1. Chapter 8: Political Geography Key Issue 2

2. * Boundary – invisible line marking extent of state’s territory * Landlocked countries – no direct access to water * 5 basic shapes: 1. Compact – boundary is nearly equidistant Capital most often in the center 2. Elongated – long & narrow Can suffer from poor communication 3. Prorupted – compact with a large projection 2 reasons: access to resource OR separate country 4. Perforated – a country surrounding another country Ex. South Africa & Lesotho 5. Fragmented – several unconnected territories 2 kinds: separated by water OR fragmented by another country

3. * Physical * Desert (ex. Sahara) * Mountain (ex. Andes) * Water (most often rivers) * Law of the Sea * Cultural * Geometric – “line” boundaries * Arbitrary, agreed upon lines (ex. US & Canada) * Religious – ex. Pakistan & India * Language – ex. Europe * Treaty of Versailles (after WWI) * Cyprus’ “Green Line” * Wall between Turkish & Greek Cypriots * Moving closer to unification (majority vs. minority problems) * Frontiers – uninhabited or sparsely inhabited region not under the control of a specific state * Ex. Saudi Arabia – allow nomads to wander and share resources

4. * Unitary * Singular central government * Federal * Local governments have more control than in unitary * Growing use of federal & decreased use of unitary * Gerrymandering – manipulating voting districts to influence the potential outcomes of elections * Election geography

5. Chapter 8: Political Geography Key Issue 3

6. * The United Nations * Created following WWII (est. 1945) * Replaced the League of Nations which failed to prevent WWII * Can ask members for military support if approved by the Security Council * 5 permanent members: China, France, Russia, UK, & US * At the very least, it is an attempt to solve issues diplomatically and work collaboratively

7. * Regional Military Alliances * Era of two Superpowers * Balance of Power – equal strength between opposing alliances * US vs. Soviet Union (known as the Cold War) * Both established a willingness to use military force within in their sphere of control * NATO & Warsaw Pact * NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization * Warsaw Pact – Communist alliance * Maintained balance of power * Other Regional Organizations * OSCE – Org. on Security & Cooperation * OAS – Org. of American States * AU – African Union

8. * After the end of the Cold War (fall of Soviet Union 1992): * Economic power seems to be more important than military power * Super power no long seems to be a SINGLE country but a union of countries * European Union