political geography part 2
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Why do states break apart?
The New World Order“Now, we can see a new world coming into view. A world in which there is the very real prospect of a new world order. In the words of Winston Churchill, a "world order" in which "the principles of justice and fair play ... protect the weak against the strong ..." A world where the United Nations, freed from cold war stalemate, is poised to fulfill the historic vision of its founders. A world in which freedom and respect for human rights find a home among all nations.”
George H. W. Bush (1991)
Devolution• The process whereby
regions within a state demand and gain political strength and growing autonomy at the expense of the central government– Can be caused by
• Suprantionalism• Ethnonationalism• Economics
Ethno-nationalismEthno-nationalism: when ethnic groups see themselves as distinct nations
Economic Reasons for Devolution
• Regional Wealth – Catalonia, Spain
• Regional Neglect – Sardinia, Italy
Geography & Devolution
• Devolution often occurs near the boundaries of nations or on islands– France (Corsica)– Tanzania (Zanzibar)– US (Hawaii; “Cascadia” NW)
Gateway Theory• Political entities near border zones may become
gateway states that absorb surrounding cultures and become something different.
Devolution in USSROccurred in 1990’s• Reasons:
– USSR loses Eastern Europe
– economic problems– ethnic diversity
Replaced by the CISRise of ethnic conflict Displaced peoples The “Near Abroad”
The Putin Generation
Chechnya
Grozny, Chechnya
The New World Order• States are still important BUT
– Provinces matter– Influence of non-state entities– Increasing influence of religion– Cross border issues– Growth of supranational organizations
FRAGMENTATION & COHESION
Centripetal Forces (promote unity)
Federalism LeadershipExternal threatNational education National ideologyMovement within country
Centrifugal Forces (promotes division)
Tribalism Regional inequalitiesIsolationNew forms of communication
Why do states cooperate and sometimes unite with other states?
SUPRANATIONALISM3 or more states involving formal
– Political– Economic – Cultural
cooperation is based on shared objectives
THE UNITED NATIONS (1945)
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
ECONOMIC & SOCIAL COUNCIL
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE http://whc.unesco.org/
SECRETARIATE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SECURITY COUNCIL
UN Peacekeepers • Not a UN force (troops come from member
nations)• Troops commanded by UN general
MARITIME LAW• UN Conference on Law
of the Sea (UNCLOS)– Territorial seas = 14 miles – Exclusive Economic Zone
= 230 miles• Median Line Principle
– Mineral resources in open seas should be for all humanity (US objection)
REGIONAL MULTINATIONALISMFirst multinational union:
Benelux (1944)•Belgium•Netherlands•Luxembourg
ECSC (1952)European Coal & Steel Community
Lifted restrictions governing the flow of coal, iron and steel
1.Germany2.France3.Italy4.Netherlands5.Belgium6.Luxembourg
Common Market (1958)Elimination of tariffs on other commodities
1.German2.France3.Italy4.Netherlands5.Belgium6.Luxembourg7.Britain8.Ireland9.Denmark10.Spain11.Portugal12.Greece
1. Austria2. Belgium3. Britain4. Bulgaria5. Cyprus6. Czech Rep.7. Denmark8. Estonia9. Finland10.France11.Germany12.Greece13.Hungary14.Ireland15.Italy16.Latvia17.Lithuania18.Luxembourg19.Malta20.Netherlands21.Poland22.Portugal23.Romania24.Slovakia25.Slovenia26.Spain27.Sweden
European Union (1992)Objective: • Economic and
POLITICAL union• Common currency
Problems: • uneven economic
development• fear of loss of local
autonomy• dominance of Germany• national rivalries
Can you name the 27 members
of the EU?
GDP (Gross Domestic Product) 2008
USA $14,440,000,000,000 (14.44 trillion)EU $14,940,000,000,000 (14.94 trillion)
OTHER SUPRANATIONAL UNIONS
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
Will nation-states be supplanted by
supranational unions?