Movie: Political Divisions YES Released in 2010, set in 1994 Rwanda United Nations Deal Satan NO 2015 Iraq/Syria Fiction Contract God

Political Divisions SOL WG 10A Cultural Geography Political Divisions SOL WG 10A

Local Political Divisions Political Divisions are regions of the Earth’s surface over which groups of people establish social, economic, and political control Reasons for Political Divisions Government closer to home Need to solve local problems Need to administer resources more efficiently

Local Political Divisions States Counties Cities School Districts Election Districts 6. Neighborhoods 7. Regional Districts Bus Lines Waste Disposal Conservation Districts Planning Districts Area Codes

Local Political Divisions Reasons for Conflict Boundary Disputes Cultural Differences Economic Differences Competition for Scarce Resources Political Advantages (Gerrymandering) Reasons for Cooperation Natural Disasters Economic Advantages Cultural Similarities Addressing Regional Issues

International Political Divisions Countries Alliances between countries Economic Alliances OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries European Union or African Union NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)

International Political Divisions NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) United Nations African Union Cultural/Humanitarian League of Arab States – North Africa and Middle East Commonwealth of Nations – Countries that used to be British colonies Red Cross/Red Crescent

International Political Divisions

International Political Divisions Reasons for International Political Divisions Differences in culture, language, and religion Retention of historical boundaries Imperial conquest and control Economic similarities and differences

Boundary and territorial disputes Conflict Boundary and territorial disputes Syria vs. Israel (Golan Heights) – Israel occupies Golan Heights Western Sahara vs. Morocco China vs. Taiwan (China claims Taiwan) India vs. Pakistan (Kashmir) Cultural differences Canada (Quebec) – People speak French in Quebec Northern Ireland – Protestants vs. Catholics Economic Differences Nationalism

Conflict Ethnic Differences Balkans – Bosnians/Serbians Cyprus (Island split between Turks and Greeks) Rwanda/Burundi – Hutus killed Tutsis in a genocide Kashmir (India is Hindu and Pakistan is Muslim)

Conflict

Cooperation Foreign Aid Alliances for environmental preservation Antarctica Treaty United Nations peacekeepers Law of the Sea