CHAPTER 8
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
INTRO
• Political Geographers
study:
– how people have organized
the Earth’s surface into
countries and alliances
– reasons for those
agreements
– conflicts arising from the
organization of the Earth
INTRO cont.
• Political landscape
changed after end of
the Cold War (post
WWII-@ 1990)
ISSUE #1
Where are States Located?
STATE or COUNTRY?....STATE is a
COUNTRY
• Up until the 1940s
there were only about
50 countries, now there
are about 200
• State – KNOW the
definition (text uses it
as a synonym for
country)
X
United Nations Members
Fig. 8-1: The UN has increased from 51 members in 1945 to 192 in 2007.
PROBLEM of DEFINING STATES
• Antarctica – only large
landmass not part of a state
(parts of it are claimed by
many)
• Korea – divided along the 38th
parallel during the 1940s
– Treaty of Antarctica (1959,
1991)
(N.Korea – Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea;
S. Korea – Republic of Korea)
– Scientific research allowed,
military activities are not
– no change after Korean War
(1950s)
– Both admitted to UN in 1992 as
separate nations
– recent developments are not
good
Antarctica
National Claims
Fig. 8-2: Antarctica is the only large land
mass that is not part of a
state, but several countries
claim portions of it.
North and South Korea
Nighttime satellite image shows the contrasting amounts of
electric lighting in South Korea compared to North Korea.
PROBLEM OF DEFINING STATES cont.
• China & Taiwan – China says
Taiwan is not an independent state
but is part of China
– Confusion goes back to
Chinese Civil War (1940s)
– People’s Republic of China
(mainland China – the big one)
– Republic of China (island of
Taiwan – the small one)
• 1999 – announced it would
regard itself as an
independent state
• Western Sahara (Sahrawi Republic)
– most Africans consider the SADR a
sovereign state
- Morocco has claimed it since the
late 1970s
- controlled by Spain until 1976
(declared independent by the
Polisario Front)
- signed a cease fire in 1991
- Spain still controls two cities
Morocco (Milill & Ceuta)
VARYING SIZE OF STATES
• What do you think are
the 10 largest
states/countries by
geographic size?
• Microstates – states
with very small land
areas (about 24 of
them)
– Exs. Monaco, Vatican
City
– Where are some others?
Cia World Factbook
Tonga
Tonga is a microstate, including 102,000 inhabitants and 169 islands.
WORLD’S LARGEST STATES
1. Russia
2. China
3. Canada
4. U.S.
5. Brazil
6. Australia
7. India
8. Argentina
9. Kazakhstan
10. Sudan
DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE
CONCEPT
• Prior to the 1800s the Earth was not organized
into independent nations
– city-states, empires, tribes, large unorganized
territories…
– Modern movement to organize into states
originated in Europe but the development of
states can be traced back to the Middle East
(Fertile Crescent)
ANCIENT & MEDIEVAL STATES
• City-states in Mesopotamia
(town & surrounding
countryside)
– Also in ancient Greece
(Athens and Sparta)
• European political unity
best seen in Roman Empire
• Colonialism led to European
control of much of the
world
– God, gold, and glory
Colonial Possessions, 1914
Fig. 8-4: By the outbreak of World War I, European states held colonies throughout
the world, especially throughout Africa and in much of Asia.
Image of British Colonialism
An 1840 painting of Queen Victoria receiving an emissary from Africa.
Colonial Possessions, 2006
Fig. 8-5: Most of the remaining colonies are small islands in the Pacific or Caribbean.
ISSUE #2
Why Do Boundaries Cause Problems?
SHAPES OF STATES
• Boundaries result from a
combination of physical
and cultural features
– Exs. U.S./Mexico…
Portugal/Spain
Japan/China
• The shape of a boundary
affects the potential for
communication and
conflict between neighbors
LANDLOCKED STATES
• lacks direct outlet to the
sea because it is
completely surrounded
by other countries
– Ex. Lesotho
• Most common in Africa
SHAPES OF STATES
5 BASIC SHAPES
1. Compact
SHAPES FOLDABLE
• Title: name of the shape
2. Prorupted (they get paid the
most)
• Definition of the shape
3. Elongated
• Benefits and/or drawbacks
4. Fragmented
• Example
5. Perforated
African
States
Fig. 8-6: Southern, central, and
eastern Africa include
states that are compact,
elongated, prorupted,
fragmented, and
perforated.
WHAT SHAPE AM I?
RWANDA
NAMIBIA
MALAWI
ANGOLA
SOUTH AFRICA
RWANDA - COMPACTED
NAMIBIA - PRORUPTED
MALAWI - ELONGATED
ANGOLA - FRAGMENTED
SOUTH AFRICA - PERFORATED
TYPES OF BOUNDARIES
PHYSICAL
CULTURAL
BOUNDARIES cont.
• Frontiers (a zone where no
state exercises complete
political control)
-historically separated
states (boundaries are more
recent)
• Only Antarctica and the
Arabian Peninsula still have
frontiers instead of boundaries
• Boundary – an invisible line
marking the extent a state’s
territory
Invisible line
Frontiers in the Arabian Peninsula
Fig. 8-8: Several states in the Arabian Peninsula are separated by frontiers
rather than precise boundaries.
PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES
1. Mountains
-
effective if difficult to cross
can limit contact
are permanent
Not always effective (ex.
Argentina/Chile)
2. Deserts
-
common in Africa & Asia
(ex. Sahara)
3. Water
-
physical feature most
commonly used as a
boundary
boundaries are typically in
the middle of water
offer good protection
Can be problematic
-
precise position of water
may move
how far out into the ocean is
the boundary?
CULTURAL BOUNDARIES
(often used to separate different languages and/or religions)
1. Geometric Boundaries
- straight lines drawn on
the map
(ex. U.S./.Canada;
Chad/Libya)
- can lead to conflict
(Aozou strip)
2. Religious Boundaries
-
Religious differences often
coincide with boundaries
but are rarely the
determining factor in
selecting the boundaries
-
Some exceptions:
Ex. India/Pakistan; Rep. of
Ireland/N. Ireland
CULTURAL BOUNDARIES cont.
3.
Language Boundaries
- very important in drawing
boundaries, particularly in
Europe
- played major role in
determining boundaries after
WWI (Versailles Peace
Conference)
- these boundaries were
relatively strong/stable until
the 1990s (why?)
4.
Cyprus’s “Green Line”
Boundary
- 2 nationalities
- Turks(18%) primarily
in the NE
- Greeks (78%) primarily in
the south)
- disputes go back to gaining
of independence in 1960s
- admitted to UN in 2004 as
one island (opening of
relations between the two
sides since)
Division of Cyprus
Fig. 8-10: Cyprus has been divided into Greek and Turkish portions since 1974.
Nicosia, Cyprus Checkpoint
Checkpoint between Greek and Turkish portions of Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus.
BOUNDARIES INSIDE STATES
• Unitary State vs. Federal State
• Electoral College & Gerrymandering
ISSUE #3
Why Do States Cooperate With Each Other?
UNITED NATIONS
• Most important int’l
organization (1945)
• Replaced the League of
Nations
• UN members can vote to
establish a peacekeeping force
and request states to
contribute military forces
• Role of the Security Council
• Tries to stay neutral
REGIONAL MILITARY ALLIANCES
• Prior WWI the balance of power
was maintained by the existence
of numerous great powers (no
single one could dominate)
• During the Cold War many nations
joined one of 2 new military
alliances dominated by either the
U.S. or the U.S.S.R.
– NATO (U.S.)
– Warsaw Pact (U.S.S.R.)
– What were their main objectives?
(obsolete after the Cold War???)
BALANCE OF POWER
OTHER REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
• OSCE – concerned with
ending conflicts in Europe
• OAS – all 35 states in the
Western Hemisphere
- Promotes social, cultural,
political, and economic links
• AU – includes 53 African
nations
– Emphasizes economic
integration in Africa
European
Alliances,
1960
European
Alliances,
2007
ECONOMIC COOPERATION
• Since the end of the Cold
War (1992) there are 2 major
differences in the pattern of
global power:
1. Growing importance of
economic power (as opposed
to military)
2.
Leading superpower is not
one state (ex. U.S. or the
Soviet Union) but a an
economic union of European
states
BALANCE OF POWER
is
CHANGING
EUROPEAN UNION
• Originally established with 6
countries in 1958
– Created to heal Europe’s postWWII problems
– Now has 27 countries
• Main task: promote
development of the member
states through economic
cooperation
– Has removed many barriers to
free trade (common currency –
Euro)
ISSUE #4
Why Has Terrorism Increased?
TERRORISM
• the systematic use of violence by a group in
order to intimidate a population or coerce a
government into granting its demands.
– Often targets civilians and the goal is to spread
FEAR/TERROR
TERRORISM :
WHO AND WHY?
Terrorist – person whose
extremist views have led
them to believe violence is
justified
Cause – feel their cause is
being neglected and/or
ignored
Violence – believe
that they have no
other option left but
violence to bring
attention to their
cause , which will lead
to change
T
C
V
Why have terrorists
attacked America?
1. OUR SUPPORT OF ISRAEL (think about the Arab/Israeli Conflict)
2. INVOLVEMENT IN PAST WARS (ex. First Gulf War)
3. TROOPS STATIONED IN CERTAIN COUNTRIES (currently have troops
in Afghanistan and Iraq among many other places)
4. ECONOMIC POLICIES
5. SPREAD OF AMERICAN CULTURE IN THE Middle East
6. BELIEVE “WESTERN” CULTURE IS DESTROYING THEIR CULTURE
TERRORISM
• Term was first applied to
French Revolution
• Differs from other acts of
political violence (ex.
assassination) because it
targets ordinary people
instead of political/military
leaders
• Sometimes it can be hard to
distinguish terrorism from acts
of political violence (think of
the Arab/Israeli conflict)
– Does it depend on point of
view/perspective or is it more
black and white?
What is terrorism?
History of terrorism
ATTACKS ON AMERICA
&
AMERICAN TERRORISTS
• Several attacks before
9/11 (Pan Am flight,
first World Trade center
attack, Oklahoma city)
• Domestic terrorists
included Ted Kaczynski
(Unabamober) and
Timothy McVeigh
(Oklahoma City)
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 & AL-QAEDA
• World Trade Center, Pentagon
and Shanksville, PA
• Al-Qaeda – terrorists network
responsible for 9/11 and many
other attacks (Arabic for
“base” or “foundation”)
– Founded by Osama bin Laden
in 1990 to unite jihad fighters
– Consists of cells
– Has “franchises"
BIN LADEN
• BL fought against Soviets
in Afghanistan (1980s)
– on a holy jihad
• 1996 – issued declaration
of war against U.S. and its
citizens
– Claims U.S. is responsible
for maintaining gov’t in
Saudi Arabia and the
existence of Israel
World Trade Center
June, 2000
Ikonos satellite image of World Trade Center on June 30, 2000
World Trade Center Site September 15,
2001
World Trade Center, Sept. 11, 2001
World Trade
Center
Sept. 11, 2001
United Flight 175 approaches Tower 2.
Tower 1 has already been hit by
American Flight 11.
World Trade
Center
Sept. 11, 2001
United Flight 175 crashes into Tower 2.
World Trade Center
Topographic Map: Sept. 19, 2001
Fig. 8-14: Elevations above sea level are depicted in green; those below sea level are in red.
STATE SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM
• Some states in the
Middle East have
supported terrorism by:
– Providing sanctuary for
terrorists
– Supplying terrorists with
weapons, money, and/or
intelligence
– Planning attacks with
terrorists
• Exs:
Libya’s role in:
- Germany – 1986
- Lockerbie – 1988
- Niger - 1989
AFGHANISTAN
• U.S. invaded in 2001 due to
Taliban support of Al-Qaeda
• Taliban
– Muslim extremists
– Gained control in 1995 after civil
war
– Soviet Union fought mujahedeen
throughout the 1980s
– Removed from power by end of
2001 but still powerful and
influential
IRAQ
• 1991 – Deserts Storm
– After Iraq invaded Kuwait
the U.S. and others
liberated Kuwait and
attacked Iraq
• 2003 - U.S. invaded Iraq
because it believed:
– Iraq had wepaons of mass
destruction
– Links existed between
Hussein and Al-Qaeda
• Much more int’l support
for Desert Storm than the
invasion of 2003 (why?)
• Since the ouster of
Hussein there has been
great violence/tension
between various religious
sects (p.285)
IRAN
• Hostility between U.S. and Iran
dates back to Iranian revolution
of 1979
– Iran became an Islamic Republic
governed by Ayatollah Khomeini
– 62 Marines held hostage from
1979-1981
• U.S. has accused Iran of:
– sheltering members of Al-Qaeda
– Trying to gain influence in Iraq
– Developing nuclear weapons?
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad –
President of Iran
Chapter 08: Review
08.01 Which country controlled the most colonial
territory in 1914?
1. United States
2. Japan
3. Germany
4. France
5. United Kingdom
08.01 Which country controlled the most colonial
territory in 1914?
1. United States
2. Japan
3. Germany
4. France
5. United Kingdom
08.02 From a shape perspective, Chile can best be
described as a(n)
1. Prorupted state
2. Compact state
3. Elongated state
4. Fragmented state
5. Centralized state
08.02 From a shape perspective, Chile can best be
described as a(n)
1. Prorupted state
2. Compact state
3. Elongated state
4. Fragmented state
5. Centralized state
08.03 The largest number of landlocked states are
found in
1. East Asia
2. The Middle East
3. Southeast Asia
4. South America
5. Africa
08.03 The largest number of landlocked states are
found in
1. East Asia
2. The Middle East
3. Southeast Asia
4. South America
5. Africa
08.04 Libya and Egypt are separated by a
1. Desert boundary
2. River boundary
3. Mountain boundary
4. Religious boundary
5. Language boundary
08.04 Libya and Egypt are separated by a
1. Desert boundary
2. River boundary
3. Mountain boundary
4. Religious boundary
5. Language boundary
08.05 Federal government
1. Is most common in small countries
2. Places nearly all power with a central
government
3. Was rejected by the writers of the United
States Constitution
4. Has become more common in recent years
5. Is practiced in China
08.05 Federal government
1. Is most common in small countries
2. Places nearly all political power with a central
government
3. Was rejected by the writers of the United
States Constitution
4. Has become more common in recent years
5. Is practiced in China
08.06 In the United States, congressional district
boundaries are usually drawn by
1. Congress
2. An independent non-partisan commission
3. The Federal Election Commission
4. State legislatures
5. The United States Supreme Court
08.06 In the United States, congressional district
boundaries are usually drawn by
1. Congress
2. An independent non-partisan commission
3. The Federal Election Commission
4. State legislatures
5. The United States Supreme Court
08.07 The United Nations
1. Currently has nearly 300 members
2. Was founded in 1935
3. Has so far been less effective than the League of
Nations
4. Has had substantial success with peacekeeping missions
5. Places nearly all power in the hands of the U.N.
Secretary General
08.07 The United Nations
1. Currently has nearly 300 members
2. Was founded in 1935
3. Has so far been less effective than the League of
Nations
4. Has had substantial success with peacekeeping missions
5. Places nearly all power in the hands of the U.N.
Secretary General
08.08 At the end of the Cold War, several new
countries emerged in
1. Eastern Europe
2. Western Europe
3. Northern Europe
4. North Africa
5. Latin America
08.08 At the end of the Cold War, several new
countries emerged in
1. Eastern Europe
2. Western Europe
3. Northern Europe
4. North Africa
5. Latin America
08.09 This group predominates in the far north of
Iraq:
1. Shiites
2. Sunnis
3. Turkomen
4. Kurds
5. Persians
08.09 This group predominates in the far north of
Iraq:
1. Shiites
2. Sunnis
3. Turkomen
4. Kurds
5. Persians
08.10 United States’ hostility toward Iran began with
1. The 1953 overthrow of a democratically
elected government
2. The 1979 Islamic revolution
3. The 1980-1988 war with Iraq
4. Iran’s refusal to support the American invasion of
Iraq in 2003
5. Iran’s desire to develop nuclear energy in the early
twenty-first century
08.10 United States’ hostility toward Iran began with
1. The 1953 overthrow of a democratically
elected government
2. The 1979 Islamic revolution
3. The 1980-1988 war with Iraq
4. Iran’s refusal to support the American invasion of
Iraq in 2003
5. Iran’s desire to develop nuclear energy in the early
twenty-first century