b:chap8-98.htm

 

GEOG 201

CHAPTER 8 STUDY NOTES

POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY

 

Besides reading Chapter 8 you should also look at all of the maps in Chapter 7. Some quiz questions will be based on Chapter 7 maps.

This chapter is different from the previous ones in so far as it stresses the organization of space not the flow of groups or ideas across it. As a result, be certain that you spend enough time reviewing the maps in this chapter so that you understand the patterns that are spread across the landscape (i.e. look at all of the maps).

Second, questions developed out of this section will also rely on your ability to do some critical thinking. A number of the areas mentioned in this chapter are currently in the news, quiz/exam questions can refer to these events and ask you to use knowledge developed in the chapter to answer them.

 

The definition of State versus Nation is based on ideas in part drawn from outside your text. Ideas of the Geographer George Demko are especially used here.

 

I. Key Point 1 -- State

 

A. True State -- area organized into a political unit and ruled by an established government with control over its internal and foreign affairs

1. Specific territory

2. Permanent population

3. Sovereignty -- ability of state to govern its internal affairs free from control by other states (contrasts with Autonomy -- limited degree of local control)

  • Note our discussion that most important internal affairs revolve around setting the rules and policing the economy
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    ? What kind of region is a state? Look back at the first chapter if necessary.

     

    B. "Supposed" states (puppets) -- political unit, has government, but no sovereignty 

    1. Recent example was the homelands in South Africa, what else was mentioned in class and in the book?

    2. What is the West Bank of Israel where the PLO has control????

    C. Non-States

    1. Unorganized territory -- Antarctica

    2. Colonies (also referred to as self governing territories, commonwealths,...)

    II. Nation

     

    A. Nation -- collection of people occupying a particular portion of the earth's surface **(see below) who have a strong sense of unity based on a set of shared beliefs and attitudes

    1. territorial occupation may be of a historical nature rather than continuous as was the case of the Jewish People between the destruction of Jerusalem in the first century AD and the re-establishment of Israel in 1948.

    a. the point is that refugees do not cease to be a nation just because they loose their homeland

    2. Note that Nation stress PEOPLE while State refers to a POLITICAL structure and sovereignty

     

    III. Historical Background -- States and Nation-States

    1. Initially began with walled cities surrounded by frontiers -- can you think of any examples

    2. Eventually lead to collection of city states into Empires -- again what examples come to mind??

    3. In Europe the collapse of these Empires eventually lead to the emergence of Nation-State over the last 500 years 

  • Is Germany one of these??? When did Germany become a nation-state???

    • 4. Many former colonial areas, especially in Africa still remain little more than boundaries drawn rather hastily by European colonial empire builders ignoring in large part separate nationalities. Has this effected the situation in Rwanda???? Or Congo???

      a. It should be noted that Sadam Hussain in fact had some justification in questioning the border with Kuwait -- it is a colonial artifact. Does this mean that historically there might not have been a Kuwaiti nation-state???

    5. To Learn How Winston Churchill Claimed to have created the State of JORDAN Click Here.

     IV. Key Point 2: Bounding a State

    A. Boundaries Vs Frontiers

    1. Note the difference in the definition of each of these.

    2. Note the one place in the world where extensive frontiers remain

     

    B. Cultural Boundary types

    1. Language -- Note the current relationship between Language and boundaries in Europe. Might this explain current events in Yugoslavia??? Might it cause continued instability for the area of Kosovo??? (look at the maps in the Ethnicity chapter and in the earlier ones on language)

    2. Religion -- a number of examples are given here. What is the major religion of Albania??? Refer back to the chapter on religion if necessary. Does this effect your answer to point number 1 above???

    3. Other -- primarily geometric

      a. some based on mutual convenience of two sovereign states. What does Pt. Roberts think about the 49th parallel?

    b. too many are based on colonial treaties now foisted upon emerging States, which split Nationalities for the convenience of European colonial powers. Are there any Indian tribes in the United States which are split with Canada or Mexico??? Hint who are the Mohawks in NY state.

    C. Physical -- note the three types and the advantages/disadvantages of each

     

    V. Key Point 3: Boundaries and Nation--States

    1. In theory when a state encompasses the whole of one nation and no other nationalities. -- Very difficult to find incidents of this, perhaps in some South Sea Island mini-states

    2. Most states are multinational -- see Figures in book

    3. Rule tends to be Single State with more than one Nation

    4. Single Nations with multiple states

    5. Some in the Middle East argue that all Arab states also represent these phenomena and should unite

    a. There have been numerous attempts to build a larger unified Arab State -- the most famous example was the United Arab Republic that Egypt sponsored and for a period of time included Syria and other states

    6. Simon Bolivar attempted to unite Latin America into a larger state, but the differences were too great despite a common language, religion, and shared colonial heritage

    a. One major difference between many Latin American nations is the proportion of their population that is Native American or mixed as opposed to European

    b. Even among those predominated by Native Americans their heritages are quite diverse. All Native American tribes are not the same Nation. The Lummi's are not the same as the Spokane's, similar differences exist in S. America.

      

    VI. State methods of organization

      A. Unitary -- centrally controlled state (i.e. France)

      B. Federal -- local autonomy (i.e. Canada)

  • What kind is the US, and how does this effect us as a people?

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    VII. Key points 4 -- What sort of organizations are now emerging to create cooperation among states???

  • What is the NAFTA??? Have you heard of APEC ??
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    CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS

    Given Rubenstein's discussion of former Soviet Union States in central Asia, should you be surprised to know that the current President of Kazakhistan is Russian? Explain why.

    Syria and Turkey almost went to war in November 1998 over Kurds (who are the Kurds?) and Syria's support of some Kurdish rebels. Why might Syria be less concerned with Kurds than Turkey.

    In November 1998 Russia refused to return four tiny islands to Japan that they occupied at the end of WWII. The Russian argument was not that the islands were valuable (in fact they asked that Japanese return to the islands even to the farms and homes they once occupied and bring lots of money for investment, because the Russians have little use for the area), but the argument went that if Russia changed one part of its borders many other changes would occur. Why is Russia so sensitive? Besides Russians, who is in Russia? How could this effect borders?

     Greece has insisted that Cyprus be considered for admission to the European Economic Union (Common Market). Turkey has been refused entry for the foreseeable future, with statements by the Germans indicating that they do not think Turks have a cultural outlook that is compatible with Europe. What chance do you see for Cyprus entering the European Union and why?