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