Transcript Political Organization of Space

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
OF SPACE
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
• The study of the political
organization (borders) of
the planet
• Political borders
constantly change due
to the unification or
separation of territories
or countries
• Since the beginning of
human history, humans
have divided their living
space in political units
POLITICAL BORDERS 3000 BC - 2013
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewd4l2rD2_U
• Why do you think borders have changed so many
times in the past 5,000 years?
• Do you think the borders will continue to change?
Why?
Draw Political Borders – National Geographic
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/m
edia/file/Draw_Political_Borders.pdf
NATIONALISM
• Independent nations develop due to nationalism –
extreme patriotism and love for one’s country
BOUNDARIES
• A state or territory is separated from its neighbors by
boundaries – invisible lines that mark the extent of a
state’s territory and the control that its political
leaders have
Geometric Boundaries
PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES
• Boundaries established
by rivers, oceans, deserts,
mountains, etc.
• These boundaries are
easy to see and are
usually unchanging
• Many territories fight over
boundaries near water
for easier access to food
and trade routes
CULTURAL BOUNDARIES
• Boundaries set by ethnic differences, especially
those based on language and religion
TERRITORIAL MORPHOLOGY
• Term that describes the shapes, sizes, and relative
locations of states
• Determines the opportunities available to a country
and the challenges they may face
STATE SHAPES: COMPACT
• In a compact state, the
distance from the
center to any boundary
is about the same
• If the capital city is
located in the center,
then it is easier for the
leader to rule
• It also promotes good
communications among
all regions
STATE SHAPES: PRORUPTED
• It is a compact state
with a large
projecting extension
• These exist in order
to reach natural
resources
STATE SHAPES: ELONGATED
• These states have
a long and
narrow shape
• Usually have
communication
and
transportation
problems,
especially if the
capital is not
centralized
STATE SHAPES: FRAGMENTED
• It has several
discontinuous pieces
of territory
• Any state that is
composed of islands is
considered
fragmented
• Either separated by
water or by intervening
states
STATE SHAPES: PERFORATED
• A state that completely
surrounds another state
• Perforated states landlock (no access to
water) the states they
surround
• The inside state must
rely on the importation
and exportation of all
resources from the
perforated state
THE DEVELOPMENT OF
NATION-STATES
• Sovereignty – the ability
of the state to carry out
actions or policies within
its borders independently
• The first nation-states
developed in the Fertile
Crescent where
individual city-states
made up one large
empire
THE DEVELOPMENT OF
NATION-STATES
• Following the Crusades (Muslims vs. Christians; 10951291), monarchs consolidated their power into the
first medieval European nation-states
• England
• France
• Spain
COLONIALISM
• Many European nations
began developing
colonies in the 17th, 18th,
and 19th centuries
• Colonies were
established as political,
economic, and cultural
principles on a territory
that was uninhabited or
sparsely inhabited
COLONIALISM IN THE AMERICAS
• Great Britain colonized
the Americas in the 17th
century for “God, Gold,
and Glory!”
• Sent missionaries to
spread Christianity
• Wanted more natural
resources for Britain’s
economic gain
• More territory = More
power!
IMPERIALISM
• European nations also began taking over other
regions of the world, especially Asia and Africa, in
order to expand their territory and gain natural
resources during the Industrial Revolution
“The sun never sets on
the British Empire.”
• Powerful nations throughout Europe began competing
THE BERLIN
for territory in Africa
CONFERENCE
• To prevent wars in the
African colonies, 14
European nations met at
the Berlin Conference in
1884 to divide up the
land
• No African leaders were
invited and the divisions
were not made
according to linguistic or
ethnic differences
SUPERIMPOSED BOUNDARIES
• Boundaries
forced upon
an existing
cultural
landscape by
a colonial or
political
power without
regard for
cultural
barriers
THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES
• After World War I ended in
1918, the Allied Powers
(America, England, France,
Italy) wrote the Treaty of
Versailles
• The treaty broke up the
territories of the AustroHungarian Empire and
dissolved the Ottoman Empire
• It also formed Yugoslavia in
Eastern Europe
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SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
• Global organizations established primarily to
prevent world wars and to protect countries from a
foreign attack
THE UNITED NATIONS (U.N.)
• Established in 1945 to
prevent a 3rd World
War
• Protect countries from
foreign attack
• 192 members (nations)
• All members can meet
and vote on issues
without resorting to war
UN SECURITY COUNCIL
• There are five permanent members of the United
Nations that cannot be removed
• The Security Council consists of the victorious Allied
Powers in World War II:
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•
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U.S.
Great Britain
France
Russia
China
• Established in 1958 to
heal the scars from
World War II in Western
Europe
• Promotes economic
development and
free trade within
Europe
• The Euro became the
common currency of
all countries in the E.U.
• Created the world’s
wealthiest market
EUROPEAN UNION
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
• Sovereign countries must establish some type of
government to maintain control and keep peace
• National governments usually transfer some of their
authority to local government units
• Unitary State – most of the power stays in the hands
of the central government (England)
• Federal State – grants strong power to units of local
government within the country (the U.S.)
• Regulate foreign and
Interstate commerce
• Coln money
• Levy taxes
• Provide an army
and navy
• Spend for general
welfare
• Declare war
• Establish federal courts
below the Supreme Court
• Establish courts
• Conduct foreign relations
• Exercise powers Implied from
the expressed powers
• Regulate Intrastate
commerce
• Borrow money
• Enact and enforce
laws
• Establish local
government systems
• Administer elections
• Protect the public's
health, welfare, and
morals
ELECTORAL GEOGRAPHY
• Boundaries are drawn in each state to separate
legislative (law-making) districts to ensure that each
district has an even population
• Redrawn every 10 years according to Census
• State legislatures redraw lines in most of the US
S.C. STATE GOVERNMENT
GERRYMANDERING
• The process of redrawing legislative boundaries for
the purpose of benefiting the political party in
power (Republicans vs. Democrats)