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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
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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
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.
State as an idea • Political idea, political movement, political area • Israel: • Balfour Declaration of 1917 • 1920: 60000 Jews, 600000 Arabs • 1947: 600000 Jews, 1.1 million Arabs • Britain announced intent to withdraw • Independence in 1948 by U.N.
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
Halford Mackinder East Europe -> Heartland -> World-Island -> World Decreasing importance of UK Fear of Germany-USSR alliance Heartland Theory
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,…
Pakistan • British view: • 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
Problems Kashmir and India Shiite v Sunni Minorities Tribes vs Gov’t Poverty War on Terror vs US Pakistan: A created nation
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?
Gerrymandering • Redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting a particular party
Gerrymandering I Florida’s 20th. Has elected Democrat Reps. since at least 1992. Democrat nominees have run unopposed several times
Gerrymandering 2 1992 1998 1997 The 12th has historically been Black and Democrat. It is today about 50/50, but still Democrat 2007
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.
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 ...
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