1. Chapter 8 in a nutshell Where are states?
Problems of definition?
Development of the state concept
Geopolitical theories
Why do boundaries cause problems?
Shapes – This is mostly rubbish.
Types
Boundaries inside of states - gerrymandering
Political Fragmentation
Cooperation between states
Political, Economic, Military
Terrorism

2. State as an organism Friedrich Ratzel – influenced by social Darwinism
States grow by population expansion
States grow by absorbing smaller units
The frontier reflects strength and growth, it is not permanent
This has endured: Geopolitics stems from the interaction of power and territory.

3. State as an idea Political idea, political movement, political area
Israel:
Balfour Declaration of 1917
1920: Jews, Arabs
1947: Jews, 1.1 million Arabs
Britain announced intent to withdraw
Independence in 1948 by U.N.

4. Lenin’s geopolitics
Why hasn’t the revolution predicted by Marx occurred?
Lenin’s answer: imperialism
Colonies are outlets for capital investment
They provide sources of raw materials and captive markets for goods
Profits from imperialism allow workers allow higher wages in homelands
Imperialism leads to a spatial transfer of class struggle
From within state to international
North-South Divide

5. Israel Growth

6. Heartland Theory Halford Mackinder
East Europe -> Heartland -> World-Island -> World
Decreasing importance of UK
Fear of Germany-USSR alliance

7. East/West Divide Communist vs Non-Communist Domino Theory
Korea, Vietnam
Sea containment of USSR
Control key maritime “chokepoints”
Cape of Good Hope, Panama, Suez, Malaccan Strait, Bosporus,…

8. Pakistan British view: Creation of Pakistan
Religion was single-most important identity
Partition inevitable
Creation of Pakistan
Paki – “pure”
Acronym of ethnicities/territories
Muslim nationalism arose during 1930s
Hoped to preserve majority in Pakistan and Bangladesh

9. Pakistan: A created nation
Problems
Kashmir and India
Shiite v Sunni
Minorities
Tribes vs Gov’t
Poverty
War on Terror vs US

10. Nationalism Debates Which comes first, the nation or the state?
Why do some cultures consider themselves to possess a national identity, while others do not?
Is nationalism latent, or actively created?
Self-determination vs. rights of minorities
What does the future look like with transnationalism?

11. Gerrymandering
Redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting a particular party

12. Gerrymandering I
Florida’s 20th. Has elected Democrat Reps. since at least 1992.
Democrat nominees have run unopposed several times

13. Gerrymandering 2
1992
1998
1997
The 12th has historically been Black and Democrat. It is today about 50/50, but still Democrat
2007

14. Gerrymandering Typed of Districts
Stacked: Encompass pockets of support.
Packed: Concentrate opposition leaders into “sacrificial” districts
Cracked: Fragments opponents to have no majority
Historically, cities with small African American populations have been cracked, cities with large populations have been packed and cracked.

15. Political Fragmentation in Cities
Political districts in Boulder County
Boulder County, City of Boulder, Boulder Valley
School District, Regional Transportation District,
University Hill General Improvement District, Boulder Urban Renewal
Authority, Boulder Regional Emergency Telephone Service Authority, Denver
Metropolitan Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, Central Area General Improvement
District, Boulder Valley Conservation District, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Baseline
Water District, Boulder County/Gunbarrel General Improvement District, Cherryvale Fire Protection District, East
Boulder County Water District, Four Mile Fire Protection District, Sunshine Fire Protection District, City of Boulder Forest Glen Transit Pass
General Improvement District, Boulder Municipal Property Authority
...

16. Consequences of Political Fragmentation
Special Districts are not subject to municipal legal and financial controls.
Want to create more taxes or issue more debt? Then create a special district to do it for you.
“Stealth” government
Makes it difficult to see “big picture”
Often leads to inequality