Political GeographyJosh E.

Breyanna C.Sapria G.

Floyd J.

Colonies and the Concept of Colonization

Colony Colonization

A territory that is legally tied to a sovereign state.

Sovereign state runs military and foreign ties

Also controls internal affairs

Used by a majority of European states to control much of the world

Promote ChristianityExtract resourcesEstablish relative

power due to the number of colonies

Remaining Colonies

Mainly located in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

Most populous is Puerto Rico◦ Citizens of U.S. ◦ Do not participate in elections◦ Does not have a voting member of Congress

Pitcairn is the least populated

Common State Shapes•Elongated State:

• Has a long and narrow shape• Potential Isolation

•Compact State: • Ideally shaped like a circle• Most efficient

•Prorupt State:• Otherwise compact, with a

large projecting extension• Helps with access or

disruption•Fragmented State:

• Includes several discontinuous pieces of territory

• Hinders communication•Perforated State:

• A state that completely surrounds another

• Must depend on surrounding state for imports and exports

Types of Boundaries

Physical boundaries◦Coincide with significant features of the natural

landscape◦Mountains, Deserts, Water

Cultural boundaries◦Follow the distribution of cultural

characteristics◦Geometric, Ethnic

FrontiersRefers to a zone where no state exercises complete political control.

-Arabian Peninsula-Australian Outback

Differences between Unitary and Federal Governments

Unitary Government:◦Places most power in the hands of central

government◦France, England, Indonesia

Federal Government:◦Places power into local government within the

country◦Poland, U.S., Germany

Gerrymandering

The process of redrawing electoral districts to give a particular party an advantage

Named after Elbridge Gerry in 1812

Gerrymandering in Chicago

Supranational Organizations

A world or regional organization that is not tied to one particular country

Often has a direct role in regulation◦European Union◦United Nations◦International Monetary Fund

Political and Military Cooperation: In What Ways Do States Cooperate With Each Other?

Forming global organizations (such as the UN) to meet and vote on issues without resorting to war

Economic Cooperation◦European Union is a prime example

Terrorism

Systematic use of violence by a group in order to intimidate a population

Also used to force a government into granting its demands◦French Revolution (1793-1794)◦September 11th attacks

State Support For Terrorism

Some states in Southwest Asia (Middle East) have provided support for terrorism, at one (or more) of three levels:◦Providing sanctuary for terrorists◦Supplying money, weapons, and intelligence◦Planning attacks

Examples of States that Support Terrorism

Stateless Nations

A group of people, usually a minority ethnic group, that is considered as a nation, entitled to a state.◦Kurds◦Basques◦Catalans