Political Landscapes: Barriers and Walls in the 20 th and 21 st Century AP Human Geography.

Political Landscapes: Barriers and Walls in the 20th and

21st CenturyAP Human Geography

Directions

• Use the graphic organizer provided to document information about important barriers/walls built by countries to establish their borders.

• This graphic organizer will help you answer one of the FRQ’s found on the Unit Exam.

THE MEXICO/US BORDER

The Border

• The Mexico–United States border is an international border running from Imperial Beach, California, and Tijuana, Baja California, in the west to Matamoros, Tamaulipas, and Brownsville, Texas, in the east.

• 1,969 miles long

Purpose

• to slow/control the flow of illegal immigrants/goods from Mexico

Video

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9Pm8q8OExM

THE BERLIN WALL

Another Cold War crisis

• Background• East – West rivalry• Berlin divided – contrast the two halves.

WEST: Prosperous, helped by US, attracted people from the East. Seen by USSR as ‘infection’ in the heart of Communist East Germany.

EAST: Much less prosperous and under Communist control

What they wanted

The West• Prevent USSR from

gaining control of East Germany

• To see a united, democratic Germany

The East• Maintain control over E

Germany• Make the West recognise

it as an independent state

• Stop the flood of refugees especially the skilled and professional ones – much needed in E Germany

Purpose of Wall

• to prevent East Germans from fleeing to the West

Video

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szjFKADu69U

NORTH KOREA/SOUTH KOREA DEMILITARIZED ZONE

NORTH

PER CAPITA GDP $1,800 Many still suffering from lack of food

SOUTH

PERCAPITAGDP $32,020ECOMONYGROWING RAPIDLY

Leadership in N. and S. Korea

• Kim Jong-un is the supreme leader of North Korea. He is the son of Kim Jong-il.

• Park Geun-hye is the eleventh and current President of South Korea. She is the first woman to be elected as President in South Korea

• The two countries are separated by the DMZ (demilitarized zone) at the 38th parallel.

• 38th Parallel - line of latitude (38 degrees North) that separates communist North Korea from democratic South Korea.

• DMZ – Demilitarized Zone- a weapons-free zone between North Korea and South Korea; no weapons or troops are permitted in this zone, although each side is heavily guarded to prevent invasion by the other; it has also been made into a wildlife sanctuary in hopes that might deter either side from becoming aggressive

Purpose of the DMZ

• to act as a buffer zone in order to reduce the likelihood of violence between North and South Korea

North KoreaPopulation:24.5 million

57% urban

South KoreaPopulation:50 million

80% urban

SATELLITE IMAGES AT NIGHT

Video: Escape from North Korea

• http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/06/opinion/escape-from-north-korea.html?_r=0

Social/Political Consequences• Increased tension between neighboring countries or among citizens

within a “walled” country (e.g., East Berlin)• Increased isolation (reduction in the diffusion of culture)• Stigmatizing of excluded population (either internally or externally)• Promotes nationalism, reduces foreign influences, increases

xenophobia• Illegal crossing of the border becomes more dangerous• Separation of families, friends, relatives, cultural groups• Increased protection/security from either real or perceived threat• Reduced face-to-face interaction between people of neighboring

countries• Increased virtual communication between people of neighboring

countries• Reduced migration

Economic Consequences • Cost of construction, maintenance, staffing• Creates jobs: construction, maintenance, staffing• Reduction in flow of illegal goods• Reduction in flow of illegal labor and potential savings

in social costs• Loss of job opportunities for those excluded, less

money earned/sent home, reverse remittances• Loss of cheap labor• Increased cost of smuggling (humans, drugs, other

goods)• Reduced seasonal migration

Now work with a partner to answer this FRQ:

• a. Identify 2 examples of walls or other barriers built by countries in the 20th and 21st centuries. (5 pts)

• b. Explain the purpose of one of the examples you identified in part a. (10 pts)

• c. For each of the categories listed below, discuss one consequence (positive or negative) faced by countries as a result of walls or other barriers established along their borders. (10 pts) – social or political

– economic