Core Areas, Capital Cities, Primate Cities, Forward Capitals and Maritime Boundaries APHG 2015 APHG 2015

Core Areas Refer to the center, heart, or focus. The core area of a nation-state is constituted by the national heartland. It has the largest population cluster and is the most productive region. It is the area with the greatest centrality and accessibility. It may also contain the capital city. Refer to the center, heart, or focus. The core area of a nation-state is constituted by the national heartland. It has the largest population cluster and is the most productive region. It is the area with the greatest centrality and accessibility. It may also contain the capital city.

Core Areas May be identified on a map by looking at population distributions and transport networks As one travels from the core area, towns get smaller, factories fewer, and open land more common. Some examples: Paris Basin in France, Kanto Plain in Japan, the Cairo-Alexandra Axis and the Nile Delta in Egypt, and in Chile, Santiago lies in the nucleo central. May be identified on a map by looking at population distributions and transport networks As one travels from the core area, towns get smaller, factories fewer, and open land more common. Some examples: Paris Basin in France, Kanto Plain in Japan, the Cairo-Alexandra Axis and the Nile Delta in Egypt, and in Chile, Santiago lies in the nucleo central.

Multicore states States that possess more than one core area May present problems especially if the areas are ethnically diverse, e.g. Nigeria May not always present problem, e.g., the United States- primary core: Washington, D.C. to Boston; secondary core: West Coast (San Diego to San Francisco); other core areas: Chicago and other Midwestern cities and Atlanta in the South. States that possess more than one core area May present problems especially if the areas are ethnically diverse, e.g. Nigeria May not always present problem, e.g., the United States- primary core: Washington, D.C. to Boston; secondary core: West Coast (San Diego to San Francisco); other core areas: Chicago and other Midwestern cities and Atlanta in the South.

Capital City The political nerve center of the country National headquarter and seat of government The center of national life The status of the capital city is recognized by using its name interchangeably with that of the state itself. E.g., “Washington is at odds with Moscow.” The political nerve center of the country National headquarter and seat of government The center of national life The status of the capital city is recognized by using its name interchangeably with that of the state itself. E.g., “Washington is at odds with Moscow.”

Primate city A country’s largest and most economically influential city It is most expressive of the national culture and usually (but not always) the capital city as well. There is no other city that comes close to rivaling the city in terms of size and influence. Some examples: London, Paris, Mexico City, Jakarta, Nairobi, etc. A country’s largest and most economically influential city It is most expressive of the national culture and usually (but not always) the capital city as well. There is no other city that comes close to rivaling the city in terms of size and influence. Some examples: London, Paris, Mexico City, Jakarta, Nairobi, etc.

Forward Capital The relocation of the capital in pursuit of some national objectives, e.g., economic, political, etc. Examples: Abuja, Nigeria; Brasilia, Brazil, Malawi: from Zomba to Lilongwe Pakistan: from Karachi to Islamabad Malaysia: from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya Japan: from Kyoto to Tokyo The relocation of the capital in pursuit of some national objectives, e.g., economic, political, etc. Examples: Abuja, Nigeria; Brasilia, Brazil, Malawi: from Zomba to Lilongwe Pakistan: from Karachi to Islamabad Malaysia: from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya Japan: from Kyoto to Tokyo

United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Conferences organized by the United Nations for the purpose of defining maritime boundaries, commonly referred to as the Law of the Sea Conference There have been three of such conferences: UNCLOS I UNCLOS II UNCLOS III: 1982; signed by 157 countries Conferences organized by the United Nations for the purpose of defining maritime boundaries, commonly referred to as the Law of the Sea Conference There have been three of such conferences: UNCLOS I UNCLOS II UNCLOS III: 1982; signed by 157 countries

How are maritime boundaries determined?

Historically, how were maritime boundaries determined? Originated in Europe many centuries ago A 14th century Italian legal scholar is credited with the first formal proposal that states should be awarded sovereignty over a strip of water next to their coastlines Led to many debates over the width of the offshore zone Some suggested the width should be determined by how far a cannonball would fall if fired from the coastline Various states chose various widths Very confusing Originated in Europe many centuries ago A 14th century Italian legal scholar is credited with the first formal proposal that states should be awarded sovereignty over a strip of water next to their coastlines Led to many debates over the width of the offshore zone Some suggested the width should be determined by how far a cannonball would fall if fired from the coastline Various states chose various widths Very confusing

Maritime Boundaries United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) signed by 150 countries The convention delimits territorial boundaries and rights by defining four zones: 1. A territorial sea 2. A contiguous zone 3. An exclusive economic zone (eez) 4. The high seas United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) signed by 150 countries The convention delimits territorial boundaries and rights by defining four zones: 1. A territorial sea 2. A contiguous zone 3. An exclusive economic zone (eez) 4. The high seas

Territorial sea Extends up to 12 nautical miles (1 nm = 1.15 statute miles) Coastal states have sovereignty over this area, including fishing rights Vessels of all types normally have the right of innocent passage through this area, except noncommercial (primarily military and research) could be challenged Extends up to 12 nautical miles (1 nm = 1.15 statute miles) Coastal states have sovereignty over this area, including fishing rights Vessels of all types normally have the right of innocent passage through this area, except noncommercial (primarily military and research) could be challenged

Median Line Principle Put in effect to determine the extent of a country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), especially for island countries whose EEZ tend to overlap

What happens when countries lie closer than 400 nautical miles to each other?

Median Line Principle

Contiguous zone Extends up to 24 nm (38 km) Coastal states do not have complete sovereignty in this area, it may enforce customs, immigration, and sanitation laws and has the right of hot pursuits out of its territorial waters Extends up to 24 nm (38 km) Coastal states do not have complete sovereignty in this area, it may enforce customs, immigration, and sanitation laws and has the right of hot pursuits out of its territorial waters

Exclusive economic Zone (EEZ) Up to 200 nm (370 km) Right to explore, conserve, and manage the natural resources, both living and non-living of the seabed and waters Up to 200 nm (370 km) Right to explore, conserve, and manage the natural resources, both living and non-living of the seabed and waters

The high seas (the global common) Beyond the EEZ Outside any national jurisdiction Open to all states, whether coastal or landlocked Freedom of the high seas includes the right to sail ships, fish, fly over, lay submarine cables and pipelines, and pursue scientific research