Political Geography (Nation/State)

1. State an independent political unit occupying a defined, populated territory and having full sovereign control over its internal and foreign affairs. Nation is a group of people with a common culture occupying a particular territory, bound together by a strong sense of unity arising from shared beliefs and customs Political Geography (Nation/State)

2. Relationships between Nations and States • Nation-State • State that has a distinct nation, ex. Japan

3. Relationships between Nations and States • multinational state • A state with many nations within. Ex. Canada

4. Relationships between Nations and States • part-nation state • A single nation that is dispersed and predominant in two or more states. • Ex. Arab Nation

5. Relationships between Nations and States • stateless nation • A people without a state and are not dominant in any state. • Ex. Kurds

6. Korea: One State or Two?

7. Korea • A colony of Japan for many years • Divided into two occupation zones after WW II (USSR-North, U.S.-South) • Country divided along the 38th parallel • N. Korea invaded S. Korea in 1950 • This started a 3 year war. Border stayed the same as before the war.

8. Korea • Both countries want to reunite. • Talks ceased with N. Korea development of nuclear power. • In 1992 both countries were admitted to the UN as separate countries.

9. China and Taiwan: One state or two?

10. China and Taiwan • Is the Island of Taiwan a sovereign state? • Until 1999 both agreed that Taiwan was part of China • Civil War fought in late 1940’s between Communists and Nationalists. • Nationalists lost, fled to Taiwan.

11. China and Taiwan • Until 1971, the U.S. recognized the Nationalists as the official govt. of China • Taiwan is the most populous state not in the United Nations

12. Largest States • Russia (11% world’s land area) • China • Canada • United States • Brazil

13. Smallest States (Microstates) • Monaco (Smallest in the UN, .6 sq. mi) • Most are islands and sovereign

14. What is the largest landmass not part of a sovereign state? • Antarctica

15. Antarctica: National Claims Fig. 8-2: Antarctica is the only large landmass that is not part of a state, but several countries claim portions of it.

16. History of States • Modern movement to divide the world into states originated in Europe. • Can be traced to Middle East and Fertile Crescent • City-states were the first states to evolve • Walls established the boundaries of the city, the country side grew food for city.

17. History of States (Europe) • Ancient world political unity was at its height during the Roman Empire • Collapsed in 5th Century A.D. • European portion divided into estates • Consolidation of estates by kings formed the first states (England, France, and Spain) • Germany and Italy, 19th Century

18. Colonies • A colony is a territory that is legally tied to a sovereign state rather than being completely independent.

19. European Colonialism • European States controlled much of the world through colonialism • 3 Reasons • Promote Christianity • Colonies provide resources • Number of colonies = power • God, Gold, and Glory

20. History of Colonialism • Began in 1400s and discovered N. America • From 1776 – 1824 European Powers lost most of their colonies in W. Hemisphere • European powers then focused on Africa and Asia

21. Imperialism v. Colonialism • Colonization of Africa/Asia is referred to as Imperialism • Imperialism is control of territory already occupied and organized by an indigenous society, whereas colonialism is control of previously uninhabited or sparsely inhabited land

22. Largest Colonial Powers • United Kingdom had the largest colonial empire. • “Sun never set” on their empire. France had the second-largest overseas territory.

23. Colonial Practices (France) • France attempted to assimilate colonies into French culture. • France tried to educate an elite group to provide local leadership • After independence a lot of French colonies retained close ties with France.

24. Colonial Practices (The U.K.) • The British created different governments for different territories • This protected the diverse cultures and local customs. • Most British colonies made peaceful transition to independence

26. The Few Remaining colonies • Most Populous Colony—Puerto Rico • One half of population wants to be a state and one half wants to remain a commonwealth of the U.S. • Pitcairn is the least (U.K.) • This is the island settled by mutineers from the ship Bounty • 54 people, 2 sq. mi.

28. Boundaries and Disputes • WORLD ISSUES

29. Five Basic Shapes of States • Compact • Prorupted • Elongated • Fragmented • Perforted

30. Compact • Efficient to govern • Distance from center to boundary does not vary • Beneficial to small states; easy to set up communication systems if capital is in center • Examples: Rwanda and Uganda

31. Prorupted • Compact state with a large projecting extension • Can provide access to a resource • Separate two states that would share a boundary • Example: Caprivi strip in Namibia

32. Elongated • Regions can be separated from capital • Country may have poor communications • Ex. include Chile and Norway

33. Fragmented • State that has several discontinuous pieces of territory. • 2 types • Separated by water and separated by another state.

34. Tin Bigha corridor (Fragment)

35. Perforted • A state that completely surrounds another state. • Lesotho is surrounded by S. Africa

36. Landlocked states • Lacks a direct outlet to the sea. • Most common in Africa, 14 states are landlocked • Ocean access is critical, international trade. • Landlocked states must work with neighboring states to transport goods to the ocean.

37. Types of boundaries • Physical • Geometric • Cultural

38. Physical Boundaries • Use physical features to establish boundary. • Mountains • Deserts • Bodies of water, rivers.

39. Geometric Boundaries • Lines drawn on maps that follow specific lines of latitude or longitude.

40. Cultural Boundaries • Religious boundaries • Used in dividing Ireland and Pakistan/India • Language Boundaries • European countries set main boundaries based on language. Ex. France, Germany, and Italy.

41. May also classify boundary when boundary was made. • Antecedent boundary—drawn before an area becomes populated. • Subsequent boundary—drawn after the cultural landscape has been developed. • Consequent boundary is a type of subsequent boundary that is drawn to accommodate differences within a state. • Subsequent superimposed boundaries—boundaries forced on a country by a conquering or colonizing power.

42. What are the government responsibilities inside a state? • establishes the legal code • what kind of currency will be used • may have to join army • speak a common language • kind of religion that is taught in school

43. Two types of states. • 1. Unitary: Highly centralized governments, few internal cultural contrasts, strong sense of national identity, borders are cultural as well as political. • 2. Federal: Associations with provinces or states and the states have strong regional govt. responsibilities. Capital city was created to serve as an administration center. • The trend is for countries to have a federal government.

44. Boundary Disputes • 1. Positional disputes: When states disagree about the interpretations of documents that define a boundary. Usually arise when the boundary is antecedent. • 2. Territorial dispute: These arise when a boundary has been superimposed and divides a ethnic population.

45. Boundary Disputes (Cont.) • 3. Resource disputes: Disagree to the resources and their use in boundary areas. • 4. Functional disputes: arise when neighboring states disagree over policies applied to boundaries. Usually over the issue of land use or immigration.