Political Geography Effect of Politics on Space

U.S.- Mexico boundary Calexico, California- Mexicali, Mexico

U.S.- Canada boundary Alberta- Montana

GEOPOLITICS State’s power to control territory, shape international policy and other states’ foreign policy State’s power to control territory, shape international policy and other states’ foreign policy

How Many Americans View the World

Terms to distinguish State Nation Nation-state Stateless nation Multinational State Multistate Nation Nationalism Patriotism Regionalism Separatism Ethnocentrism Irredentism

More Terms Centripetal vs. Centrifugal forces Boundaries –Formal (de jure) vs. informal (de facto) Frontier Homeland Federal vs. Unitary States

European Union Began as European Economic Community (EEC), Stronger in new members joined, 2004 Turkey and Romania want to join but have faced resistance.

Decolonization, 1940s-1990s

Morphology of states involves the concept that the shape of a state can greatly affect the well-being of the state. The main types are: compact states, prorupt states, fragmented states, elongated states, enclaves, and perforated states. State Morphology

Compact States Morphology of the State Prorupt States

Elongated States Fragmented States

Perforated States

Ratzel’s Organic State Model State’s space grows with population growth. Territorial growth follows other development. State grows by absorbing smaller units. Frontier is peripheral organ, reflecting strength/growth, not permanent When growing, states seek politically valuable territory. Impetus for growth goes from highly developed to lesser developed states. Trend toward growth is contagious, increasing in process of transmission.

MacKinder vs. Spykman MacKinder promoted Heartland Theory- thought that Eurasia was the primary source for attempts at world domination; control of heartland would lead to global conquest. Spykman promoted Rimland Theory- proposed that the primary world area was composed of Asia’s rim and Europe, being the rim of MacKinder’s Heartland.

Shatterbelts: Territorial Instability These are areas of potential conflict. – over-bounding - under-bounding and stateless nations Traditional shatterbelts –Middle East - Central America - South East Europe - South East Asia - Central Africa. During the Cold War these areas became proxy war zones for the superpowers.

ELECTORAL GEOGRAPHY Political Geography of Elections Variation of voting districts and voting patterns

“Gerrymandering” Redistricting for partisan purposes

U.S. congressional delegation redistricting Reapportionment : allocating seats to a geographic area (normally done after every census)

Tom Delay’s District in Texas After Texas Republicans won a majority in 2002, they enacted redistricting legislation to protect their wins.

2004 Presidential Vote