THE NATURE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF POLITICAL BOUNDARIES AP Human Geography 2015

Nation Nation: geographic area that is dominated by a large population that shares a common history and culture, regardless of whether the group owns its own territory ie. Kurds and Palestinians.

Nation Comes from the Latin word natio, meaning “birth, nation, race, species,or breed A nation is usually territorially based. We call that territory its homeland

State State: sovereign (implies a state's lawful control over it's territory generally to the exclusion of other states, authority to govern in that territory, and authority to apply law there.) political entity that maintains status as an independent country.

Nation-State Nation-State: political unit comprising a clearly delineated territory where the population shares a common history and culture, ie. Japan, Korea, Uruguay Nation’s homeland corresponds exactly to a state’s territory

Definitions: State = country State = country Territory = area controlled by a state Territory = area controlled by a state Nation = cultural group Nation = cultural group people with a common ancestry, culture, language, religion, historypeople with a common ancestry, culture, language, religion, history Nation state = clearly defined cultural group (a nation) occupying a spatially defined territory (a state) Nation state = clearly defined cultural group (a nation) occupying a spatially defined territory (a state)

Boundaries Boundaries are: Lines that establish the limit of each jurisdiction & authority Lines that establish the limit of each jurisdiction & authority Jurisdiction administers laws; collects taxes; provides defense, education, training; enforces legal code, etc.Jurisdiction administers laws; collects taxes; provides defense, education, training; enforces legal code, etc. 3-dimensional: flat, deep, high 3-dimensional: flat, deep, high

Political Boundaries Political boundaries represent the spatial limit of the political organization of territory Political boundaries represent the spatial limit of the political organization of territory They exist at different scales: They exist at different scales: Supra-national-scale organizations, such as UNSupra-national-scale organizations, such as UN State-scaleState-scale Intra-state scale; boundaries used for the many sub-divisions of territory within the stateIntra-state scale; boundaries used for the many sub-divisions of territory within the state

How Boundaries are established Definition Delimitation Demarcation Administration

Forms of Boundary Disputes Definitional boundary disputes- focus on the legal language of the boundary agreement Locational boundary disputes- center on the delimitation and possibly the demarcation of the boundary Operational boundary disputes-involve neighbors who differ over the way their border should function. Allocational boundary disputes- relate to disagreement on the use of resources by two countries who share the same border

May be a source of friction between competing political entities (flashpoints) May be a source of friction between competing political entities (flashpoints) May serve as peaceful reminders of contrasting but accepted differences May serve as peaceful reminders of contrasting but accepted differences

Boundaries & state cohesiveness Centripetal forces Centripetal forces A clearly bounded territory promotes unity/national stabilityA clearly bounded territory promotes unity/national stability Centrifugal forces Centrifugal forces The more boundaries possessed by a state, the greater is the likelihood of conflict which disrupts unity/national stabilityThe more boundaries possessed by a state, the greater is the likelihood of conflict which disrupts unity/national stability

Possible centrifugal forces: Possible centrifugal forces: internal divisions in language, religioninternal divisions in language, religion lack of a long history in commonlack of a long history in common state boundaries that are subject to disputestate boundaries that are subject to dispute Possible centripetal forces: Possible centripetal forces: clear and well accepted state identityclear and well accepted state identity long state historylong state history boundaries that are clearly delimited and well-acceptedboundaries that are clearly delimited and well-accepted

Disputes for regional autonomy Separatism or autonomous nationalism Separatism or autonomous nationalism Canada’s secessionist movement in Quebec: 1995 referendum 49% yes, 51% no.Canada’s secessionist movement in Quebec: 1995 referendum 49% yes, 51% no. Other separatist movements: Other separatist movements: Basques in Spain; Basques in Spain; Bretons in France, Bretons in France, Palestinians in Israel, Palestinians in Israel, Sikhs in India, etc. Sikhs in India, etc.

Boundary Types Physical Boundary: major physical features such as a desert, mountain ranges, and/or water bodies that serves as a means of separation, ie. Great Lakes, Pyrenees Mountains, and Sahara desert.

Boundary Types Geometric Boundary: straight lines that serve as political boundaries that are unrelated to physical and /or cultural differences, ie. United States/Canadian border.

Boundary Types Cultural Political Boundary: political boundary that separates different cultures, ie. former Yugoslavia.

Boundary Types Religious Boundary: boundary that separates different religions, ie. Northern Ireland/Ireland. Two Types: interfaith (between two religions) and intrafaith(within the same religion) boundaries

Boundary Types Language Boundary: boundary that separates different language speakers, ie. traditionally many countries in Europe such as England, France, Spain, and Portugal.

Boundary Types Antecedent Boundary: boundary that was created before the present day cultural landscape developed, ie. Malaysia/Indonesia on the island of Borneo.

Boundary Types Subsequent Boundary: boundaries that are created as a result of long term processes, ie Vietnam/China.

Boundary Types Super Imposed Boundary: boundary that has been forced upon the inhabitants of an area to solve a problem and/or conflict, ie. Indonesia/Papau New Guinea. OR MOST OF AFRICA!

Africa after Berlin Conference

Boundary Types Relict Boundary: boundary that ceases to exist, however the imprint of the boundary still remains on the cultural landscape, ie. north/south Vietnam.

Boundary Types Fortified Boundary: when a state constructs physical barriers along a boundary to either keep people in or out of their territory, ie. Great Wall of China, Berlin Wall, Earth berms along the Morocco/Spanish Sahara border.

Shapes of States Compact State: the distance from the geographic center of the area to any point on the boundary does not vary greatly, ie. Hungary.

Shapes of States Elongated State: state that is geographically long and narrow, ie. Chile.

Shapes of States Enclave: portion of a state that is totally surrounded by another state, ie. Armenia.

Shapes of States Fragmented State: state split into many pieces, ie. Philippines and Indonesia.

Shapes of States Landlocked State: state not having direct access to an ocean, ie. Bolivia.

Shapes of States Microstate: state that is extremely small, ie. San Marino.

Shapes of States Perforated State: state that totally surrounds another state, ie. South Africa.

Shapes of States Prorupt State: state having a portion of territory that is elongated, ie. Thailand.

Shapes of States Frontier - zone where no state exercises political control, ie. Antarctica and Portions of Saudi Arabia.