Political Geography Study of human political organization of the Earth at various levels Studied at three scales Supranational scale Ex. United Nations Country/nation scale How government is organized Sub-national (local) scale Boundaries for voting districts Political geographers also study the changing role of the/a country in the world’s political affairs Geopolitics The state’s power to control space or territory and shape international political relations

Human Territoriality Territoriality is creating ownership over a defined space Territoriality can apply to your bedroom or an entire country Often evokes emotional response Ex. Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait triggered the Gulf War Ex. Germany’s invasion of Poland triggered WWII Personal Space Territoriality can also be applied to personal space Personal space is the area we claim as our own territory into which others may not enter without our permission How much is personal varies

Sovereignty Definition: Internationally recognized control a place has over the people and territory within its boundaries Nearly 200 countries on earth with sovereignty Disputes Sovereignty of Taiwan Sovereignty of Kurdistan Sovereignty of Kosovo Oceans

States and Nations State refers to: Nation refers to: Arguably most powerful institution in globalization To be a state: Political unit with permanent population citizenship Territorial boundaries that are recognized by other states Effective government Working economy Sovereignty Nation refers to: a group of people who share a common culture and identity as a cohesive group Needed: Language Religion Shared history Territory (not always) Example: Jewish nation Nation-state refers to: State with only one nation in its borders Ex. Japan, Iceland

Multinational States vs. Nation-States Country that includes more than one nation within its borders Ex. Soviet Union Multistate nation Nation extends across many states boundaries Ex. Korea, the former Yugoslavia Stateless nation When a nation does not have territory to call its own Assyrian Christians of Iraq Kurds of Iraq, Turkey, Iran Ughirs of Western China