1. Political Geography

2. Centripetal and Centrifugal Forces

3. Attitude or force that unifies and enhances support for state
Centrifugal force
Centripetal forces vs.
Attitude or force that unifies and enhances support for state
Attitude or force that divides a state
a single native language or a colonial “official” language
– English in India, Nigeria
revived Hebrew in Israel
homogeneous cultural factors
Catholicism in Poland
Hinduism in India
nation-states
patriotism, national symbols (anthems, flags, sports teams)
Miracle on Ice
many native languages –
India, Canada, Nigeria or almost all African countries
heterogeneous cultural factors
Islam/Christianity in Nigeria
Islam/Hinduism in India
“ethnicities” in Rwanda
desire for self-determination in multinational states (Yugoslavia)
language
religion
and ethnicity
nationalism

4. Ethnicities compete to dominate states in Africa
African borders do NOT correspond to ethnic groups
Legacy of imperialism
Scramble for Africa
SUPERIMPOSED!
FIGURE 7-34

5. Ethnicities compete to dominate states in Africa

6. Ethnicities compete to dominate states in Africa
multilingual state
interfaith conflict
+ political corruption
terrorism
unequal resources
Nigeria (you should research these issues so you can provide depth on the Final FRQ)

7. Ethnic Conflict in Africa
Rwanda
Hutu vs.Tutsi
ethnic divisions more “created” than real
hierarchy created by colonial Belgians
social construct
Tutsi made “privileged”
Hutus resent →
take revenge in 1994

8. What Is Ethnic Cleansing?
process in which a more powerful ethnic group forcibly removes a less powerful group from their territory
purpose is not to subjugate, but to remove
Today, mostly happens in Europe and Africa

9. Ethnic cleansing and genocide in Rwanda (1994)

10. Aftermath of Rwandan Genocide
Ethnic conflict spills into neighboring countries
destabilizes Central Africa
Dem. Rep. of Congo falls into civil war
most war deaths (5.4m) since WWII
failed state?
a state whose political or economic system has become so weak that the government is no longer in control.

11. Ethnicities compete to dominate states in Africa
Somalia
“clans”
Islamic militias
US intervention
Black Hawk Down
“failed state”
Piracy
“balkanized” (adj.) = area that can’t stabilize due to ethnic conflict

12. Ethnicities compete to dominate states in Africa
Sudan
Govt. in Khartoum = Arab/Muslim
Darfur targeted
Black Muslim
Genocide or ethnic cleansing?
“breakaway” South Sudan
balkanized!
Black, Christian/Animist
Economic
OIL!!!!
Independent 2011
Now ethnic strife
Failed state?

13. Ethnic cleansing in Europe
WWII (1939 – 45)
Largest forced migration
Jews, gypsies, and others forcibly removed by Nazis
Post - WWII
Germans, others forced to “relocate” after war
Goals:
USSR buffer zone
Nation-state ideal

14. Ethnic cleansing in Europe
breakup of Yugoslavia
“balkanization” = breakdown of state due to ethnic conflict
death of Tito
what kind of force was he?
Ethnic cleansing
Bosnia (1992 – 95)
Kosovo (1999)
Albanians cleansed by Serbs
Stopped by NATO airstrikes

15. Ethnicities compete to dominate states
Lebanon = religious
civil war since 1975
Israeli and Syrian military interventions

16. Other ethnicity issues in the Middle East
Iraq
20% Sunni (Arabic, Saddam Hussein, oppressed/gassed other groups)
60% Shi’a (Arabic but tied to Iran, militias)
20% Kurds (non-Arabic, Sunni, national group, functions as autonomous, US-allied)
US invasion unleashes centrifugal forces
Sunnis now out of power become radicalized
Terrorism → Al Qaeda, now ISIS

17. Leadership or government (be wary of morality here)
Centrifugal force
Centripetal forces vs.
Outside influences
Leadership or government (be wary of morality here)
(see later slides for internal govt. structure)
irredentism
superpower meddling (Africa, Latin America, Asia)
funding rebels, etc.
poor governance
corruption
inequality
incompetence
US????
dictatorship
Arab Spring (2011 –
Assad in Syria
a common enemy may help to unite a people
anti-British sentiment during Revolutionary War
U.S. during the Cold War or after 9/11
Democracy can inspire civic participation
Dictatorships can stifle dissent and other centrifugal forces
Tito in Yugoslavia
Communist party (USSR)

18. Centrifugal force Infrastructure
Shape of state (see later) and internal physical features can separate populations and lead to separatism
Russia’ vastness has been a centrifugal force throughout its history
Nepal’s mountains separate communities
Less developed countries lack infrastructure. This may isolate areas and become a centrifugal force.
Centripetal forces vs.
Physical Features
Infrastructure
Mountain ranges, oceans, deserts etc. can limit outside influences and bind a country together
Egypt along the Nile
More advanced countries have things like airports, railroads and highways
which allow people to remain in contact, people to move within the country, etc.