POLITCAL GEOGRAPHY

C8K1K2

What is Political Geography?

• Political geography is concerned with the study of the way governments organize and administer space on Earth's surface. Especially areas of conflict.

Loraine & Alsace• Historically disputed

region.• Inhabited by Germanic

tribes.• 1670, Napoleon annexed

region• 1870, Prussia recaptured• 1918, France regain• WW2, Nazi annexed• 1945, returned to France

Russia & USSR

Objectives: Where are States Located?

• Problems of Defining States• Varying Size of States• Development of the State Concept

Problems of Defining States

• State/Country: political area ruled by an establish government that has control over its internal and foreign affairs (sovereignty).

• Rapid political change since 1940’s (50 vs 192 states)

Korea: One State or Two?

• Early 20th century/ Japanese colony

• After WWII: region split and occupied by US and USSR (38th NL) 1950 Korea War.

• 50 year stalemate

China & Taiwan

• 1949 Nationalist vs Communists. Both claim legitimate Chinese state.

• 1971: US finally recognizes mainland China as legitimate China, but supports and defends Taiwan.

China and South East Asia

Sahrawi Republic

• 1976 Spanish colony until Moroccan/ Mauritania independence.

• Most of Africa recognizes Polisario Front independent. Controls one fifth of the territory.

Polar Regions: Many Claims

• Antarctica is uninhabited but claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and United Kingdom. Not universally recognized.

• 1959: Antarctic Treaty = research station but not military.

Varying Size of States

• Russia: Largest state 17.1 million km2

• Vatican: .44 km2• 2 dozen microstates

(smaller than 1000 km2)

Development of the State Concept• Ancient & Medieval States: organized

as city-states, kingdoms, empires, and tribes.

• Fertile Crescent: city-states: surrounded by walls

• Roman Empire: included 38 provinces• Kingdoms: large estates controlled by

lords/ kings• Colonies: territory that is legally tied

to a sovereign state• Colonialism/ Imperialism: state

controlling foreign lands politically, economically, and cultural principles. (promoted religion, extract resources/ tax, and extend power

British vs French Imperialism• Direct: assimilation of

culture. Use of French leaders to control political affairs.

• Indirect: varying gov. structures and policies for various territories. More autonomy of local culture.

• Post WWII: Most of Africa/ Asia became independent

• Today: 43 remaining colonies of indigenous pop.

K2: Why Do Boundaries Btw States Cause Problems?

• Shapes of States• Types of Boundaries• Boundaries Inside States

• Objectives

Shapes of States

• Why shapes matter? (controls boundaries with other states/ affects communication & conflict)

• Five Types: compact prorupted, elongated, fragmented, or perforated.

Five Basic Shapes of States

• Compact: evenly dispersed (circle) with central capital.

• Elongated: long and narrow• Prorupted: disrupted usually to

give access• Perforated: state completely

surrounded by another state• Fragmented: state interrupted 1)

by bodies of water. 2) by another state

• * Landlocked States: no direct outlet to sea/ ocean (mostly found in Africa

Types of Boundaries• Physical: desert,

mountain, water• Cultural: geometric

(straight lines) & differences such as language, ethnicity, religion

• Frontiers: space where no state exercises complete political control (Saudi & neighbors

Boundaries Inside States• Separate different

nationalities or ethnicities (self-determination within single state)

• Unitary state: most power in the hands of central government (France)

• France: 96 elected general council but it’s administrative head is a prefet (appointed by national gov. rather than local people)

Trend Toward Federal Government• Federal states: allocates

strong power to local government (USA)

• Poland: restructured from unitary to federal after collapse of communism.

• Electoral Geography: boundaries separating legislative districts.

• Gerrymandering: redrawn to benefit a particular group