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Chapter 8: Political Geography. The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography. Where Are States Located?. Problems of defining states Today, most habitable land belongs to a country In 1940 = about 50 countries Today = 192 countries (as shown by U.N. membership). Figure 8-2.
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Chapter 8: Political Geography The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography
Where Are States Located? • Problems of defining states • Today, most habitable land belongs to a country • In 1940 = about 50 countries • Today = 192 countries (as shown by U.N. membership) Figure 8-2
Where Are States Located? • Problems defining states • Some difficult to classify • Korea: 1 state or 2? • China/Taiwan: 1 or 2 states? • Western Sahara • Claims to polar regions
Where Are States Located? • Varying sizes of states • State size varies considerably • Largest state = Russia 11% of world’s land area • Smallest state = Monaco • Microstate = states with very small land areas
Where Are States Located? God, Gold, Glory • Development of the state concept • Ancient states • The Fertile Crescent • City-state • Early European states • Colonies • 3 motives: “God, gold, and glory” • Today = few colonies remain
Colonial Possessions, 1914 Figure 8-8
Colonial Possessions, 2006 Figure 8-9
Why Do Boundaries Between States Cause Problems? • Shapes of states • 5 basic shapes • Compact • Elongated • Prorupted • Perforated • Fragmented • Landlocked states
Why Do Boundaries Between States Cause Problems? • Types of boundaries • Physical • Desert boundaries • Mountain boundaries • Water boundaries • Cultural • Geometric boundaries • Human features (language, religion, ethnicity) • Frontiers
Why Do Boundaries Between States Cause Problems? • Boundaries inside states • Unitary states • Smaller states • Federal states • Larger states • Globally = trend toward federations
Why Do Boundaries Between States Cause Problems? Figure 8-19 Figure 8-18 • Electoral geography • Boundaries within the U.S. used to create legislative districts • Gerrymandering • 3 types: wasted, excess, & stacked vote • Illegal (1985 U.S. Supreme Court)
Why Do States Cooperate with Each Other? • Political & military cooperation • United Nations (est. 1945) • Regional military alliances • Balance of power • Post–World War II: NATO or Warsaw Pact Figure 8-21
Why Do States Cooperate with Each Other? • Political and military cooperation • Other regional organizations • OSCE (est. 1965) • OAS (est. 1962) • AU (est. 1963) • The Commonwealth • Economic cooperation
Why Has Terrorism Increased? • Latin word meaning “to frighten” • Use of bombing, kidnapping, hijacking, and murder to instill fear and anxiety in a population • Terrorism • Systematic use of violence to intimidate a population or to coerce a government
Why Has Terrorism Increased? • Terrorism by individuals & organizations • American terrorists • 9/11/2001 attack • Al-Qaeda • Jihad
Why Has Terrorism Increased? • State terrorism support • 3 levels of involvement • Provide sanctuary • Supply weapons, money, & intelligence to terrorists • Use terrorists to plan attacks • Examples • Iraq • Afghanistan • Iran • Pakistan