World geography Nov. 21, 2014

Remaining schedule Unit 8 – Urban Geography Unit 9 – Industry and Services Unit 10 – Human Environment

Next class - Wrap-up Unit 7 (Political Geography) - Introduce Unit 8 (Urban Geography)

Geopolitics Geopolitics: The interplay among geography, power, politics, and international relations Classical geopolitics - German School (Ratzel’s organic state theory) - British /American School (Mackinder’s heartland theory)

Ratzels’ Organic State Theory - Based on Darwin’s theories of evolution - Need of a state for territory and overseas connections in order to survive - Described expansion of empires and large states in the 19th century - Eventually contributed to Nazi expansion

Mackinder’s Heartland Theory - Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland - Who rules the Heartland commands the World Island - Who rules the World Island commands the world

Critical Geopolitics Ideas of intellectuals of statecraft about places - Influence and reinforce their political behaviors and policy choices - Affect how ordinary people process notions of places and politics

“Us” vs. “Them” Cold War - “Shining city on a hill” (United States) - Evil Empire (Soviet Union) - “Shining city on a hill” (United States) Replacement of Soviet Union as “them” by terrorists

“Us” vs. “Them”

Geopolitical World Order Temporary periods of stability in conduct of politics at the global scale - Bi-polar (e.g. Soviet Union vs. U.S.A + allies) - Multi-polar (can happen in transitional periods) - Unilateralism (one country holds majority of power/influence – e.g. U.S.A)

Supranational Organizations An association of 3 or more states that work to benefit and promote all members. - Common goal - More than 60 in the world today (e.g. UN, EU, APEC) - Participation helps keep peace Some fail (e.g. League of Nations) Some persist (e.g. UN)

Global Scale: United Nations

United Nations After WWII, new organization formed to promote peace. - 193 member countries - Sub organizations: - FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) - UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) - WHO (World Health Organization)

UN Roles - Promote “standards of behavior” among member states - Restrict, sanction member states who violate standards - Send peacekeeping troops - Aid refugees - Create Universal Declaration on Human Rights

Regional Scale: European Union

Marshall Plan Following WWII, U.S. Secretary of State, George Marshall proposed plan to help Europe recover and rebuild. - U.S. gave Europe $12,000,000 to revive economies - Influenced cooperation between European countries

The EU - Marshall plan led to OEEC (Organization of European Economic Cooperation) - ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community) - ECSC led to EEC (European Economic Community) - EEC led to EC (European Community)  12 members by 1989 - EC became EU (European Union) - 1992

EU concerns - Growing poorer countries joining  Financial concern - Concern about balance of power (e.g. Germany) - Turkey – debate over whether or not it should be a member state. - treatment of Kurds. - “European” enough?