1. State Nation Essential Political Geography concepts a political unit
a cultural unit
based on Latin status – “to stand”
independent country
defined boundaries
internationally recognized
sovereignty over land and
people within boundaries
gray areas, including colonies
based on Latin natio – “birth”
ethnic identity
common ancestry
(mythical or actual);
common religion (usually)
and/or language;
accepted ways of behavior
political aspirations
has a homeland
(“the sacred soil”)
DISCUSSION:
* What are some examples of "nations"?
* In what way is or is not the United States a "nation"?

2. “Nationalism” can take several forms
“Ethnic nationalism” – pride of nation based on group identification with specific culture or
“Civic nationalism” – pride of nation based on government system or political ideals that transcends ethnicity
How do multi-ethnic or multi-nation states promote a sense of national identity?
Is there a downside with fostering nationalism?

3. The geography of nations and states
Situation 1 – Nation-State Model - close match between political sovereignty and extent of a nation’s homeland
Situation 2 –
Multi-nation State
Political unit with two + national homelands – may lead to ethnonationalism and stages of political fragmentation: separatism, devolution, or secession
Situation 3 –
Multi-state Nation
Cultural unit (homeland) exists across the boundaries of more than one political unit – may lead to irredentism: political goal to unify a nation across existing state borders
DISCUSSION:
* What are some examples of multi-state nations around the world?
* What are some examples of multi-nation states around the world?
Situation 4 - Stateless Nation – a nation (with political aspirations) without sovereignty over its homeland

4. Strategies used by multi-nation states for unifying countries (“nation-building”)
1. Maintain central control
Dominant group (political core) doesn’t grant any political autonomy to ethnic regions
Examples: Yugoslavia under Tito, UK prior to Irish independence, Iraq under Saddam
2. Devolution
Peripheral ethnic regions pressure core group for local control = sharing of some power by the core (dominant) group with the ethnic-minority region
Examples: Spain (Basques, Catalans), Belgium (Walloons, Flemish), Canada (Quebec)

5. Boundary of former Turkish (Ottoman) Empire
Empires often divided peoples to maintain control over ethnic-minority regions
Mismatch between “state” and “nation” in Central Asia – borders drawn by Russian and British Empires

6. Scotland has own Parliament for its local affairs
Devolution in the UK
Efforts at greater local control from a core nation’s political dominance
Scotland has own Parliament for its local affairs
Northern Ireland and Wales have its own Assembly for its local affairs
Rep. of Ireland (Eire) split from English control completely in 1922
London

7. Political Fragmentation
What if devolution fails to unify a State?
Separatism
Independence movements in peripheral ethnic regions – seek to break free from core’s domination
Examples?
Secession
Fragmenting of multi-nation state into smaller states as local ethnic regions gain independence – may lead to “balkanization” – fragmentation into small states that may not be viable

8. CZECHOSLOVAKIA (BORDERS FROM 1919 TO 1992)
Fragmentation -Czechoslovakia split in 1993: one multi-nation state
became two nation-states
CZECH REPUBLIC
Population: 10,200,000
Ethnicities
Czech & Moravian 95%
Slovak 3%
All others 2%
CZECHOSLOVAKIA (data before separation in 1993)
Total population: 15,600,000
Ethnicities
Czech & Moravian 62% Hungarian 4%
Slovak 32% All others 2%
SLOVAKIA
Population: 5,400,000
Ethnicities
Slovak 86%
Hungarian 11%
All others 3%

9. Singapore split from Malaysia in 1965
Pop. GNI/PPP Ethnicity
Singapore $ 26,590 77% Chinese
Malaysia 26.1 $ 9,630 60% Malay
SINGAPORE
MALAYSIA

10. Successor states to the former Soviet Union (15 countries)
Russia 142 million
Ukraine 47 million
Uzbekistan 26 million
Total of 12 others 70 million

11. Russian Federation: still a multi-nation state, with designated “internal ethnic republics”
Chechnya: Internal ethnic republic in Russia - mostly Muslim; declared independence in 1994 – led to devastating war

13. Fragmenting of the former Yugoslavia into six countries (so far)
Serbia
Croatia
Slovenia
Bosnia - Herzegovina
Macedonia
Montenegro

14. Separatist Flashpoints in Indonesia
Aceh
Moluccas
West Papua
East Timor
Separatist Flashpoints in Indonesia
(East Timor gained independence in 2002)

15. Ethnically diverse, not unified Burmese are politically dominant
Core area (Irrawaddy River valley)
Myanmar (Burma)
Ethnically diverse, not unified
Karenni kids
Burmese are politically dominant
Peripheries (mountainous)

16. Irredentism Ethnic Cleansing
Nations of Southeastern & Central Europe
Irredentism
Cross-border political movement: a nation divided by int’l borders seeks to unify and control all of its land in one state
Examples: Irish, Serbs, Albanians, Hungarians, Germans (pre-WW2)
Ethnic Cleansing
Political strategy by a dominant group to forcibly remove ethnic minorities from within its state boundaries

17. FIGURE 8-22 ETHNICITIES IN THE CAUCASUS Armenians, Azeris, and Georgians are examples of ethnicities that were able to dominate new states during the 1990s, following the breakup of the Soviet Union. But the boundaries of the states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia do not match the territories occupied by the Armenian, Azeri, and Georgian ethnicities. The Abkhazians, Chechens, Kurds, and Ossetians are examples of ethnicities in this region that have not been able to organize nation-states.

22. Governing States
National governments can be classified as democratic, autocratic, or anocratic.
A democracy is a country in which citizens elect leaders and can run for office.
An autocracy is a country that is run according to the interests of the ruler rather than the people.
An anocracy is a country that is not fully democratic or fully autocratic, but rather a mix of the two.

23. Regime Type
FIGURE 8-34 REGIME TYPE Most states are either democratic, autocratic, or anocratic. In a few “failed” states, such as Somalia and Haiti, government institutions have broken down because of civil war, extreme poverty, or natural disasters—or some combination of the three.

24. Governing States -National Scale: Democracies and autocracies differ in three essential elements:
Selection of Leaders
Democracies have institutions and procedures through which citizens can express effective preferences about alternative policies and leaders.
Autocracies have leaders who are selected according to clearly defined (usually hereditary) rules of succession from within the political elite.
Citizen Participation
Democracies have institutionalized constraints on the exercise of power by the executive.
Autocracies have citizens’ participation restricted or suppressed.

25. Governing States
National Scale: Democracies and autocracies differ in three essential elements cont’d:
Checks and Balances:
Democracies guarantee civil liberties to all citizens.
Autocracies have leaders who exercise power with no meaningful checks from legislative, judicial, or civil society institutions.
In general, the world has become more democratic since the turn of the 19th century.

26. FIGURE 8-35 TREND TOWARD DEMOCRACY The number of autocracies has declined sharply since the late 1990s.

27. Governing States – Local Scale
Unitary States – places most power in the hands of central government officials (more suitable for smaller states)
Ex. France, China

28. Federal States – allocates strong power to units of local government within a country (more suitable for larger states)
Ex. United States, Mexico

29. Supranationalism vs. Devolution

30. Supranationalism = cooperation (economic, political, military) among several countries for mutual benefit

31. Supranationalism Can be connected with globalizing forces
States may give up some political power (sovereignty) to join a supranational organization
Examples: United Nations, European Union, NATO, NAFTA, ASEAN, OPEC, OAS, CIS.

32. EU Flag and Flags of Its Member States
Since 1980s - Europe has had 15+ new countries created by ethnic nationalism
Since 1950s - Also has been project to increase economic & political integration – an example of concept of “supranationalism”
EU Flag and Flags of Its Member States
(as of 2006)

33. European Union
Primarily for economic purposes, but also politically, environmentally, and security oriented
Economic changes: Border-free work, Euro currency (most members), Free trade in EU, Free flow of currency
Has made EU largest “market” in the world
Member states elect representatives to EU Parliament
“Four freedoms” of movement—of people, goods, services and capital

34. 12 newest members joined 2004-2007
Some key elements in EU integration
Free trade among member states
Remove barriers to movement of labor & capital
Uniform fiscal & environmental policies
EU Members
15 members joined
12 newest members joined
Candidate
countries

37. Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Main aim:
“To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region…”
“To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the U.N. Charter.”