Chapter 8: Political Geography The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography

Where Are States Located? Problems of defining states Today, most habitable land belongs to a country In 1940 = about 50 countries Today = 192 countries (as shown by U.N. membership) Figure 8-2

Where Are States Located? Problems defining states Some difficult to classify Korea: 1 state or 2? China/Taiwan: 1 or 2 states? Western Sahara Claims to polar regions

Where Are States Located? Varying sizes of states State size varies considerably Largest state = Russia 11% of world’s land area Smallest state = Monaco Microstate = states with very small land areas

Where Are States Located? Development of the state concept Ancient states The Fertile Crescent City-state Early European states Colonies 3 motives: “God, gold, and glory” Today = few colonies remain God, Gold, Glory

Colonial Possessions, 1914 Figure 8-8

Colonial Possessions, 2006 Figure 8-9

Why Do Boundaries Between States Cause Problems? Shapes of states 5 basic shapes Compact Elongated Prorupted Perforated Fragmented Landlocked states

Why Do Boundaries Between States Cause Problems? Types of boundaries Physical Desert boundaries Mountain boundaries Water boundaries Cultural Geometric boundaries Human features (language, religion, ethnicity) Frontiers

Why Do Boundaries Between States Cause Problems? Boundaries inside states Unitary states Smaller states Federal states Larger states Globally = trend toward federations

Why Do Boundaries Between States Cause Problems? Figure 8-19 Why Do Boundaries Between States Cause Problems? Figure 8-18 Electoral geography Boundaries within the U.S. used to create legislative districts Gerrymandering 3 types: wasted, excess, & stacked vote Illegal (1985 U.S. Supreme Court)

Why Do States Cooperate with Each Other? Political & military cooperation United Nations (est. 1945) Regional military alliances Balance of power Post–World War II: NATO or Warsaw Pact Why Do States Cooperate with Each Other? Figure 8-21

Why Do States Cooperate with Each Other? Political and military cooperation Other regional organizations OSCE (est. 1965) OAS (est. 1962) AU (est. 1963) The Commonwealth Economic cooperation

Why Has Terrorism Increased? Systematic use of violence to intimidate a population or to coerce a government Latin word meaning “to frighten” Use of bombing, kidnapping, hijacking, and murder to instill fear and anxiety in a population

Why Has Terrorism Increased? Terrorism by individuals & organizations American terrorists 9/11/2001 attack Al-Qaeda Jihad

Why Has Terrorism Increased? State terrorism support 3 levels of involvement Provide sanctuary Supply weapons, money, & intelligence to terrorists Use terrorists to plan attacks Examples Iraq Afghanistan Iran Pakistan

The End.