Introduction to Geography
People, Places, and Environment, 4e
Edward F. Bergman
William H. Renwick
Chapter 11: A World of States
Victoria Alapo, Instructor
Geog 1010
Nations & States

What is the difference btw a Nation & a State?


States are political boundaries i.e. countries
Nations are just the people themselves not the boundaries.

See “stateless nations” (textbook, pg 448). Any
Examples?

Nation-States


Many European countries are Nation-States (e.g.?)
These are a single set of people who share the same
ideals/culture within the state.
Formation Outside Europe

Superimposed boundaries

European colonial rule. See next slide.
Many African countries are NOT nationstates. This is because of the various
cultures within each country.
The Shapes of States


Compact shape is closest to the “circular ideal”.
Prorupted





Sometimes formed because of corridors to the sea/
navigable waterways e.g. Dem. Rep. of Congo;
Namibia.
Elongated e.g. Chile
Archipelago – these are islands. Usually called
“fragmented states”. E.g. Japan, Philippines,
Indonesia.
Perforated – e.g. S/Africa; Italy (perforated by
the Vatican and San Marino).
What Shape is the U.S.?
Subdivision & Representation

Defining the balance of power between local and
national government

Unitary


Power lies at the center (that is, central govt/capital)
Federal



Power lies with the subunits (local states)
In Canada, provinces have more power than in U.S.
local states
However, Ontario and Quebec dominate national
government in Canada
Representative Districts

Electoral Geography



Sub-field of political geography
Voting districts and boundaries
Gerrymandering


Manipulating boundaries so that one group
gains unfair advantage
Here, district lines can be drawn in such a
way to include/exclude specific groups of
voters. See cartoon (textbook, pg 472).
Introduction to Geography
People, Places, and Environment, 4e
Edward F. Bergman
William H. Renwick
Chapter 12: National Paths to
Economic Growth
Victoria Alapo, Instructor
Geog 1010
Measures of Gross Product

Gross domestic product (GDP)

Total value of all goods and services produced within
a country, and it’s measured per capita (per person)
Measurement Limitations:

Undercounting of subsistence peoples and areas. Govts
only count activities can be taxed.

Exaggerating the impact of cities

Underground, informal (or even Illegal) economies. See
points made above.

Varying exchange rates; always converting things in
other countries to “dollars”.
According to Alfred Weber, the locational determinants for manufacturing
are: raw materials, labor force, market and transportation costs.
Types of Political Economies

Communism – direct govt. involvement;
everything is nationalized.

Capitalism – private enterprise and stock
market are determinants


However, government still has a role e.g. regulations
(EPA, etc), types of production during war, etc
Mixed economies – most countries are in this
“in-between”.
Introduction to Geography
People, Places, and Environment, 4e
Edward F. Bergman
William H. Renwick
Chapter 13: Political
Regionalization and Globalization
Victoria Alapo
Geog 1010
Multiple Nation Organizations

Supranational organizations: when 3 or more countries
come together for economic/ political/ cultural reasons e.g.

EU (European Union); see next slide
AU (African Union);
NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement);
CARICOM (English speaking countries of the Caribbean);
MERCOSUR (Latin American countries);
ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations);
ECOWAS – Econ. Community of West African States;
Arab League, etc
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





Expansion of
EU in 2004
(Switzerland is
not a member!)
See map.
Why??
NAFTA

North American Free Trade Agreement

1994, between Canada, U.S. and Mexico.

As of 2004, the EU was larger in total members,
population, income.

Promotes free trade, easier investment flows.
And because of cheaper labor, also led to the
increase in Maquiladoras (foreign-owned
factories), esp. in Mexico.
NAFTA

Results

U.S. lost jobs

Mexico’s agriculture/
farmers have suffered
after being flooded by
cheap subsidized
corn from U.S.
Jurisdiction of Earth

Antarctica – these claims
are not recognized by U.S.
or Russia (both support most
of the research).

1959 Treaty prevents
countries from ever
fighting over it. It states
that it will be used for
peaceful purposes, forever.
British Empire


1900 peak (¼ of Earth’s land surface)
Vestiges of British culture remain in:


Legal system (see pg 457), Anglican churches,
language, education
Queen Elizabeth still head of state in 16 countries
in addition to UK


Canada, New Zealand, Jamaica
Northern Ireland


26 of 32 counties independent from UK in 1921
Ulster province (6 counties) chose to remain with UK –
(Protestants – majority; Catholics – minority).
French Empire

French Republic today:



France
Overseas departments and territorial
collectives (e.g. French Guiana).
A LOT of islands
Ottoman Empire


Turkey emerged in 1920s with collapse of
Ottoman Empire
Middle East divided between France and
Britain after Ottoman Empire collapsed.
 Arabs loyal to clans, families, ethnic
groups, than to countries.
 Israel – Jewish homeland
United States Empire

Cuba – taken from Spain in 1898 and colonized by the
U.S. Granted independence in 1934; naval base
maintained in Guantanamo Bay.

Philippines – colonized by the U.S. from 1898-1946,
after Spain was defeated.

Panama


U.S. provoked uprising for independence (1903), then leased
canal from new govt., completing the work started by the
French. Canal surrendered in 1999.
1989 invasion – to bring dictator, Manuel Noriega to U.S. for
trial; occupied Panama until late1999; drug trafficking did NOT
go down, despite invasion.
United States Empire

Liberia
Ethnic conflict – U.S. involvement due to historical
reasons (freed U.S. slaves settled there).
 Islands – large number still under U.S. control


Puerto Rico


1952 free commonwealth; not a 51st state. U.S.
citizens who cannot vote; use dollar bill, pay no
income taxes, but under jurisdiction of Fed. Govt.
Resource poor, densely populated, low per capita
income. Poorer than the U.S.’ poorest State
(Mississippi).
Russian Empire

Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924)



Communist leader, control in 1917
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1922)
1990




USSR consisted of 15 union republics
17% of Earth’s land area (excluding Antarctica)
Russia was the largest republic in USSR (76%)
Russian acculturation, influence & infiltration
over centuries (see next slide)
Break-up of Soviet Union

Gorbachev


Glasnost




Freedom of speech and press
Perestroika


Became leader in 1985, and introduced:
Restructuring of economy and politics
Led to events and policies could not be
controlled
15 new countries
Economic struggles with Capitalism (see
Russia video).
Developments in Russia





Economic challenges
Privatization of state-owned economy &
“grabbing”.
Slow progress
Chechnya fighting for independence
Advantages Russia has:



Educated workforce
Natural resources
Scientific institutes