• A subfield within the human branch of geography. • The study of the interaction of geographical area and political process. • It is the formal study of territoriality. POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY Interacti Interacti on of on of politics politics and place and place
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY. A subfield within the human branch of geography. The study of the interaction of geographical area and political process. It is the formal study of territoriality. Interaction of politics and place. U.S.- Canada boundary Alberta- Montana. U.S.- Mexico boundary - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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• A subfield within the human branch of geography.• The study of the interaction of geographical area and
political process.• It is the formal study of territoriality.
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
Interaction Interaction of politics of politics and place and place
U.S.-Canadaboundary
Alberta-Montana
U.S.-Mexicoboundary
Calexico, California-Mexicali, Mexico
Politics of GeographyPolitics of Geography
Effect of place on politics Effect of place on politics and effect of and effect of politics on placepolitics on place
ExampleExample::Making political boundariesMaking political boundaries
Place on politicsPlace on politics
Politics on placePolitics on place
Political Geography
• Economics supposedly eroding significance of national borders.
• However, many ethnic minorities feel they deserve states of their own.
• States under attack from above (global economics) and from below (ethnic communities).
• Yet states are still powerful, and can respond.
• A politically organized territory
• Administered by a sovereign government
• Recognized by a significant portion of the international community.
A state must also contain:
– a permanent resident population
– an organized economy
STATE
• A country whose population possesses a substantial degree of cultural homogeneity and unity.
• Stems from European Renaissance idea (Rousseau) of the “social contract” as highest moral order.
• Imposed on much of the world by the West.
NATION - STATE
Classic Example Classic Example of of
a Nation-State:a Nation-State: JapanJapan
Every U.S. citizen = American nationality
Every American = belongs to a “race” (though this has no scientific meaning)
Some Americans = identified with ethnicity
Multi-ethnic States
Geographic Characteristics of States
• SIZE– What role does size play in the economy of a
state? In government services? In nationalism and patriotism?
– Does shape have any effect? – What are the most powerful nations on earth
today?– What were the most powerful nations on earth
200 years ago?
Geographic Characteristics of States
Shape• Compact - smaller states, especially if they are simply shaped.
• Prorupt are nearly compact but possess one or sometimes two narrow extensions of territory.
Wars split Kashmirbetween India,Pakistan, and China(all now have nukes)
Indian andPakistanipropagandamaps
GEOPOLITICSGEOPOLITICS - State’s power to control State’s power to control territory, shape international policyterritory, shape international policyand other states’ foreign policy. and other states’ foreign policy.
GEOPOLITICSGEOPOLITICS - State’s power to control State’s power to control territory, shape international policyterritory, shape international policyand other states’ foreign policy. and other states’ foreign policy.
Cold War propaganda map: “Red menace”
Growth of Russian Empire
Enlargement ofSoviet bloc after
World War II
BerlinWall,
1961-89
NATO and Warsaw Pact, 1945-89
View of Communist “Red Bloc” during Cold War
Lumping failed to recognizedifferences among Communists,
or local causes of conflict
Terrorism, Al-Qaeda, and “The Axis of Evil”
• President G.W. Bush used this phrase in 2002 to describe Iraq, Iran, and North Korea (formerly called “rogue states”) to suggest that post 9-11 geopolitics is best understood as capitalist democracies versus dictatorships and the terrorists they sponsor.