1. Political Geography (Nation/State)
an independent political unit occupying a defined, populated territory and having full sovereign control over its internal and foreign affairs.
Nation
is a group of people with a common culture occupying a particular territory, bound together by a strong sense of unity arising from shared beliefs and customs

2. Relationships between Nations and States
Nation-State
State that has a distinct nation, ex. Japan

3. Relationships between Nations and States
multinational state
A state with many nations within. Ex. Canada

4. Relationships between Nations and States
part-nation state
A single nation that is dispersed and predominant in two or more states.
Ex. Arab Nation

5. Relationships between Nations and States
stateless nation
A people without a state and are not dominant in any state.
Ex. Kurds

6. Korea: One State or Two?

7. Korea A colony of Japan for many years
Divided into two occupation zones after WW II (USSR-North, U.S.-South)
Country divided along the 38th parallel
N. Korea invaded S. Korea in 1950
This started a 3 year war. Border stayed the same as before the war.

8. Korea Both countries want to reunite.
Talks ceased with N. Korea development of nuclear power.
In 1992 both countries were admitted to the UN as separate countries.

9. China and Taiwan: One state or two?

10. China and Taiwan Is the Island of Taiwan a sovereign state?
Until 1999 both agreed that Taiwan was part of China
Civil War fought in late 1940’s between Communists and Nationalists.
Nationalists lost, fled to Taiwan.

11. China and Taiwan
Until 1971, the U.S. recognized the Nationalists as the official govt. of China
Taiwan is the most populous state not in the United Nations

12. Largest States Russia (11% world’s land area) China Canada
United States
Brazil

13. Smallest States (Microstates)
Monaco (Smallest in the UN, .6 sq. mi)
Most are islands and sovereign

14. What is the largest landmass not part of a sovereign state?
Antarctica

15. Antarctica: National Claims
Fig. 8-2: Antarctica is the only large landmass that is not part of a state, but several countries claim portions of it.

16. History of States
Modern movement to divide the world into states originated in Europe.
Can be traced to Middle East and Fertile Crescent
City-states were the first states to evolve
Walls established the boundaries of the city, the country side grew food for city.

17. History of States (Europe)
Ancient world political unity was at its height during the Roman Empire
Collapsed in 5th Century A.D.
European portion divided into estates
Consolidation of estates by kings formed the first states (England, France, and Spain)
Germany and Italy, 19th Century

18. Colonies
A colony is a territory that is legally tied to a sovereign state rather than being completely independent.

19. European Colonialism
European States controlled much of the world through colonialism
3 Reasons
Promote Christianity
Colonies provide resources
Number of colonies = power
God, Gold, and Glory

20. History of Colonialism
Began in 1400s and discovered N. America
From 1776 – 1824 European Powers lost most of their colonies in W. Hemisphere
European powers then focused on Africa and Asia

21. Imperialism v. Colonialism
Colonization of Africa/Asia is referred to as Imperialism
Imperialism is control of territory already occupied and organized by an indigenous society, whereas colonialism is control of previously uninhabited or sparsely inhabited land

22. Largest Colonial Powers
United Kingdom had the largest colonial empire.
“Sun never set” on their empire.
France had the second-largest overseas territory.

23. Colonial Practices (France)
France attempted to assimilate colonies into French culture.
France tried to educate an elite group to provide local leadership
After independence a lot of French colonies retained close ties with France.

24. Colonial Practices (The U.K.)
The British created different governments for different territories
This protected the diverse cultures and local customs.
Most British colonies made peaceful transition to independence

26. The Few Remaining colonies
Most Populous Colony—Puerto Rico
One half of population wants to be a state and one half wants to remain a commonwealth of the U.S.
Pitcairn is the least (U.K.)
This is the island settled by mutineers from the ship Bounty
54 people, 2 sq. mi.

28. Boundaries and Disputes
WORLD ISSUES

29. Five Basic Shapes of States
Compact
Prorupted
Elongated
Fragmented
Perforted

30. Compact Efficient to govern
Distance from center to boundary does not vary
Beneficial to small states; easy to set up communication systems if capital is in center
Examples: Rwanda and Uganda

31. Prorupted Compact state with a large projecting extension
Can provide access to a resource
Separate two states that would share a boundary
Example: Caprivi strip in Namibia

32. Elongated Regions can be separated from capital
Country may have poor communications
Ex. include Chile and Norway

33. Fragmented State that has several discontinuous pieces of territory.
2 types
Separated by water and separated by another state.

34. Tin Bigha corridor (Fragment)

35. Perforted A state that completely surrounds another state.
Lesotho is surrounded by S. Africa

36. Landlocked states Lacks a direct outlet to the sea.
Most common in Africa, 14 states are landlocked
Ocean access is critical, international trade.
Landlocked states must work with neighboring states to transport goods to the ocean.

37. Types of boundaries
Physical
Geometric
Cultural

38. Physical Boundaries Use physical features to establish boundary.
Mountains
Deserts
Bodies of water, rivers.

39. Geometric Boundaries
Lines drawn on maps that follow specific lines of latitude or longitude.

40. Cultural Boundaries Religious boundaries Language Boundaries
Used in dividing Ireland and Pakistan/India
Language Boundaries
European countries set main boundaries based on language. Ex. France, Germany, and Italy.

41. May also classify boundary when boundary was made.
Antecedent boundary—drawn before an area becomes populated.
Subsequent boundary—drawn after the cultural landscape has been developed.
Consequent boundary is a type of subsequent boundary that is drawn to accommodate differences within a state.
Subsequent superimposed boundaries—boundaries forced on a country by a conquering or colonizing power.

42. What are the government responsibilities inside a state?
establishes the legal code
what kind of currency will be used
may have to join army
speak a common language
kind of religion that is taught in school

43. Two types of states.
1. Unitary: Highly centralized governments, few internal cultural contrasts, strong sense of national identity, borders are cultural as well as political.
2. Federal: Associations with provinces or states and the states have strong regional govt. responsibilities. Capital city was created to serve as an administration center.
The trend is for countries to have a federal government.

44. Boundary Disputes
1. Positional disputes: When states disagree about the interpretations of documents that define a boundary. Usually arise when the boundary is antecedent.
2. Territorial dispute: These arise when a boundary has been superimposed and divides a ethnic population.

45. Boundary Disputes (Cont.)
3. Resource disputes: Disagree to the resources and their use in boundary areas.
4. Functional disputes: arise when neighboring states disagree over policies applied to boundaries. Usually over the issue of land use or immigration.