Political
Geography
State
A State is a politically organized
territory that is run by an independent
government and is recognized by a
large portion of the world
•Ex: The United States, Mexico, Russia,
Syria
state
A political entity within a State. A way
of dividing up a State into smaller
sections.
• Ex: Nebraska and Iowa in the United States or
Quebec in Canada
State vs. state
A State must possess a permanent
population, a defined territory, a
government, and the ability to enter
into relations with other States
•Nebraska has all of the above except the
last. It is illegal according to the United
States Constitution
• Nation - Refers to a group of people with
similar cultural traits whose boundaries
may or may not follow political lines
• Nation-State – A major portion of the
State’s population share a common culture
• Multinational State – A State containing
multiple cultures potentially with no
dominate culture
• Stateless Nation – A State with a nation of
people with no political or cultural control
Borders and
Boundaries
• Political - A separation based on a
negotiated settlement between two
different States or states
• Ex: Manmade lines such as latitude and
longitude
• Physical – A boundary based on a
geographical barrier
• Ex: Lake, river, ocean, mountain range
• Cultural – A boundary based on cultural
grouping
• Ex: Mongolia and China, Kosovo and Serbia
Boundaries and Borders
For each of the following
1.
borders, (1) Identify the type 2.
of border (2) The specific
3.
concept that separates
creates the border and (3) The 4.
name of the border
5.
Ex: Mexico and Texas
1 – Physical
2 – River
3 – Rio Grande
Algeria and Niger
South Africa and Namibia
Croatia and Bosnia
North Dakota and Minnesota
Nebraska and Iowa
6. Virginia and West Virginia
7. Norway and Sweden
8. Australia and New Zealand
9. Iraq and Jordan
10. France and Spain
Shapes of States
Compact
A small, condensed shape
where no single point is
far from the center of the
nation
Ex: Poland, Belgium
Fragmented
A nation that is broken
into multiple pieces and
may or may not be
spread out over
distances. Most nations
are separated because
of water
Ex: Denmark, Indonesia
Elongated
A nation who’s territory
is significantly longer
than it is wide
Ex: Vietnam, Chile
Perforated
A nation who’s territory
contains another
territory that it
completely surrounds
Ex: South Africa –
Lesotho, Italy – San
Marino and Vatican City
Protruded
A nation where a
portion of its territory
extends in an elongated
fashion from the main
territory. Sometimes
referred to as a
panhandle
Ex: Thailand, Oklahoma,
Nebraska
Enclave
A country or part of a
country that is surrounded
by another country
Exclave
A territory legally or
politically attached to a
territory with which it is not
touching
Shapes of States Exercise
For each of the following places, tell me what shape it is and what
kind(s) of borders it has
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Switzerland
Egypt
Uruguay
Mozambique
Mongolia
Austria
India
Azerbaijan
Namibia
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Papua New Guinea
Florida
New York
Russia
South Africa
California
Sri Lanka
Japan
South Korea
Paraguay
Croatia
Water
A separation based on a water mass
• Rivers, Lakes, Oceans
• Ex: Nebraska and Iowa, Texas and Mexico
Where?
• With water, borders are based on nautical miles – It
is negotiated or split in half. International waters
are 200 nautical miles out
• 1 Nautical Miles = 1.151 Miles
Gerrymandering (Internal Borders)
Found within states
The intentional manipulation of borders to
benefit one political group or organization
Based on voting records, race, and
anticipated future voting
State Alliance Systems
Economic
An agreement between States that offers all parties
economic opportunity through trade and commerce
Examples
• OPEC – Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries –
controls oil prices
• WTO – World Trade Organization – set trade rules for
member nations
• NAFTA – North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement – removes
tariffs in North America
Military
An agreement whereby two or more
States pledge to aid each other if
attacked or to share military material
Examples
•NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization
•UN – United Nations (also political)
•AU – African Union (also political)
Political
An agreement whereby two or more
States work together for economic and
military benefits – a pledge to help each
other
Examples
•UN – United Nations
•AL – Arab League (also military)
•G20 – Global 20 (20 largest economic nations
in the world – also a G8)
1. Using your base map and the three extra provided, draw and color
in the three maps overlaid on each other
2. Complete your map with your partner by dividing your country
into five districts. The districts should follow these basic rules:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Each has equal access to some water
Each has access to the border
The two religious groups have tension between them
There is no official language
Only one district can be smaller than half the largest district
3. Answer the following questions with 3-4 sentences each
1. What type of government will you use? What difficulties will you face using that
type of government
2. Which of the three categories caused you the most trouble? Explain
3. What compromises did you have to make in order to fit five districts on your
map?
4. Which of your districts do you feel will have the most difficulties in the future
because of how they are divided up?