Political Geography
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What have the Romans ever done for US????
Nature and Significance of Political Boundaries
Political Geography - is the study of the organization and distribution of political phenomena, including
their impact on other spatial components of society and culture.
Ways of Conceptualizing Territory – National Political Systems
A. State - an independent political unit occupying a defined, permanently populated territory and having full
sovereign control over its internal and foreign affairs.
• B. Nation - a group of people with a common culture occupying a particular territory, bound
together by a strong sense of unity arising from shared beliefs and customs.
• C. Nation-State - an ideal form consisting of a homogeneous group governed by their own state.
Very few states are true nation-states, because most states contain minority peoples who
belong to another nation. (Ex. Denmark and Japan)
• D. Stateless political Units - A people without a state. (Ex. The Kurds, Basques, and
Palestinians).
• E. Multinational States - A state that contains more than one nation. (Ex. Canada)
• F. Part-Nation State - A single nation dispersed across and predominant in two or more states.
(Ex. The Arab Nation)
• Influence of Political Boundaries on Identity and Political Representation
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1. Types of boundaries
GEOMETRIC
– Straight line boundaries
– Totally unrelated to any aspects of the cultural or physical landscape.
CULTURAL-POLITICAL
– Mark breaks in the human landscape
CULTURAL-POLITICAL
– Mark breaks in the human landscape
PHYSICAL-POLITICAL
– Conform to physiographic features in the landscape such as rivers or mountain ranges
(natural boundaries)
PHYSICAL-POLITICAL
China sees Tibet as part of its territory b/c it is north of the Himalayas, thus w/in the natural
boundary of China…
2. Origin Based classifications
• Antecedent :
– Boundary formed before present-day human landscape developed
– Can be seen on population maps
• Subsequent
– These are installed after settlement - but take account of cultural/ethnic/religious/language
differences. Some conflict - but minimized
– Shows a long process of boundary mods
• SUPERIMPOSED
– Forcibly drawn across a unified landscape
– Installed after settlement with no regard to culture. colonial boundaries and truce lines
Landlocked states
• A state that lacks a sea coast, faces locational challenges regarding sea access for trade,
eco/resource issues.
• Relic - boundaries that are not currently relevant but have been in the past - and have
important cultural/social implications.
3. Territorial Morphology - Geographic characteristics of states
• Size - Large states have a greater chance for natural resources. However, very large states may
have vast areas that are remote, sparsely populated, and hard to integrate into the mainstream
of economy and society.
• Size alone is not critical in determining a country's stability and strength, but it is a contributing
factor.
• Small states are more apt to have a culturally homogeneous population.
a. Giant State - The eight states with an area of more than 1 million square miles.
b. Microstate - A state with an area of less than 1,000 square miles.
4. Core areas and Capitals
• A. Core Areas - The heartland or nucleus of a state, containing its most developed areas,
greatest wealth, densest population and clearest national identity
• B. Capitals - The capital city of a state is usually within the core area and dominant because it is
the seat of central authority, concentration of population and economic functions. In many
countries the capital is the largest or primate city of a state as well.
5. Unitary and Federal States and Regionalism
• A. Unitary - Countries with highly centralized governments, few internal cultural contrasts,
strong sense of national identity and borders that are clearly cultural as well as political. (Ex.
Sweden)
• B. Federal - A state with a two tiered system of government and a clear distinction between the
powers vested in the central government and those residing in the governments of the
component regional subdivisions. (Ex. USA)
• C. Regionalism - The consciousness and loyalty to a region considered distinct and different
from the state as a whole by those who occupy it.
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International and Frontier Zones
A. International Boundary - The outer limit of a state’s claim to land or water surface, projected downward
to the center of the Earth and upward to the height the state can effectively control.
• Frontier Zone - A belt lying between two states or between settled and uninhabited or sparsely
settled areas. (Ex. Arabian peninsula)
Political Geography/GEOPOLITICS
The seven laws of state growth are:
• 1. The space of the state grows with the expansion of the population having the same culture.
• 2. Territorial growth follows other aspects of development.
• 3. A state grows by absorbing smaller units.
• 4. The frontier is the peripheral organ of the state that reflects the strength and growth of the
state; hence it is not permanent.
• 5. States in the course of their growth seek to absorb politically valuable territory.
• 6. The impetus for growth comes to a primitive state from a more highly developed civilization.
• 7. The trend toward territorial growth is contagious and increases in the process of
transmission.
THEORIESOrganic state > Friedrich Ratzel
The state is an organism conforming to natural laws and forced to grow & expand into new territories in
order to secure resources needed for survival.
An ‘Environmental Determinist’ also…
Heartland Theory - Halford Mackinder
World power is based on the assumption that the land based state controlling the EURASIAN heartland
has the key to world domination.
Rimland Theory - Spykman
The state controlling the area AROUND the area surrounding the Eurasian heartland has the key to
world domination.
Sea Power Theory
• Alfred Mahan, US
Who ever controls the seas, controls the world,
• Interested in maritime (sea) boundaries
British as an example > they controlled world commerce
Domino Theory
1st applied during the Cold War.
– Was applied to E. Europe, Vietnam, Cuba….
Shapes of territories –
Can affect a state by fostering or hindering effective organization.
Prorupt - A state that is nearly compact but possess one or two narrow extensions of territory, which
isolates a portion of the state.
• Elongated – A state whose territory is long and narrow. The least efficient shape
administratively. It may sacrifice national cohesion to promote eco strength.
• Fragmented – Entirely made up of islands or terr. Is separated by another state.
Contains isolated parts, separate and discontinuous.
• Perforated - A state that completely surrounds a territory that it does not rule.
That area is called an ‘enclave’ and it may be independent or part of another state.
(Enclaves are territorial ‘outliers’ located inside another state.)
SUPRANATIONALISM >> cooperation over conflict…
Supranationalism….
• A supranational organization is one in which member states surrender power in specific areas to
a higher organization.
• Decisions made by a supranational organization must be obeyed by the member states.
• Often there are courts to determine when violations have occurred, although frequently
enforcement mechanisms are not as effective as they are within nation-states.
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Many supranat’l orgs are economic but can have political or military aspects such as EU, NATO…
Examples of supranationalism
• European Union, ASEAN – Association of SE Asian Nations…
NAFTA – first trade agreement b/t ‘Ped’ and ‘Ping’* countries…
• Supranationalism –as more countries cooperate politically and economically, conflict is reduced
on a local, regional and global scale.
Spatial analysis of Supranationalism
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Usually found in w/in regions
Some groups are more global
The Future of Supranationalism
• ------- Issues------– Supranational groups may ‘devolve’, fall apart like Yugoslavia
The EU member states have failed to approve a constitution because of internal issues
The Future of Supranationalism and globalism
EU
1957: The European Community or EC was created in western Europe.
– > Open to all democratic countries in Europe.
– > Eventually this group became the EEC and then the EU.
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ADVANTAGES
+ No tariffs/import taxes on EU produced products going to EU countries
– No tariffs = lower prices
= More sales = higher profits = Higher standard of living for all
EU members
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+ Common Passport
+ Common currency
+ Universal voting
= Everyone in the EU is happier!
• ULTIMATE GOALS OF EU
 Political union > A ‘United States of Europe’ with a constitution, etc… - a constitution was
voted down in Oct 05!
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Common currency
Common military policy
Common eco policy/integration
Membership requirements
• 1. Stable Democracy
– Human rights are protected
– Rule of Law is recognized
– Protection for minorities
• 2. Market economy in place
– Infrastructure functioning
– Stable eco
• 3. Agree to adopt common rules of EU
Devolution issues
One of the concerns (of member countries and potential members) is the loss of individual culture
or identity.
This is highlighted by EU rules for local foods and
production that are designed to make
Europe
more homogeneous.
Examples of this would be the Slovokian
cucumbers or Hungarian “sausages”, and a
specific definition for chocolate!
DISADVANTAGES
of
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Increased economic competition between member nations
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• 3.
• 4.
membership
No protection for local industries (E Europe was used to this under communism…)
Possible unemployment in certain industries
Loss of ‘national’ identity
OBSTACLES TO EXPANSION for Eastern European nations
• Language issues
• different customs than W. Europe
• history of war amongst selves
• Strong national unity
• unstable governments
• low standard of living
• Poor infrastructure
• Not acquainted with a market economy b/c of 70 years of communism
Obstacles to complete unification
History of hostilities
(France vs. Germany, Germany vs. Russia, UK vs. France…..)
Pride in own culture
Nationalism – that nasty habit of being proud of your heritage.
Costs of unification
Core areas and Capitals
► A. Core Areas - The heartland or nucleus of a state, containing its most developed
areas, greatest wealth, densest population and clearest national identity. (Ex.
Paris)
Core areas and Capitals
► B. Capitals - The capital city of a state is usually within the core area and dominant
because it is the seat of central authority, concentration of population and economic
functions. In many countries the capital is the largest or primate city of a state as
well.
International and Frontier Zones
A. International Boundary - The outer limit of a state’s claim to land or water surface, projected downward
to the center of the Earth and upward to the height the state can effectively control.
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Frontier Zone - A belt lying between two states or between settled and uninhabited
or sparsely settled areas. (Ex. Arabian peninsula)
PAKISTAN > Creating a FORWARD CAPITAL
► How a nation chooses the location of its capital city involves several factors.
THE PURPOSES OF A CAPITAL CITY
Seat of government
TYPES OF CAPITALS
P = PERMANENT / HISTORICAL
► D = DIVIDED
This type of system splits the administrative functions of a capital city among 2 or more cities.
► R = RELOCATED
► This is a capital that has been moved from its original location for a variety of reasons including
territory control and population expansion.
Forward Capital
► "A symbolic relocation of a capital city to a geographically or demographically peripheral location
may be for either economic or strategic reasons
Relocating Pakistan’s capital
► Original site > Karachi, then Rawalpindi…
► Current capital >
 ISLAMABAD
► (Not the best location…)
 Why would Pakistan relocate AWAY from the coast, in the interior, etc….
Map of British India
► The Organic State Theory
► States must grow to keep their power so the British Empire grew into South Asia…
► In 1947 when India became independent from the British Empire there were many Hindus and
Muslims in India.
Conflicts in India
► > The country was split into 2 separate countries because of the conflicts between the 2
groups.
► India gave land in the west and east to the new Muslim nation of East and West Pakistan – 1
country
This was one of the largest voluntary migrations in history.
► In 1971 East Pakistan split away from West Pakistan (with the help of India…) and formed the
country of Bangladesh.
Conflict in South Asia…
► KASHMIR
► Recorded history goes back as far as 2000 B.C.
► For 75% of its history, Kashmir has been an independent state.
► Hindus ruled the area until the 1300’s
► The Mughal/Mohgal Empire (Muslims) ruled from 1500’s to 1700’s
► Afghans ruled until the 1800’s
Unitary and Federal States and Regionalism
• Unitary - Countries with highly centralized governments, few internal cultural
contrasts, strong sense of national identity and borders that are clearly cultural as
well as political. (Ex. Sweden)
Unitary and Federal States and Regionalism
Federal - A state with a two tiered system of government and a clear distinction
between the powers vested in the central government and those residing in the
governments of the component regional subdivisions. (Ex. USA)
Devolution and Regionalism
Joel Garreau’s ‘The Nine Nations of North America’
Unitary and Federal States and Regionalism
• C. Regionalism - The consciousness and loyalty to a region considered distinct and
different from the state as a whole by those who occupy it.
Establishment of Canada
• Early discoveries were by the Vikings and the British, but the French came and
stayed.
• The French establish early colonies based on fishing.
• The British came to the Americas too..for freedom!
French lose the
Seven Years/French and Indian War
and this impacts these lands
• The British win the French and Indian War (go figure….)
• Acadians who refuse to swear allegiance to England are banished.
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They move to the Ohio River Valley and further south to modern Louisiana – become the Cajuns
Treaty of Paris ends the war and the British have control over territories in N.Am.
Subregions of Canada
Atlantic Provinces
• Marked by rugged terrain and severe weather
• Small population centered on the coast
• Economy centered on logging, fishing, and mining
Core Provinces
• Considered the “heartland” of Canada
• Where most of the country’s population is centered (40%)
• Ottawa is centered between the 2 provinces
• Canada’s economic powerhouse(70% manufacturing)
Prairie Provinces
• Canada’s “Breadbasket”
• Economy based on agriculture and mining
• Culturally diverse - European and Asian immigrants
Pacific Provinces and Territories
• Subregion divided between British Columbia and the Territories
• Mostly unspoiled wilderness
• Contains much of Canada’s First Nations peoples
Devolution and Regionalism in Canada
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Quebec leads Canada in urbanization and industrialization!
Quebec is motivated to separate!
• In the 1960s, the French of Quebec took steps to become independent.
– Feeling the rest of the country was harming Quebec’s economy, many called for an end to
ties to the rest of Canada.
– 1969 English and French are both adopted as official languages of Canada.
– 1974 French became the official language of Quebec.
Changes in Quebec
• 1976..
– Elections strengthen the movement.
– English is restricted in the schools, French imposed as the language of gov’t and business.
(English in schools reverts in 1984).
• Separatism no longer is an economic issue…it becomes a cultural issue.
The Conflict Continues
• A number of elections have been held to secede from Canada…voters have “narrowly” rejected
this. The last was in 1995.
• The subject has been tabled, but far from forgotten!!
For and Against Separatism
• For
• Distinct economy, language, and culture
• Desire independence
• Forcibly joined to English Canada
• Seek “consent of the governed”
• Has the 16th largest economy in the world
• Against
• No province can just “secede”
• Will destroy national interests
• 20% are “anglophone” or English heritage/speaking – where’s their voice?
• Alone, Quebec will lose its economic power/political strength
Political Development in Africa –
difficult at best…
Victoria Falls – shallowness and cataracts make
African rivers hard to navigate/sail on.
Mt. Kilimanjaro, an ancient volcano –The world’s largest free standing mountain
Cape of Good Hope –difficult to navigate b/c of storms from Antarctica…
Why Africa was important to Europeans… refueling stop, resources, etc…
Africa – Many cultures, lots of issues to deal with!
Africa’s ancient kingdoms – note location of Timbuktu, Great Zimbabwe, Benin…
Bronze artwork from Benin –
evidence of an ancient civilization
The famous mud mosque of Mali – built and rebuilt each day
Evidence of Egyptian culture/civilization – CyFalls fits inside the Great Pyramid!
Great Zimbabwe in southern Africa
Slave trade routes – note eastern, northern routes also…
Goree Island –
West Africa’s center for slave trade
Africa’s borders – changed by Europeans
Africa today –
deforested, ‘desertified’, carved up politically…