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?

– Some difficult to classify• Korea: 1 state or 2?• China/Taiwan: 1 or 2

states?• Western Sahara• Claims to polar regions

• Problems defining states

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?

• 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?• 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)

Figure 8-18

Figure 8-19

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?

• Terrorism– Systematic use of violence to

intimidate a population or to coerce a government

• Latin word meaning “to frighten”

• Use of bombing, kidnapping, hijacking, and murder to instill fear and anxiety in a population

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

The End.