Welcome to Chapter 8

Yes, we are switching to chapters instead of units.

POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY

KEY ISSUE 1

Where are states located?What are the problems defining a state?The “state” concept

Here ya go, some definitions:

• State– Four criteria• Organized into a political unit• Ruled by an established government

– That government has control over its internal affairs• Occupies a defined territory• Contains a permanent population

– Example: Mexico– Non-example: Kentucky

Another one…

• Sovereignty– Just learn how to say it now: SOV-ERN-TEE– You might as well memorize how to spell it too

– Independence from control of its internal affairs by other states

– Freeee!!!!– Formal or uniform region– Its own government, laws, army, leaders

Q: Just how many states are there?A: There is no definite answer

Y: Why? Well I’ll tell you…• Korea

– Used to be a colony of Japan– U.S. and Soviet Union got it after

WWII and divided it into North and South

– Two separate governments were formed ( and )

– North invaded South in the 1950s

– North hasn’t made very good decisions

– But… “Both Korean governments are committed to reuniting the country into one sovereign state”

Q: Just how many states are there?A: There is no definite answer

Y: Why? Well I’ll tell you…• China and Taiwan

– Most say that they are two separate, sovereignties

– China says it’s a part of China– In the 1940s the nationalists

went to Taiwan to establish a government separate from the Communists during a civil war

– Its been back and forth, the UN finally declared the communist government the “in” government in China

– Taiwan is not a member of the U.N.

Q: Just how many states are there?A: There is no definite answer

Y: Why? Well I’ll tell you…• Western Sahara– Most Africans say its

sovereign– Morocco claims it and

built a big wall around to keep out the rebels

– It has never really been totally sovereign

– Morocco controls most of the area that is populated

Q: Just how many states are there?A: There is no definite answer

Y: Why? Well I’ll tell you…• The Polar Regions• South Pole

• Ie. Antarctica• Overlapping and conflicting claims• Some recognized, some not!• The Antarctic Treaty

– 1959– Legal framework for managing

Antarctica– Yes to scientists– No to military

• North Pole– The Law of the Sea Treaty of

1982 – some territories overlap

Development of the State Concept

Ancient• Originated in the Middle East

(Fertile Crescent) • Center for land and sea

communications in ancient times

• City-states came first– Sovereign state that=

City+Surrounding countryside– City states that had surrounding

power were called empires• Egypt and Mesopotamia

•

The Fertile Crescent

Development of the State Concept

Modern European States• The Roman Empire

controlled most of the ancient world (Eastern)

• When the Roman Empire collapsed, the European portion was fragmented

• Various kings, dukes, barons, etc. became leaders of different European estates

Roman Empire

Colonies

• Colony: territory that is legally tied to a sovereign state– They are not independent

• Colonialism: The effort by one country to establish settlements in a territory – God, Gold, Glory

• Imperialism: Control of territory already occupied and organized by indigenous society

Colonial Possessions in 1914