Can a country’s shape determine its destiny? State Morphology Can a country’s shape determine its destiny?

The Concept The boundaries of a country and the shape of the land encompassed by those boundaries can present problems or it can help to unify the country.

5 Categories Compact Fragmented Elongated Perforated Protruded or Prorupted

Fragmented Territory consists of 2 or more individual parts separated by foreign territory or international waters Japan, Indonesia, U.S.A. Must work to reduce remoteness through improving internal contact/communication Capital location is often difficult

Compact Resembles a circle in shape Belgium, Poland, Uruguay Easier to defend-short borders Internal control and communication are easy Maximum territory with minimum borders

Elongated No central compact territory Chile, Norway, Italy Often difficult to integrate the entire country into communication and transportation networks Residents may feel closer to populations of other states

Perforated A B Surrounds another independent state South Africa, Italy Problems can occur from the presence of a sovereign state within the boundaries of another A B

Protruded or Prorupted Compact state with a large extension Thailand, Namibia, Afghanistan The population of the protrusion may feel isolated

Process Assignment Create a T-chart or content frame which identifies the advantages and disadvantages to each state shape