Chapter 2 People, Places, and Patterns Geography in International Studies

What is Geography? Geography is the core discipline of international studies Geo meaning “Earth” Graphy refers to “writing” Two main areas of study: – Physical Examine the environment – Human Activities of people

Development of Geography The Greek and Chinese were the first to understand and study geography Modern geography is said to embody six elements: – Space: patterns of human activity across the Earth – Place & Region: focuses on characteristics of places – Physical: understand processes of the environment – Human: understand human influence on Earth – Environment: interrelationships between people and environment – Uses: past, present, and future

Components of Geography Three main components of a geographical way of thinking: – Space Location Spatial interaction Spatial organization – Region Formal Functional – Environment

Space Location: answers the question “where?” – Nominal: Oxford, OH – Relative: Ohio is West of New York – Absolute: Oxford, OH is at “lat 39 o 30’N, long 84 o 45’W” Spatial Interaction: why and how…. – People move – Resources move – Ideas move Spatial Organization: reveals how people have delineated various territories

[Figure 2.1. Hong Kong. The harbor is the reason for Hong Kong. Photo S. Toops]

Region Formal – Human characteristics Language, religion, etc. – Physical Climate, landform, etc. Functional – Defined by network, focal point, or node Commuter area Newspaper readership

[Figure 2.2. Zurich. The largest city and financial center of Switzerland. Photo S. Toops]

[Figure 2.3 Istanbul. Asia is in the background, Europe is in the foreground, in between is the Bosporus, the historical divide between Europe and Asia. Photo S. Toops]

Environment Environmental determinism – People acting in a certain way according to their environment – Now considered mutually interactive Environmental possibilism – Physical environment cannot determine what we can do but it can limit what we can achieve Resources – Renewable – Non-renewable

[Figure 2.4. Hunza. Pakistan. The Hunza Valley is irrigated from the glaciers in the surrounding mountains. Photo: S. Toops]

[Figure 2.5. Farm in Iowa. A piece of land, a farm, a home, a place, a geography. Photo S. Toops]

Maps: Tools for International Studies Maps are forms of communication that express ideas about the world – Specialized picture of mathematical precision Fundamentals – Scale: relationship between length of an object on a map and length in the real world – Centering and Orientation: can be centered anywhere on Earth – Projection: the way the Earth’s surface is distorted in a map Technological advancements – Global Positioning System (GPS) – Geographic information system (GIS)

[Map 2.1 World Map – Mercator Projection]

[Map 2.2 World Map – Robinson Projection]

Lying with Maps Maps are sometimes used for other purposes than just displaying a place Propaganda – Used during war to influence Can you think of any ways in which a map is used for some other purpose than as a means to find a place?

Conclusion Geography is critical in international studies – Analyze space, regions, and environments of Earth Geographical methods used by many large world organizations – NASA – WHO – WTO Geography is helpful in everyday life