Geographies of Political Change
De- and ReTerritorializations
Huntington’s civilizations
Civilizational Lines?
“Balkanization”
Nations in Africa
Ancient Kingdoms of Africa
The Spread of Islam in Africa
African Colonialism
African nations and states
Conflicts in Africa: 1990-2002
A better explanation of global political
change?
The fundamental clash is not about civilizations
but about “different conceptions of community
and how these conceptions should be reflected
in political arrangements and organizations.”
(Holsti).
Key is
• territorial control and
• expressions of communal identity
• BUT AT WHAT SCALE?
Political Geography-Key Terms
• State – political unit with defined territorial limits
• Nation – group of people sharing cultural
characteristics
• Ethnographic boundaries – match nations to state
boundaries
----------------------------------• MONDAY
• Regionalism: Government at the regional level
• Global/International Governance and Politics
A brief history of the state system
• Pre-1000 CE: Discrete Empires/No boundaries
–
–
–
–
–
–
Some trade, but largely internally developed
Ruled but not governed
Coercive, military (with cultural assistance)
Military depended upon plundering and tribute
Power only along main roads
NO FIXED BOUNDARIES
• Kingdom of France, Germanic Empire,
Principality of Poland, etc.
–
–
–
–
Power is local and personal
Networks of interlocking ties and obligations
Economic life is agricultural; also rise of cities
The Holy Roman Empire gives unity
A brief history of the state system
• Early modern states: absolutist and
constitutional monarchies
• Causes of change:
– Struggles, peasant rebellions, spread of trade,
technology
• Outcomes:
–
–
–
–
Absorption of smaller, weaker units
Strengthened ability to rule
Tightened system of law and order
Single sovereign head
A brief history of the state system
• Absolutism paved the way for the
emergence of the nation state by virtue of:
–
–
–
–
–
Territorial boundaries/uniform system of rule
Fiscal management
Centralized administration, military power
Development of diplomacy and standing armies
Law making and enforcement
A brief history of the state system
• The European “Society of States”: The Interstate System
– Westphalian Model 1648
– 1648-1945 (or later)
• Attributes of the model of Westphalia;
– Sovereign territorial states: no higher authority
– Law-making and settlement of disputes are handled by individual states
– International law minimal laws of coexistence designed to support
objectives of states
– Cross-border disputes is “private matter”
– All states are equal before the law
– Differences between states settled by force
– Minimization of impediments to state freedom is the “collective priority”
– “immunity from jurisdiction” “Immunity of state agencies”
A brief history of the state system
• Expansions of state system by colonialism
– Model used to some degree in ruling
– Not all “states” and colonies are equal
– Neo-colonial relations maintained even after
independence
• Intergovernmental organizations expand during
end of 19th century
–
–
–
–
–
–
ITU
Postal Union
Railway Congress
Patents
Maritime Law
Scientific Standards
A brief history of the state system
• Modern Nation-State: Moving to Democracy
– Territoriality: exact borders
– Control over means of violence: “pacification” of
peoples; breaking down of rivals (fragile achievement)
– Impersonal structure of power: needed distance from
power of religion and nobility
– Claim to legitimacy: loyalty has to be won
• Since WWII: rise of liberal democracies
– 1974: 64% of states are authoritarian
– 1995: 75% of states are more or less democratic
The Diffusion of Democracy
Diffusion of Democracy
• MOVIE!!
Issues of Concern amidst
Democratic Growth
1. Cycles of Democratic Growth
– Reversals of Democracy
– Illiberal Democracies
2.
3.
4.
5.
Democracy and Human Rights
Post-war international norms
Uneven development
Responses to Globalization?
Currently: 50 ongoing conflicts
Issues:
1. Irredentism
2. Separatism
3. Minority Rights
4. Border Issues
5. Statelessness
Group 5
Group 1
Group 3
Countries 4
Group 2
Variations on a theme
• Israel/Palestine
• Pakistan/IndiaKashmir
• Caucasus Region: Former USSR Republics
–
–
–
–
–
Russian Caucusus
Armenia
Georgia
Azerbaijan
Kazakstan
Political Geography-Key Terms
Centripetal forces - pushing together
e.g. common language, strong state
Centrifugal forces – pulling apart
e.g. Multi-national state, regional
disparities
Translating nation into state
Types of Citizenship
Ethnic: “jus sanguinis”: you are born into an
ethnic group: e.g. Germany, Estonia, Kyrgistan
Civic: “jus soli” : legal citizenship: you accept an
ideology, not ethnic; need to adhere to principles.
e.g. United States, Ukraine
What happens when minorities are not
accommodated?
What is the value of a state-level “civic
nationalism”?
Transitions
• Non violent transitions:
– Bavaria, Bretons, Catalans, Tyrols,
Walloons,Wales,Scotland
• Violent Transitions:
– Kosovo, Bosnia, N. Ireland, Basques, Corsica,
Kurds