An Idiots Guide to Governing a State!

Forms of Government Different shapes lead to different forms of government Unitary states….have power held centrally by one government entity. This is generally employed by compact states. Federal states….power is shared by the central government and regional governments. This is often employed by fragmented, elongated, and particularly large states.

Don’t forget about the Confederation! Some populations prefer a weak central government. This allows regional governments to maintain greater autonomy. Historic example: The US under the Articles of Confederation …it didn’t work out too well for us! Present Day Example: Switzerland…the land of neutrality …of course it works for them!

Devolution Many federal governments today are transferring power from the central government to regional governments… not quite creating confederations….but close! This is often a result of centrifugal forces and can often lead to the Balkanization of a country!

Centrifugal Forces – divisive forces F for FRACTURE / FLING apart (separatism, conflicts, divisions) Soviet Union Yugoslavia Centripetal Forces – unifying forces P for PULL together (unifying symbols, strong identify) Nation-states The United States of America Indonesia

Many GEOPOLITICAL theories have been developed to justify state shapes, sizes and locations.

Organic State Theory Friedrich Ratzel argued that states are organic, living organisms that must grow … consuming land for nourishment. They need lebensraum! Just one theory that Hitler used to justify his ambitions!

The Heartland Theory 1904, Sir Halford MacKinder, a British political geographer The Heartland Theory suggests that whoever owns Eastern Europe and Western Asia has the political power and capital to rule the world.

The Heartland Theory Eastern Europe contains one of the richest AGRICULTURAL regions in the world. The Ukraine region could produce enough wheat and other agricultural products to sustain a large population – and feed its armies. Abundant RAW MATRIALS such as coal, essential to develop a military & industrial base, are available in this region.

The Heartland Theory Yet another theory that Adolf Hitler believed in to justify why he invaded Eastern Europe. Although he underestimated the Soviet citizens’ resolve and the severity of the Russian winter! The Soviet Union exerted control over Eastern Europe, greatly concerning Western Europe, the United States, and other noncommunist countries.

The Rimland Theory Nicholas Spykman (Dutch political geographer at Yale) The Rimland Theory suggests that forming alliances is necessary to keep the Heartland in check. Because the Heartland is so powerful, no individual country can contain it by itself. Hence, you had the establishment of NATO, SEATO, and CENTO in response to the spread of the communism around the world.  

The Rimland Theory Spykman believed that the Heartland may control the LAND but the Rimland will control the SEA. The Heartland is trapped in a sense by its own geography. To the north is an ocean that is icebound much of the year. To the east are the Ural Mountains and vast tracts of land with sparse populations. To the south is the Middle East with its immense deserts. To the west is Democratic Western Europe The Rimland would use the oceans to contain the Heartland, engaging in a battle between land and sea.

Impact of Theories!!! The Domino Theory was adopted by the United States during the Cold War. Also referred to as Containment Policy.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) developed this theory, which suggests that when one country experiences rebellion or political disunity, other countries around it will also experience turmoil as a result, leading to a domino effect of political instability in the region. It was used to justify US military involvement in SE Asia and Central America.