GeopoliticsThe interplay between geography, power,

politics & international relations

G8 Meeting in Italy, 2009

A. Boundary DisputesA. Boundary DisputesI.I. Positional DisputePositional Dispute – – disagreement over older

antecedent boundary (Peru-Ecuador)

II.II. Territorial DisputeTerritorial Dispute – – disagreement over the possession/control of land (i.e.: Kasmir; Somalia; Israel; Kurds; Basques; Spratly Islands)

irredentismirredentism: : territorial expansion (i.e.: Nazi Germany)

III.III. Resource DisputeResource Dispute – – over water, oil, sea (i.e.: Rio Grande between the U.S. and Mexico; Iraq-Kuwait)

IV.IV. Functional DisputeFunctional Dispute – – problem over use of land today (i.e.: illegal immigration)

The “Iron Curtain”

Major area of dispute w/ Iraq in

the Persian

Gulf War (1990)

South China Sea – area of major territorial & resource disputes Spratly Islands (rich in oil, claimed by six states)

Spratly Islands

B. Centripetal & B. Centripetal & Centrifugal ForcesCentrifugal Forces

Centripetal ForcesCentripetal Forces: : promote unity & cohesion

(i.e.: building roads, schools, armed forces, hospitals)

Centrifugal ForcesCentrifugal Forces: : destabilize or weaken a state

(i.e.: separatist/autonomous movements; devolution; regionalism; tribalism)

Is nationalism a centripetal or centrifugal Is nationalism a centripetal or centrifugal force?force?

““balkanization”balkanization”??The fragmentation of a region into smaller, hostile political units

nationalism– creating a the concept of allegiance to one single country or nation

ethnonationalism– where the “nation” is defined in

terms of ethnicity

Exs:

Scotland Spain– Basques, CataloniaBelgium– Flemish (Dutch) vs. Walloon (Fr.) Former YugoslaviaRussia– ChechnyaQuebec

Ethnic Regions in the Former Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia’s six republics until 1992 included much ethnic diversity. Brutal ethnic cleansing occurred in Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo during the civil wars of the 1990s.

Former USSR

Chechnya (Russia)Chechnya (Russia)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6M6GjUAavo

devolution: movement of power from the central government to regional governments within the state

What causes devolutionary movements?

Ethno-nationalismEconomic forcesSpatial forces

Devolution of States: Sri Lanka

The Sinhalese are mainly Buddhist and speak an Indo-European language,

while the Tamils are mainly Hindu.

Economic Devolutionary Movements

Catalonia, Spain

Barcelona is the center of banking and commerce in Spain and the region is much wealthier than the rest of Spain.

Spatial Devolutionary Movements

Honolulu, Hawai’I

A history apart from the United States, and a desire to live apart in order to keep traditions alive.

European Devolutionary Pressures:

Regions Seeking Autonomy

Regions of European devolution due to ethnonationalism –

Scotland, Belgium, &

Bosnia

South Asia: India-Pakistan

At independence in 1947, British India was divided into India and Pakistan, resulting in the migration of 17 million people and many killings. In 1971, after a brutal civil war, East Pakistan became the country of Bangladesh.

India-Pakistan (Kashmir border)

C. Geopolitics:the interplay between geography, power, politics, & international relations

Classical Geopolitics

German School:

- Ratzel’s “organic state theory”- the state is a living organism, surviving by

“eating” less powerful neighbors

British/American School:

- Mackinder’s “Heartland Theory”- Spykman’s “Rimland Theory”

Geopolitical Strategies during the Cold War:

Mackinder’s view: : a unified heartland land-based empireSpykman’s view: : a rimland sea-based power

Mackinder’s Heartland Theory

Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland

Who rules the Heartland commands the World Island

Who rules the World Island commands the World

D. post-WW II World Order:

Bipolar World (1945-1991): – U.S. vs. Soviet Union– The “Cold War”

Multipolar World (1991-2000) – international cooperation– “New World Order”

Unilateral World (2000-2008)– states taking individual action

The Obama Doctrine?“… unafraid to deploy American power

but mindful that its use must be tempered by practical limits & a dose

of self-awareness.”

President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Singh of India