1. Unit 5: The Political Geography of Space

2. Unit Outline States, Nations, Nation-States The Structure of the State
The History of The State
The Modern State

3. Important Vocabulary
Balkanization Binational or Multinational State Boundary Centripetal Force Centrifugal Force Colonies Command Economy Compact States Confederal System Consequent Boundaries Core Area Core-Periphery Cultural Boundary Democratization Devolution The Four Boundary Disputes Economic Force Electoral Geography Elongated States Enclaves, Exclaves Ethnic Force Ethnonationalism European Union Federal System Fragmentation Fragmented States Frontiers Geometric Boundaries Gerrymandering Geopolitics Imperialism Institutions Integration Internal Boundaries Irredentism Landlocked States Market Economy Marketization Microstates Minority/Majority Districting Mixed Economy Multicore State Nation/Nation-State/State Perforated States Physical Boundary Political Geography Politicization of Religion Politics Primate City Privatization Security Council Separatist Movement Shatter Belts Sovereignty Spatial Force Stateless Nation States Supranational Organization Territoriality Unitary state

4. Important Models and Theories
Nicholas Spykman’s Rimland Theory Friedrich Ratzel’s Heartland Theory Wallerstein’s World System Theory

5. Guiding Unit Questions
How is space politically organized into states and nations?
How do states spatially organize their governments?
How are boundaries established, and why do boundary disputes occur?
How do geopolitics and critical geopolitics help us understand the world?
What are supranational organizations and what is the future of the state?

6. Part 1: Political Organizations of Space

7. A: States, Nations, Nation-States

8. What is Political Geography?

9. Political Geography is the study of the political organization of the world.

10. Political Divisions
States
Nations
Nation-States

11. The State

12. Politically Organized Permanent Population
Defined Territory and Government
Recognized by other States
State

13. State
Territory
Sovereignty

14. What is sovereignty?

15. Sovereignty means that a state is independent from control of its internal affairs by other states.

16. Are the US States actual states?
Because the US States do not have sovereignty, they are not considered states but districts.

17. The Nation

18. Not defined by territory “An Imagined Community” Nation
Culturally Defined
Shared Culture
Not defined by territory
“An Imagined Community”
Nation

19. Nations
The French
Native Americans

20. Not Nations
Italy
Great Britain

21. How has globalization affected the concept of ‘nation’?

22. Dates to the French Revolution
Created to inspire nationalism within a state
Largely an ideal rather than fact
Unifies groups that may destroy the state
Nation-State

23. Examples
The Vatican
Iceland
Scotland

24. Different Types of Nations and States

25. Multinational State
A state with more than one nation inside its borders.
Nearly every State in the world is a multinational state.
Iraq: Sunnis, Kurds, Shiites
Multistate Nations
A nation that stretches across borders.
Stateless Nations
A nation that does not have a state.
Palestinians, Kurds

26. B: Territoriality

27. What is territoriality?

28. Territoriality is the efforts to control pieces of the earth’s surface for political and social ends.

29. Territory is the most basic form of power.

30. To understand territoriality you have to understand politics of space.

31. Sack’s Theory
Human territoriality is different than animal territoriality.
HT takes on different forms depending on the social and geographic context.

32. For Example:
How does a democratic system assign territory as compared to a monarchy?

33. C: Boundaries

34. What are boundaries?

35. Boundaries are invisible lines that mark the extent of a state’s territory and control its leaders have.

36. Before boundaries, there were frontiers.

37. A frontier is a geographic zone where no state exercises power
A frontier is a geographic zone where no state exercises power. It is a neutral zone of power.

38. Types of Boundaries

39. Cultural (Consequent)
Physical
Mountains
Desert
Water
Cultural (Consequent)
Geometric
Religious (India/Pakistan)
Language

40. Shapes of Boundaries

41. What is territorial morphology?

42. Territorial Morphology is a term that describes the shape, size, and relative location of states.

43. Compact State
The distance from the center to any boundary is about the same. Promotes good communication.

44. Prorupted State
A compact state with a large projecting extension. Exists to reach a natural resource.

45. Perforated State
A perforated state completely surrounds another. To get to the other state you have to go through the other. Problems arise if there are issues between the two states.

46. Elongated State
A long state.

47. Fragmented State
A state that is separated by a physical or human barrier. Communication is difficult.

48. Enclave State
A state completely surrounded by another state. Does not have a political affinity for the surrounding state.

49. Exclave State
A part of a state almost completely separated from the rest of the country.

50. Size of States:
A microstate (Andorra, Liechtenstein, San Morino) may only be a few square miles. The size of the state does not necessarily suggest power.

51. D: Internal Boundaries and Boundary Disputes

52. Boundary Disputes

53. What are some reasons that people might fight over boundaries?

54. Occur when states argue about where the border actually is.
Ex: The United States and Mexico argued over their border position even after it was set by treaty in 1848.
Positional Disputes
Arises over the ownership of a region.
Conflicts arise if the people of one state want to annex a territory whose population is ethnically related.
Ex: Germany invaded Poland and Czechoslovakia because there were German minorities living there.
Territorial Disputes

55. Involve natural resources (mineral deposits, fertile farmland, or rich fishing groups) that lie in the border area.
Example: The US and Canada have fought over fishing grounds in the Atlantic Ocean
Allocation Disputes
When neighboring states cannot agree on policies that apply in a border area.
Example: The US/Mexican Border in regards to immigration and transport of goods.
Operational Disputes

56. Internal Boundaries

57. Internal Boundaries
Most modern countries divide themselves into districts, states, or provinces. These boundaries may be physical, cultural or geometric.

58. Canada
10 Provinces 2 Federal Territories 1 Self Governing Homeland

59. India
28 States People in different states often speak different languages.

60. Part 2: The Structure of the State

61. A: Types of Government in States

62. Unitary States, Confederate States, Federal States

63. C O N F E D E R A C Y

64. F E D E R A L I S M

65. U N I T A R Y

66. B: Organization of States

67. Capital City
Core Area
Periphery

68. What is a core area?

69. A Core Area is heartland of a country, usually more advanced than the rest of the country, with an intense feeling of native culture and nationality.

71. Multi-Core Areas
Some states have more than one core area.

72. Capital Cities
In most states, the capital city is both an economic and cultural center as well as a center for government.

73. What is a primate city?

74. A primate city is the leading city in its country or region, disproportionately larger than any others in the urban hierarchy.

75. Examples of Primate Cities
Paris (9.6 million) is definitely the focus of France while Marseilles has a population of 1.3 million.
Similarly, the United Kingdom has London as its primate city (7 million) while the second largest city, Birmingham, is home to a mere one million people.
Mexico City, Mexico (8.6 million) outshines Guadalajara (1.6 million).

76. Forward Capital
When the capital city serves as a model for national objectives – such as economic development and future hopes. (Example: Tokyo, and Brasilia)

77. Periphery
The Periphery is the outlying areas of a state. Towns get smaller, factories less frequent, etc.

78. Part 3: The History of the State

79. Part A: Colonies and Imperialism

80. History of the Colonial Period

81. What is a colony?

82. Colonies are areas dependent on another country – they often establish boundaries and government where none exist.

83. The 14th Century
What major discovery was made in the 14th Century that inspired the start of colonialism?

84. Why Colonize?
God
Gold
Glory

85. What happened to the Western Colonies?
The United States – 1776 Independence Most Latin American Countries – What might this do to a nation’s morale?

86. Loss of Western Colonies
Rise of Nationalism

87. What is nationalism?

88. Nationalism is loyalty or devotion to one's nation.

89. Why Nationalism? The French Revolution The Enlightenment
Rise of Politics

90. The French Revolution
What was the French Revolution? How did the French Revolution inspire nationalism?

91. The Enlightenment
National awakening grew out of the Enlightenment. It emphasized national identity based on nationhood instead of for the established government. “Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood”

92. Revolution!!
Many European states were being ruled by foreign authority. (Example: Greece by the Ottoman Empire) The people overthrew their government and established a national identity.

93. The Rise of Politics
As people began to have more control over their country, nationalism began to be an important point for politicians trying to win support.

94. The Rise of Imperialism

95. What is a imperialism?

96. Imperialism is the policy of extending a country’s influence through diplomacy or military force to areas already governed by a indigenous society.

97. Imperialism was a large part of the political landscape from the 19th and early 20th century in both Africa and Asia by the European Nations.

98. The Scramble for Africa (1881 – 1914)

99. What was the scramble for Africa?

100. The Scramble for Africa was a process of invasion, occupation, colonization and annexation of African territory by European powers

101. Causes Exploration Military Labor Technology Trade Routes Resources
Military Bases
Trade Routes
Military Labor

102. The Berlin Conference
The Berlin Conference formalized the Scramble for Africa. It set ground rules.

103. Rules Abolished Slavery Congo and Niger River Open for Ship Traffic
Any fresh colonization would have to be approved
Established Regions of Control

104. When did it end?
The Race for Africa ended after World War I – especially when Germany was stripped of its colonies. Most African/Asian nations became independent after WWII because the European nations did not have the resources to maintain control.

105. Results African Nations split at Colonial Lines
Drastically increased the number of Nation States
Loss of Tribalism
Race for Power

106. Part 4: The Modern State

107. Part A: Modern Challenges to the Nation-State

108. 1) Centripetal and Centrifugal Forces

109. Important Questions How is the nation-state concept changing?
Considering organizations like the United-Nations, is it possible that the flow of power might change?
What are the differences between centripetal and centrifugal forces?
What is devolution and how is it affecting governments?

110. Centripetal Forces Centrifugal Forces Forces that unify states.
Forces that fragment states.

111. Flags, Symbols, Holidays
Centripetal Forces
Nationalism
Flags, Symbols, Holidays
Schools and Education
Church and Religion
Transportation
Communication

112. Opposing Institutions
Centrifugal Forces
Opposing Institutions
Oppositional Nationalism
Separatist Movements
Peripheral Locations
Ethnic Forces
Economic Forces

113. 2. Devolution and Its Causes.

114. English Government
Imagine, as a Louisianan, that you were being governed by a group of people from North Dakota. How would this make you feel? What problems might this cause?

115. English Government
England is largely governed by people out of London. The problem is that many people feel that London does not adequately represent them so London has moved from a strict Unitary System to a Federal System.

116. What is devolution?

117. Devolution is the transfer of power from the central government to sub-governments.

118. Ethnic Forces
When a state contains a strong ethnic group that is different than the majority it can cause ethnonationalism. This can be further exacerbated when the ethnic group lives in one central area. Examples: French Canadians in Quebec, India and Pakistan’s Separation, Yugoslavia (Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, and Serbia-Montenegro)

119. Economic Forces
When one area of a state is economically inequal to the other areas. Examples: Italy’s “Ancona Line”, This is especially true in any areas separated from the core.

120. Spatial Forces
Distance, remoteness, and peripheral location promote devolution, especially if water, desert, or mountains separate the areas from the center of power. Examples: Example: Puerto Rico = 5 in extremely large cases of 2.

121. Part B: Changing Geopolitical Concerns

122. 1. Theories of Geopolitics.

123. What is geopolitics?

124. Geopolitics is the study of spatial and territorial dimensions of power relationships within the global political-territorial order.

125. Examples of Geopolitics
How does Chinese Trade affect American Interests?
How does the European Union affect the individual governments of members?
How does the conflict in the Middle East affect relationships between UN countries.

126. The Power Structure of Global Politics
Friedrich Ratzel
States are like biological organisms
They have a predictable rise and fall.
Sir Halford MacKinder
The Heartland Theory
Eurasia has the resources to rule the world.
Nicholas Spykmann
The Rimland Theory
The Rimland (Encircles the Heartland of Eurasia) has Control

127. Rimland Theory

128. Heartland Theory

129. 2. Supranational Organizations.

130. What is a supranational organization?

131. Supranational Organizations are organizations that transcend national boundaries to make decisions on a geopolitical level.

132. Historical Supranationals
The Concert of Europe
Formed in the 19th Century
Formed to restore the balance of power after Napoleons fall.
Voluntary Agreement
League of Nations
Formed after WWI
Failed at the advent of WWII

133. The United Nations
Started with only 49 nation-states in 1945, has grown to 192 members.
Membership is voluntary, but the body has limited-powers to force its members to abide by peace keeping principles.
The Security Council (The U.S., Great Britain, France, China, and Russia) can establish a peace-keeping force in a hotspot and request states to contribute military forces.
Contains many sub-organizations that promote general welfare and monitor world trade and economics.

134. The European Union Considered a regional organization.
Fostered by the belief in integration (encourages states to pool sovereignty)
Largely an economic organization (The Euro)
Trade and other economic matters
Justice and Home Affairs
Common foreign and security policy

135. Effects of the EU Has large control over Monetary Policy
Demonstrates the rise of the S.O over National Sovereignty
Provides Europe more power over World Issues

136. Part C: Forces of Change

137. Move Towards Market Economies
Forces of Change
Democritization
Move Towards Market Economies
Religious Politics

138. Globalization
What is globalization? How might globalization effect the way that states look and govern themselves?

139. 1. Democratization.

140. What is democratization?

141. Democratization is the process of non-democratic countries becoming democratic.

142. Illiberal Democracies
Civil Liberties
Equal Treatment
Neutrality of Judiciary
Open Civil Society
Open Media
Civilian control of the military
Illiberal Democracies
Missing some or all of those characteristics.

143. Samuel Huntington’s Theory
Third Wave
Defeat of dictatorial or totalitarian rulers.
More Recent
Second Wave
After WWII – Post-Colonialism
First Wave
Gradual
Samuel Huntington’s Theory

144. Reasons for Democratization
Loss of Legitimacy by Authoritarian Regimes
The expansion of an urban middle class
A new emphasis on “human rights” by the United States
The “snow-ball” effect

145. When is a country considered democratic?
Democracy may be declared when a country has had at least two successive peaceful turnovers.

146. 2. Market Economies.

147. Types of Economies
Command Economy – The government determines the cost of product and what to sell. Mixed Economy – Allows significant government control while still providing for market principles. Market Economy – The producers determine the cost of product and what to sell based on what people determine what to purchase.

148. Global Economic Change
Most countries have experienced or are experiencing Marketization – the movement from a command economy to a mixed economy.
This does not necessarily connect with the government’s power (China, Russia)

149. 3. Revival of Ethnic or Cultural Politics.

150. Fragmentation
The division of states based on cultural identity. How can you see fragmentation in the Middle East?

151. What is the politicization of religion?

152. The politicization of religion is the use of religious principles to promote political ends and vice versa.

153. Islam in the Middle East
Examples
Islam in the Middle East
American Politics
Terrorism

154. The End.
Please Note:
Somewhere along the way, my notes on Gerrymandering was removed from my notes. I will try to add these in whenever I can. Pay special attention to the different types of gerrymandering and why it occurs.