany, and Italy all came together
because of language.
Language Barriers continued…
•
After WWI, the victors sat down to redraw the map of Europe.
One of the most important criterions used to create new states in
Europe was language.
•
•
The conference was particularly troubled by Eastern and Southern
Europe, areas that were plagued by political instability.
Most of the areas created stood for several decades. Later, despite
speaking similar languages, Czechs and Slovaks found they couldn’t live
together, as did the Croats, Macedonians, Serbs, and Slovenes. The
breakup of these countries created a huge change in Eastern Europe.
The Geography of Representation
 Electoral geography
 Census, Reapportionment,
Redistricting

Gerrymandering (practice of
drawing boundaries of
legislative districts so as to
unfairly favor one political party
over another).

GOAL: To earn the most seats in
the U.S. House of
Representatives from your state
Fig.9.p332
Forms of Gerrymandering

Wasted Vote- Spread opposition supporters across
many districts but in the minority (also called
“cracking” districts)
 Excess Vote- Concentrate opposition supporters into
a few districts (also called “packing” districts)
 Stacked Vote- Links distant areas of like minded
voters through oddly shaped boundaries
Gerrymandering in Pennsylvania?
Central
Government
 All key powers to the
central or national
government (it is not the
only level of government)
(Power
exists here)

Local/State
Government
Local/State
Government
Local/State
Government
(Limited
Power)
(Limited
Power)
(Limited
Power)
Unitary systems work best in
these forms of government…

That government creates
other local, state, or
provincial governments and
gives them limited
sovereignty
Examples?

Chile, China, Cuba, Syria
Authoritarian Dictatorships
Oligarchies
Absolute Monarchies
Theocracies
Federal (Central
Government)
Specified Powers
State/Local
Government
Specified Powers
State/Local
Government
Specified Powers
State/Local
Government
Specified Powers
 Divides the powers of government
between the national government and the
state or provincial governments
 Each level of government has sovereignty
in some areas
 Examples?

Federal Systems work best in
these forms of government…
United States, Brazil, India, South Africa
Indirect Democracies
Constitutional Monarchies