Political Organization By: Jackie Deffer and Liz Mittan

Political Geography Study of human political organization of the Earth at various levels (Three levels: Supranational, County/nation, Sub-national). Territoriality: creating ownership over a defined space. Sovereignty: internationally recognized control a place has over the people and territory within its boundaries

History of Political Organization (Colonialism & Imperialism) Mercantilism – The colonies would send back raw materials to the mother country so they could produce goods. 2 Periods of Colonialism 15th Century, Western Hemisphere by Europe Late 19th Century, Africa was split up by European Countries Colonialism – The domination by a state over a separate state Imperialism – When a state establishes political, social, and economic dominance over an area. Colonialism comes first, imperialism second!!

Colonialism Today & Geopolitics Neocolonialism – How today countries still economically depend on their former “mother country” Colonized countries had to ask for loans to build their economies once their colonizers left, which left them in a continuous debt. Geopolitics – Branch of political geography that studies how states interact with other states and the landscape.

Different Theories to Know! Organic – Each state wants to gain more land Heartland – Theory that sea power had ended, and it was all about land power. Whoever held Eurasia, controlled all. Domino – Democratic countries have to work together to keep other countries from falling to communism Dependence – Poor countries are poor because of colonization by Europe Rimland – Build on Heartland Theory. Defined the “rimland” as all of Eurasia’s periphery. Believes not one country should hold all the power in the rimland.

States vs. Nations State: an independent political unit with recognized boundaries, most powerful institution in globalization. Nation: group of people sharing certain elements of culture, such as religion, language and history. States have citizenship and sovereignty, while Nations DO NOT always have territory! Different States! Multinational State – States composed of more than one nation. Ex – Soviet Union Nation State – State composed of only one nation. Ex – Denmark, Japan Stateless Nation – When a nation does not have territory. Ex – Kurds in Iraq, Assyrians of Iraq

Ethnonationalism & Conflict A powerful emotion an ethnic minority group in a country feels when they feel differently from other minorities. This can cause conflicts when the minority does not feel they have self determination. Irredentism – When a nation tries to reunite after being spread across multiple borders. Ex – Germans had spread into Yugoslavia, so Hitler wanted to control that land to reunite the Germans. Example of Ethnonationalism Conflict – The Chechnya's are a nation in Russia that want to form there own nation.

Ethnonationalism & States Buffer States & Zones – A country located between two countries that are in conflict Satellite States – A country that rules over less power countries. Ex – Soviet control over Eastern Europe Shatterbelts – A state(s) that is fought over by more power countries, and tend to be politically or culturally fragmented.

Boundaries & Frontier Three types Geometric – Straight line boundaries, not relating to cultural or physical features of the land Physical (Natural) – Separating the land based off of natural barriers such as rivers and mountains. 3. Cultural – Boundaries drawn due to cultural differences such as religion or language Frontier- Land that is not politically controlled by boundaries, and is uninhabited, or a little, by people. Today it is mostly in Antarctica & Saudi Arabia.

Boundary Evolution & Creation Antecedent Boundary – Existed before humans culture developed into what they are now. Subsequent Boundary – Grow to divide space as a result of humans interacting Superimposed Boundary – Boundary forced on landscape. Relict Boundary – No longer a boundary. Boundary Creation Definition – Where the exact boundary is legally described. De Jure – Means to be legally recognized. Delimitation – Boundary is drawn on a map. Demarcation - Visible marking of a boundary such as wall, line, or sign. Administration – Enforcement of the boundary, such as border patrol.

Territorial Morphology The relationship between a state’s geographic shape, size, relative location, and it’s political situation Compact- A state where distance from the center to the boundary is even almost everywhere. Elongated – Long and narrow State Prorupted (Protruded) – A compact state with a piece of land sticking out. Perforated – A state that completely surrounds a different state. Fragmented – Includes discontinuous pieces of territory.

Problems due to Shapes Other State Types Elongated – Communication problems with center Prorupted – Prorupted state might want sovereignty Perforated – Tensions may rise between two states Fragmented – Fragmented pieces want sovereignty Other State Types Landlocked – When a state does not have a border touching water. Ex. Chad in Africa Enclave – A State surrounded by another state. Ex. Lesotho in South Africa Exclave – A state that is a political extension of a state. Ex. Alaska in the United States.

Unitary vs. Federal Confederation Structure A states shape influences it’s political organization. A compact state, typically with one culture, tends to have a unitary government. Unitary Government – Where all of the power is located in the central government. A large state, with multiple ethnicities or cultures, tends to have a federal government. Federal Government – Where power is not located all in the central government but where some power is given to local governments. BUT SIZE DOES NOT MATTER!!! NOT ALL COMPACT, HOMOGENEOUS STATES HAVE UNITARY, AND ALL LARGE STATES HAVE FEDERALISM. Today most governments are working towards federalism. Confederation Structure A state where the regional governments hold almost all the power, the central government has barely any power.

Political-Territorial Arrangements Core States: region in a state where its economic and political power is concentrated, helps spread development. Multicore States: countries that have more than one core region. Ex: Nigeria with its northern and southern regions competing for control. Primate City: Capital city that has the most political and economic power than any other city in the state, often seen in LDC’s. Forward Capital: A capital city built by the state in order to achieve a national goal. Ex: Brasilla, Brazil. Electoral Boundaries: redrawn every 10 ears by the U.S. House of Representatives Gerrymandering: redrawing of the electoral districts to favor one party and give an advantage. Three Forms: Wasted vote: spreads opposition voters across many districts. Excess vote: concentrates opposition voters into a few districts. Stacked vote: linked distance through like-minded voters in an oddly shaped district.

Centripetal vs. Centrifugal Centripetal: something that unifies a country and its people. Ex: National Anthem Centrifugal: something that divides the county and its people. Ex: Different ethnicities Devolution: moving from a unitary government to a federal where power is devolved from the central government to regional areas. Ex: U.K. and its devolution of Scottland

Supranationalism and the UN Supranatonalism: organization of political and economic affairs at the international level, countries of three or more can form an alliance. Many established post WWII to prevent a third world war and foreign attacks. Examples: United Nations Warsaw Pact NATO ASEAN European Union African Union United Nations Most extensive supranational ever to exist, consisting of more than 200 members Mainly peace-keeping force, with little military troops NATO Created post WWII to prevent communism from spreading to other countries, now expanded to former communist countries. Warsaw Pact Created to oppose NATO, comprised of all coummunist states but eventually fell apart.

Regional Organizations African Union 53 countries, established in 2002 to help economic integrations in Africa European Union Goal is for the member countries to all develop through economic cooperation. Created the Euro Original Members: Belgium, France, Italy, West Germany, Netherlands, and Luxembourg. (27 members today) Economic Supranationalism – When three or more states come together to work on economic goals! Ex. European Union Leading superpower is not United States or China, but the EU led by Germany! Leading Military superpower is the United States, but tested by terrorism.

Terrorism Terrorism is the use of violence and terror to intimidate or coerce mainly for political purposes. Terrorism against Americans 1993 WTC car bombing 1995 Oklahoma City bombing killed 168 September 11, 2001 WTC and Pentagon Al-Qaeda Founded by Osama Bin Laden Issued a fatwa (religious decree) Muslims have a religious duty to rage a Holy War against the U.S. Located in 34 countries and live in “cells” around le world Use religion to justify attacks

Middle East Summary Iran Hostile with US since 1979, were worried since they could be helping terrorists & forming nuclear weapons. Afghanistan Civil War began in 1970’s, Soviet Union went in 1979 and withdrew in 1989. Taliban gained control after, but now there is a power struggle after they fell apart in 2001. Iraq Saddam Hussein was president in 80’s, where US sided with them against Iran The US linked Saddam with Al-Qaeda and invaded in 2003. Pakistan Created after partition in 1947. Multiethnic state that it is in political turmoil over control, includes Taliban. There is a war on terror. They hid Saddam in their mountains.

Helpful Links! http://www.slideshare.net/1gdholbrook1/c entripetal-centrifugal-forces-15688189 http://www.studystack.com/flashcard- 204459 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mky11 UJb9AY

Territoriality Kurds Cells Subsequent Unitary Compact Alaska National Anthem Protruded Supranationalism Irredentism Nation State Sovereignty Ethnic Conflict Gerrymandering