Political Geography
Chapter 8
8.1 + 8.4
As recently as 1940, the world contained about 50 countries, now there are 200.
State:◦ An area organized into an INDEPENDENT political unit +
ruled by an established government with control over its internal + foreign affairs
◦ It occupies has a: Defined territory
Permanent population
Power over its internal & external affairs
Recognized by the international community
Does not necessarily require a military
◦ State is a synonym for COUNTRY
Each state has SOVEREIGNTY◦ A state is independent (freedom) from control of its
internal affairs by other states.
Other states do not control over what happens inside its borders (another state).
State has its own government, laws, military, & leaders!
•Palestinians – live in West Bank, Gaza Strip, & Golan Heights of Israel
•Many live in neighboring states after fled since 1948
• Culture - practice Islam + speak Arabic
Desire to create state called PALESTINE
SEEKself-determination –right to govern themselves
Why would they want to govern themselves?
Desire for Sovereignty
Nation: group of people with a common culture- Group shared cultural beliefs & unity: _______ genous
- Ancestry or historical events - Language
- Ethnicity - Religion EX. _________________________________
Nation-State: state whose territory is occupied by a particular ethnicity nation (90% or greater) ______ genous
Multinational State: state with 2 or more nations / cultures (diverse state) agree to coexist peacefully
Stateless nation: nation/culture with NO government A nation without a state!
◦ Why would an ethnic group want to govern themselves?
A. Nation-state – Poland and Slovenia are examples of states occupied by a distinct nation or people
B. Multinational state – Switzerland is ethnically, linguistically, & religiously diverse
(C) Multinational state-
- Identify races & ethnic groups
(D) Stateless-nation – Kurds are ancient group
located in five different states
What is the only large landmass on Earth’s surface
that is not part of a state (no government)?
Who can assist whenever there is international conflicts or concerns?
• Global international organization formed
after WWII that provides a forum for discussion
of international problems.
•focused on international peace and security
(striving for peace) ______ effort
•Replaced the League of Nations
• 193 members all states except Kosovo, Taiwan & Vatican City
What is the most
expensive task of
the UN?
UN has 4 main purposes
1. Keep peace international forum
2. Promote international cooperation
3. Addresses global concerns: - economic problems (improve the lives of the poor, hunger, etc.)
- human rights (illiteracy, respect for each other’s rights & freedoms)
- provide humanitarian relief (hunger, disease, etc.)
4. Neutral in conflict:- authorizing military
* rely on individual states to support troops
- peacekeeping efforts
General Assembly:◦ All 193 states members & address issues in a forum
Security Council: ◦ 10 rotating members
◦ 5 permanent members (hint who were the winners of WWII?) : China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, & United States
Veto power to these permanent members
◦ Example of a state without sovereignty:
1. ANTARCTICA = large land mass not part of a state!
◦ Treaty of Antarctica provides legal
framework for managing Antarctica
Research stations
No military
◦ Argentina, Australia, Chile, France,
New Zealand, Norway, &
United Kingdom claim portions
Who has the largest claim in Antarctica?
South Pole Region with many claims
overlapping & conflicting claims
Besides the South Pole (Antarctica), where else in the
world are there conflicts regarding sovereignty or
resource extraction / travel on the seas?
2. Arctic circle◦ What could they be fighting over? ______________
◦ Video: Arctic Circle Conflict
◦ Would the same disagreement occur off the shores of Antarctica?
• Where is the Arctic Circle?
• Arctic Ocean?
Boundary – invisible line marking the extent of
a state’s territory◦ Result from natural physical features & cultural features
◦ Sometimes boundaries have markers to show the different territories
◦ Vertical plane that cuts through the rocks below and the airspace above, dividing one territory from another.
Potential to become focal point of conflict
3. Who owns the Sea?
◦ LAW OF THE SEA (1983) U.N. law establishing states’ rights, responsibilities concerning the ownership & use of the earth’s seas & oceans & their resources Can a state defend itself?
Can it control valuable fishing & other resources off its shores?
◦ EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE (EEZ)– state’s rights to explore, exploit, conserve, & manage natural resources up to
200 nautical miles from shore
Challenge IN Defining STATES
Which state is the largest in terms in
land area?
Because it is so big, would it
be heterogeneous or
homogenous?
World’s largest
multinational state!• 43 ethnic groups
• Smaller ethnic groups found
along borders Would Russia argue with neighbors for
more sea accessibility?
What would
cause for them
to break apart?
• E
• S
• P
• N
• Factors!
Break-up of a state does not always
have to be violent Slovenia
How many states
formed out of USSR?
-Look at the location of North Korea and South Korea
- Korea is known as a “buffer zone”, why?◦ What is a buffer?
What is their buffer?
Nighttime satellite image shows
the contrasting amounts of
electric lighting in South Korea
compared to North Korea
38° N
4. Korea: Is it 1 State or 2?
Before end of WWII
Japan had control of
Korea & other Asian places in WWII
After WWII
North Korea controlled
by Soviet Union
South Korea controlled
by the United States
Conflict between the 2 resulted into WAR
Video
1950- Korean troops from the North invaded South Korea
1953- Treaty ends the war
Divided the peninsula into….◦ North Korea- Communist State
◦ South Korea- Democratic Country
◦ Ceasefire line at 38th parallel
Place these events in the proper order:
◦ A. North Korea invades South Korea
◦ B. Treaty is made & ceasefire line drawn @ 38th parallel
◦ C. Korea is a colony of Japan
◦ D. Japan loses WWII, & Korea is split in two, occupied by the US & the Soviet Union
1 Nation divided into 2 occupation
zones after Japan defeated in WW II North Korea = Communist
South Korea = Democratic
◦ Divisions became permanent in 1940’s when
separate government were established
Korean War:
◦ Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
(North Korea) invaded the Republic of Korea
(South Korea) in 1950
(3 year war)
Attempts to reunite into 1 sovereign
state have failed
◦ North Korea’s decision to make nuclear
weapons
◦
Watch the following video on the border issues between North Korea and South Korea
Follow along with the questions on your notes sheet, they will go in order with the video
Field Trip to the DMZ Video
Escape from North Korea