Political Geography

1. Political Geography

2. POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY Interaction of politics and place • The study of the interaction of geographical area and political process • It is the formal study of territoriality. • Covers forms of government, borders, treaties, trading blocs, conflicts and war.

4. STATE • A politically organized territory • Administered by a sovereign government • Recognized by a significant portion of the international community. A state must also contain: • a permanent resident population • an organized economy

5. I. Political geography • State: an area organized into a political unit and ruled by an established government that has control over its internal and foreign affairs (sovereignty) • Defined territory, permanent population • Synonym for country • A nation is not a country, but rather the people • A formal region

6. Stateless nation: people without their own state • Kurds live in Iraq, Eastern Turkey, Iran, Syria http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/special/photo/salgado/kurds.jpg

7. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/images/kurdistan1.gifhttp://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/images/kurdistan1.gif

8. Turkey Authorizes Troops to Enter Iraq to Fight Rebels NY Times October 10, 2007 Turkish troops have received authorization to cross the Iraq border to eliminate separatist Kurdish rebel camps in the northern region. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/world/europe/10turkey.html?em&ex=1192161600&en=eec6b40cbf94a082&ei=5087%0A

9. Number: approximately 200 countries in the world

10. NATION - STATE • A country whose population possesses a substantial degree of cultural homogeneity and unity. Classic Example of a Nation-State: Japan

11. East versus West: View of Communist “Red Bloc” during Cold War Lumping failed to recognize differences among Communists, or local causes of conflict

12. Where are states Located?

13. How Americans View the World?

15. Varying Sizes of State

16. Size • Giants • Russia: 6.6 million square miles (far exceeds any other country) • Canada: 3.8 million square miles • Canadians invented GIS to simplify mapmaking • China: 3.7 million square miles • USA: 3.6 million square miles • Brazil: 3.3 million square miles • Australia: 3 million square miles

17. Microstates • Smallest of the small • Most in Europe (leftover of medieval feudal period, afterwards was consolidation and they invented the nation-state) • Less than 200 square miles (2.5 times Washington, D.C.) • Examples: • Andorra • Malta • Liechtenstein • San Marino • Monaco • Vatican City

18. Problems of defining states • Morocco and Western Sahara (Morocco claims the territory, but it is considered by many African countries as a sovereign state) • Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (island in eastern Mediterranean inhabited by Greeks and Turks) • Republic of Turkey occupies a portion of the island • U.S. doesn’t recognize it, so is it a country? • China and Tibet: Tibet is occupied • China and Taiwan: different passports, money, political systems • The world treats them as two countries, but China says it is part of China • Taiwan says it is separate

19. Disagreements Over States • North & South Korea

20. Taiwan

21. Western Sahara

22. City States • City State, is a sovereign state that comprises a town and the surrounding countryside.

23. European States • Roman Empire • Colonialism, which is the effort by one country to establish settlements and impose it’s political, economic, and cultural principles on a territory. “North America” • “God, gold, and glory”

24. African colonies

25. Imperialism , which is control of a territory already occupied and organized by an indigenous society

26. Control of the State • Unitary state • A state governed constitutionally as a unity, without internal divisions or a federalist delegation of powers • Federalism • A system of government in which power is distributed among certain geographical territories rather than concentrated within a central government

27. Pressures on state primacy • Over the centuries, power has changed hands from church to state to corporations • Trends that weaken a state: • Globalization of economy, transnational corporations • Proliferation of international institutions • Increase in nationalist and separatist movements

28. Geopolitics • International organization • An alliance of two or more countries seeking cooperation with each other without giving up either's autonomy or self-determination • Supranational organization • Organization of three or more states to promote shared objectives

29. Supranational Organizations • United Nations • A global supranational organization established at the end of World War II to foster international security and cooperation

30. Global Issues United Nations

31. Established on 24 October 1945 51 countries were committed to preserving peace through international cooperation UN Membership: 192 countries States agree to accept obligations of the UN Charter, an international treaty that sets out basic principles How the UN Works

32. According to the Charter the UN has 4 basic principles: 1. Maintain international peace and security 2. Develop friendly relations among nations 3. Cooperate in solving international problems and promote respect for human rights 4. Be the center for harmonizing the actions of nations How the UN Works

33. The UN is not a world government It does not make laws Large or small, rich or poor, and with differing political views and social systems: All member states have a voice All member states have a vote How the UN Works

34. General Assembly (New York) Security Council (NY) Economic and Social Council (NY) Trusteeship Council (NY) Secretariat (NY) International Court of Justice (Netherlands) Main Bodies

35. The main deliberative organ of the UN Composed of all member states Each member has one vote. Decisions on important issues require two thirds majority vote Peace and Security Admissions of new members Budget matters Decisions on other issues: simple majority General Assembly

36. Maintain international peace and security (disarmament) Make recommendations to the Security council Promote international political cooperation Develop international law Promote human rights Over see international collaboration in the economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, and educational and health fields Functions and Powers

37. Receive and consider reports from the Security Council and other UN organs Consider and approve UN budget Establish financial assessments of Member States Elect non-permanent members to SC and other UN councils and organs Appoint Secretary General Functions and Powers

38. Subsidiary Organs Committee on Information Human Rights Council Candidacies General Assembly

39. Primary responsibility to maintain peace and security A representative of each member must be present at all times at the UN Headquarters 15 Council Members Five permanent members: China France Russian Federation United Kingdom United States Security Council “Non Violence”

40. Ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two year terms Belgium Congo (Republic of the) Ghana Indonesia Italy Panama Peru Qatar Slovakia South Africa Each member has one vote Security Council Japanese Peace Bell

41. In the event of fighting the Council: Tries to secure a ceasefire May send peace keeping mission Impose economic sanctions Order an arms embargo Rare occasions “all means necessary” The Council makes recommendations to the General Assembly on: appointment of Secretary General admission of new Members to the UN Security Council

42. Council has 54 members Elected by the General Assembly Three year terms Serves as central forum for discussing international economic and social issues Economic and Social Council

43. This Council is responsible for: Promoting higher standards of living Full employment Economic and social progress Identifying solutions to international economic, social and health problems Facilitating international cultural and educational cooperation Encourage universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms ECOSOC Economic and Social Council

44. Suspended operation 1 Nov, 1994 Palau: last remaining UN trust territory Council amended rule to meet annually Meet when required by President, General Assembly, Security Council or a majority of members Established to promote the advancement of developing countries towards self-government or independence. China, France, Russian Federation, UK and US Trusteeship Council

45. International staff working in duty stations around the world Carry out diverse day to day work of the UN Survey economic and social trends Prepare studies on human rights and sustainable development Inform the media about work of the UN Secretariat

46. Organize international conferences Interpret speeches Translate documents Staff 8,900 under a regular budget from some 170 countries Take oath not to seek or receive instructions from any government Secretariat

47. Hears cases involving legal disputes among governments Clarifies questions of international law Interprets the UN Charter Composed of 15 judges, elected to office for 9 year terms by UN GA&SC Official languages are English and French International Court of Justice

48. Linked to the UN but remain autonomous (independent) ILO – International Labor Organization: improve working conditions and employment agencies WHO – World Health Organization: solve health problems, health education, immunizations The World Bank – provides loans and economic assistance to nations WTO – World Trade Organization: oversees world trade Specialized Agencies

49. North Atlantic Treaty Organization • An international organization that has joined together for military purposes

50. “ The Parties of NATO agreed that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North Americashall be considered an attack against them all. Consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defense will assist the Party or Parties being attacked, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area”