1. Interaction of politics and place
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
Interaction of politics and place
The study of the interaction of geographical area and political process
It is the formal study of territoriality.
Covers forms of government, borders, treaties, trading blocs, conflicts and war.

2. NATION - STATE Classic Example of a Nation-State: Japan
A country whose population possesses a substantial degree of cultural homogeneity and unity.
Classic Example of
a Nation-State:
Japan

3. Stateless Nation
A people without a state… in other words, a people who share a sense of national identity, but don’t have territory with which to create a country/state with.
Ex??

4. Types of Government Systems
Every state has multiple levels of authority, though the geographic distribution of power varies widely. States may be categorized into three types according to their internal geographic distribution of power:
-Unitary Systems,
-Confederal Systems, and
-Federal Systems

5. Unitary Systems
Concentrates all policy-making powers in one central geographic place.
When the nation-state evolved in Europe, democracy had not yet developed, and governments ruled by force. Most European governments were highly centralized; the capital city represented authority for the entire state.
Local governments had no separate powers
Relatively small in land space
Most European states today remain unitary states.

6. Confederal System
Spreads power over many sub-units (states/provinces) held together by a weak central government.
Most attempts have not been long lasting, although modern Switzerland comes as close as exists today.
Examples: The US under the Articles of Confederation (during the revolution), and the Confederate States of America (south) during the American Civil war.

7. Federal System
Divides the power between the central government and the sub-units.
Developed in Several colonial areas (US, Canada, Australia)
Federal systems were possible because the cultures were new, no single cities dominated the new countries, and the landspace was large, setting the stage for the development of regional governments.
Federalism accommodates regional interests by allowing for diverse needs and preferences, but also features a central government that is strong enough to keep the countries from falling apart.

8. Concentration of Power
Unitary System = Most centralized concentration of power
Federal System = Moderate centralization: power evenly distributed
Confederal System = Less centralized concentration: weak central gov. powerful regional gov.
Most countries have Unitary systems, although some are experimenting with DEVOLUTION, or the transfer of some important powers from central governments to sub-governments

9. Constitutional Monarchy Restricted Democratic Practice
Source: Matthew White, Adapted from FreedomHouse.org
Forms of Government
Monarchies:
Constitutional Monarchy
Traditional Monarchy
Absolute Monarchy
Republics:
Democracy
Restricted Democratic Practice
Authoritarian Regime
Totalitarian Regime
Non-Sovereign:
Protectorate
Colonial Dependency
Empire

10. Constitutional Monarchy Restricted Democratic Practice
Monarchies:
Constitutional Monarchy
Traditional Monarchy
Absolute Monarchy
Republics:
Democracy
Restricted Democratic Practice
Authoritarian Regime
Totalitarian Regime
Non-Sovereign:
Protectorate
Colonial Dependency
Empire
Source: Matthew White, Adapted from FreedomHouse.org

11. Constitutional Monarchy Restricted Democratic Practice
Monarchies:
Constitutional Monarchy
Traditional Monarchy
Absolute Monarchy
Republics:
Democracy
Restricted Democratic Practice
Authoritarian Regime
Totalitarian Regime
Non-Sovereign:
Protectorate
Colonial Dependency
Empire
Source: Matthew White, Adapted from FreedomHouse.org

12. East versus West: View of Communist “Red Bloc” during Cold War
Lumping failed to recognize
differences among Communists,
or local causes of conflict

13. Enlargement of
Soviet bloc after
World War II
Berlin
Wall,

14. Changes in Europe,

15. African
colonies

16. Decolonization, 1940s-1990s

17. Political Geography of Elections Variation of voting districts
ELECTORAL GEOGRAPHY
Political Geography of Elections
Variation of voting districts
and voting patterns

18. ELECTORAL GEOGRAPHY VOTER TURN-OUT All elections since 1945-1998
Country
vote/VAP% 1
Italy
92.5 2
Cambodia
90.5 3
Seychelles
96.1 4
Iceland
89.5 36
Romania
77.2 37
Spain 77 75
Luxembourg
64.1 76
Nepal
63.7 95
Malaysia 59 96
Zimbabwe
58.8 97
Jamaica
58.5
106
Honduras
55.3
107
Russia 55
108
Panama
53.4
109
Poland
52.3
110
Uganda
50.6
114
USA
48.3
115
Mexico
48.1
116
Peru 48
Source: International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, 2005
ELECTORAL GEOGRAPHY

19. “Gerrymandering”
Redistricting for
partisan purposes

20. U.S. congressional delegation redistricting Reapportionment :
allocating seats to
a geographic area
(normally done after every census)

21. Tom Delay’s District in Texas
After Texas Republicans won a majority in 2002, they enacted redistricting legislation to protect their wins.

23. Congressional reapportionment

25. Led to Southern secession, Civil War
1860 Presidential Vote
Led to Southern secession, Civil War

26. 1996 Presidential Vote

27. Davis (D) 48%
Simon (R) 42%
Camejo (G) 5%
Copeland (L) 2%

28. 205
229 1 I

29. 2004 Presidential Vote

30. 2004 Presidential Vote

31. 2004 Presidential Vote