1. Political Divisions-Local & Regional Level
WG.10a-c

2. Main Ideas
Divisions are regions of the Earth’s surface over which groups of people establish social, economic, and political control.
Political divisions may generate conflict.
Political divisions may generate cooperation.

3. Examples of Political Divisions
Neighborhoods
Election districts
School districts
Regional districts (e.g., bus lines, waste disposal, conservation districts, planning districts, area code zones)
Cities
Counties
States

4. Reasons for Spatial Divisions
Desire for government closer to home
Need to solve local problems
Need to administer resources more efficiently

5. Reasons for Conflict Boundary disputes Cultural differences
Economic differences
Competition for scarce resources
Political advantages (e.g., gerrymandering)

6. Reasons for Cooperation
Natural disasters
Economic advantages (attract new businesses)
Cultural similarities, ethnic neighborhoods
Addressing regional issues (e.g., waste management, magnet schools, transportation)

7. On the International Level
Divisions are regions of the Earth’s surface over which groups of people establish social, economic, and political control.
Political divisions may generate conflict.
Cooperation may eliminate the need for the division and control of the Earth’s surface.

8. Examples of Political Divisions
Countries
Alliances: economic and political
– North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
– European Union (EU)
– Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
– North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

9. Con’t United Nations Organization of American States (OAS)
League of Arab States
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
African Union (AU)

10. Reasons for Political Division
Differences in culture, language, religion
Retention of historical boundaries
Imperial conquest and control
Economic similarities and differences

11. Reasons for Conflict Boundary and Territorial disputes
Syria/Israel Jewish vs. Islam
Western Sahara/Morocco
China/Taiwan (Communism vs. Democracy)
India/Pakistan (Kashmir)

12. Reasons for Conflict Cultural differences (language, religion)
Indonesia Muslims Vs. Christians
Canada (Quebec) French & English
Sudan Muslims & Christians

13. Reasons for Conflict Economic Differences fertile land
access to fresh water
access to coast
fishing rights
Natural resources
different economic philosophies

14. Reasons for Conflict Ethnic differences
Balkans (Muslims Vs Christians)
Cyprus (Greeks Vs Turks)
Rwanda and Burundi (Hutus Vs Tutsis)
Kashmir (Hindus Vs Muslims)

15. Nationalism
Attitude that the members of a nation have when they care about their national identity (Stanford Dictionary of Philosophy)
PRIDE IN ONE’S COUNTRY!

16. Examples of Cooperation
Humanitarian initiatives—e.g., Red Cross/Red Crescent
Economic alliances—e.g., Law of Sea, China and United States, multinational corporations, North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

17. Examples of Cooperation
Cultural alliances—e.g., Francophone world, Commonwealth of Nations
Military alliances—e.g., North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Problem-solving alliances—e.g., Antarctica Treaty, United Nations (UN) peacekeepers
Programs to promote international understanding—e.g., Peace Corps

18. Examples of Cooperation
Alliances for environmental preservation
Foreign aid