1. Can a country’s shape determine its destiny?
State Morphology
Can a country’s shape determine its destiny?

2. The Concept
The boundaries of a country and the shape of the land encompassed by those boundaries can present problems or it can help to unify the country.

3. 5 Categories Compact Fragmented Elongated Perforated
Protruded or Prorupted

4. Fragmented
Territory consists of 2 or more individual parts separated by foreign territory or international waters
Japan, Indonesia, U.S.A.
Must work to reduce remoteness through improving internal contact/communication
Capital location is often difficult

5. Compact Resembles a circle in shape Belgium, Poland, Uruguay
Easier to defend-short borders
Internal control and communication are easy
Maximum territory with minimum borders

6. Elongated No central compact territory Chile, Norway, Italy
Often difficult to integrate the entire country into communication and transportation networks
Residents may feel closer to populations of other states

7. Perforated A B Surrounds another independent state South Africa, Italy
Problems can occur from the presence of a sovereign state within the boundaries of another A B

8. Protruded or Prorupted
Compact state with a large extension
Thailand, Namibia, Afghanistan
The population of the protrusion may feel isolated

9. Process Assignment
Create a T-chart or content frame which identifies the advantages and disadvantages to each state shape