APHuG Unit 4 Overview

4.1 – Introduction to Political Geography

Overview of political geography, focusing on states, nations, sovereignty, and political entities.

State

A political unit with defined territory, population, and government recognized by others.

Sovereignty

The power of a state to govern itself without outside interference.

Nation

Group of people with shared culture, language, and history.

Self-determination

Right of people to choose their own form of government.

Multinational State

State containing more than one nation (e.g., Russia, Canada).

Microstate

Very small state in land area and population (e.g., Monaco, Vatican City).

Stateless Nation

Cultural group without a state (e.g., Kurds, Palestinians).

Multi-State Nation

Nation spread across more than one state (e.g., Koreans, Germans pre-WWII).

Areas of Disrupted Sovereignty

Regions where a state's control is weakened (e.g., Taiwan, Crimea, Western Sahara).

4.2 – Political Processes

Evolution of the state concept and political geography.

Evolution of States

City-states → empires → kingdoms → nation-states.

Colonialism

Control by one state over another territory to exploit resources and spread influence.

Decolonization

Process of former colonies gaining independence (post-WWII examples: India, Ghana).

Creation of New States

Emergence of post-colonial nations, e.g., African nations after 1960s.

4.3 – Political Power and Territoriality

Understanding power, control, and global influence.

Territoriality

Connection of people, culture, and economy to land.

Geopolitics

Study of how geography affects politics, power, and state behavior.

Heartland Theory

Mackinder: control of Eastern Europe = global power.

Rimland Theory

Spykman: control of coastal fringes = power.

Organic Theory

Ratzel: states behave like living organisms needing expansion.

Global Power Examples

Geopolitics of Russia, U.S., China; competition for influence.

Cold War

Geopolitical tension between U.S. and Soviet Union.

Choke Points

Narrow global trade routes critical to commerce (e.g., Strait of Hormuz, Panama Canal).

4.4 – Defining Political Boundaries

Types and purposes of boundaries.

Physical (Natural) Boundary

Boundary based on mountains, rivers, lakes.

Antecedent Boundary

Drawn before human settlement (e.g., U.S.–Canada border).

Geometric Boundary

Straight-line boundaries using latitude/longitude (e.g., U.S.–Canada 49th parallel).

Subsequent Boundary

Developed with cultural landscape (e.g., Germany–Poland after WWII).

Consequent Boundary

Separates groups based on culture, religion, or language (e.g., India–Pakistan).

Superimposed Boundary

Drawn by outsiders ignoring existing cultural divisions (e.g., Africa by Europeans).

Relic Boundary

Old boundary no longer functioning but visible (e.g., Berlin Wall).

Open vs. Militarized Boundary

Free movement vs. heavily guarded.

State Shapes

Compact, elongated, fragmented, perforated, prorupted.

Forward-Thrust Capital

Relocated capital to promote development (e.g., Brasília, Nigeria’s Abuja).

4.5 – The Function of Political Boundaries

How boundaries operate internationally and internally.

Defined, Delimited, Demarcated Boundaries

Defined: legal description. Delimited: mapped. Demarcated: physically marked.

Landlocked States

No direct access to the sea (e.g., Bolivia, Niger).

Boundary Disputes

Definitional: legal disagreement. Locational: map interpretation. Functional: border use. Allocational: natural resources.

Irredentism

Claiming territory based on historical or ethnic ties.

Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

Defines maritime boundaries: territorial sea 12 mi, EEZ 200 mi.

4.6 – Internal Boundaries

Boundaries within a state for governance and elections.

Voting Districts

Geographic areas for elections.

Reapportionment

Redistribution of legislative seats based on population changes.

Redistricting

Redrawing district boundaries.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating districts for political gain: cracking, packing, stacking, hijacking, kidnapping.

4.7 – Forms of Governance

Types of state organization and government.

Federal States

Power shared between central and local governments (e.g., U.S., Germany, India).

Unitary States

Power concentrated in central government (e.g., Japan, France).

Types of Government

Democracy, autocracy, theocracy, oligarchy, monarchy, etc.

4.8 – Defining Devolutionary Factors

Reasons states transfer power or fragment.

Ethnonationalism

Loyalty to ethnic group rather than state.

Devolution

Transfer of powers from central to regional governments.

Examples

U.K. (Scotland, Wales), Spain (Catalonia), Canada (Quebec).

Terrorism

Violence by non-state actors to achieve political aims.

4.9 – Challenges to Sovereignty

Processes that weaken state authority.

Balkanization

Fragmentation into smaller states due to ethnic, cultural, or political differences (e.g., Yugoslavia).

Conflict in Yugoslavia

Ethnic divisions led to breakup in 1990s.

Other Examples

Sudan/South Sudan, Soviet Union collapse.

Supranationalism

Countries cooperate for mutual benefit, sometimes sacrificing sovereignty.

Examples

EU (economic/political integration), UN (peacekeeping), NATO (defense), ASEAN, OPEC, African Union.

4.10 – Centripetal and Centrifugal Forces

Factors that unify or divide states.

Centripetal Forces

Unify: shared language, nationalism, infrastructure, religion.

Centrifugal Forces

Divide: ethnic conflict, inequality, separatism.

Conflict Examples

Europe: Northern Ireland, Balkans. Asia: Kashmir, Sri Lanka. Africa: Nigeria, Sudan.

🧠 Possible FRQs 1 – Stateless Nations

Define state, nation, nation-state; origin of nation-state concept; identify stateless nations (Kurds, Palestinians); challenges to statehood; example of another stateless nation; example of disputed sovereignty.

🧠 Possible FRQs 2 – Types of Boundaries

Differentiate defined, delimited, demarcated; compare antecedent vs. subsequent boundaries; define superimposed boundaries; explain Africa/Middle East/South Asia examples.

🧠 Possible FRQs 3 – Federal vs. Unitary States

Define federal/unitary states; Germany (federal) and Japan (unitary); reasons for choosing form; pros/cons; example: U.S., India, Brazil.

🧠 Possible FRQs 4 – Devolution and Supranationalism in Europe

Define sovereignty/supranationalism; EU effects on sovereignty; define devolution; example maintaining unity (U.K. parliaments); example leading to breakup (Yugoslavia).