Europe

Defining the Realm ​

  • Eastern Boundary: Complex history, expansion of the EU, relations with Russia, Crimean Peninsula annexation, transition zone. ​

  • Physical Geography: Varied climates, raw materials, cultivable soils, rich fishing waters, extensive forests, coal, mineral ores, oil, and natural gas. ​

  • Locational Advantages: Crossroads of the land hemisphere, navigable rivers, emergence of city-states (e.g., Venice, Lubeck). ​

Modern Historical Geography ​

  • Industrial Revolution: Began in 1780, steam engine by James Watt, diffused eastward, related to imperialism and colonialism. ​

  • Political Transformations: Treaty of Westphalia (1648), French Revolution, rise of liberalism, socialism, nationalism, and fascism. ​

  • State and Nation: Nation-state, nation, nationality. ​

Contemporary Europe: A Dynamic Realm ​

  • Cultural Diversity: Latins, Germanics, Slavs, minorities (Finns, Magyars, Basques, Celts), Indo-European language family, rise of Islam. ​

  • Spatial Interaction: Functional region, complementarity, transferability. ​

  • Urbanization: Highly urbanized, Central Business District (CBD). ​

European Unification

  • Postwar Motivations: Economic recovery, Marshall Plan. ​

  • Unification Process: Free trade, abolition of protectionist policies, harmonization of laws, political cooperation, single currency (euro), supranationalism. ​

  • Consequences: Single market, single central bank, diminished state power, new regionalism, devolution. ​

Recent Challenges of Integration ​

  • Expansion Risks: Economic policies, representation disputes, weaker national economies.

  • Single Currency Challenges: Euro crisis, bailouts (Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain), fiscal problems (Italy, France, Netherlands). ​

  • Brexit: 2016 referendum, economic constraints, internal political issues, calls for a second referendum. ​

  • Remaining Outsiders: Former Yugoslav states, Albania, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus, Turkey. ​

European Geopolitics

  • NATO Expansion: Military security, led by the U.S., response to Warsaw Pact, post-Cold War stability, concerns with terrorism, cyber-warfare, eastern European membership. ​

 

Regions of Europe ​

  • Core-periphery framework: Superimposed on regional scheme ​

    • Western Europe

    • Northern Europe

    • Mediterranean Europe

    • Eastern Europe

Western Europe

  • Countries: 11 including 1 microstate (Germany, France, Benelux, Alpine States, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland) ​

  • Key Features:

    • Most populous region ​

    • Europe’s largest economy ​

    • Divided into West and East in 1945 ​

    • Significant immigrant population (16 million, 20% of total population) ​

    • High-tech industries (high-speed trains, aircraft, fiber-optic communications, space-related technologies, nuclear power) ​

    • Rapidly aging population with near-zero growth ​

    • Immigration from Islamic countries ​

Benelux

  • Countries: Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg ​

  • Key Features:

    • Belgium: Brussels is the capital and functional capital of the EU ​

    • Luxembourg: Grand Duke as head of state, high GDP per capita, financial and IT industries ​

    • The Netherlands: Constitutional monarchy, conurbation includes Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht ​

Alpine States

  • Switzerland:

    • Landlocked, not in EU ​

    • Specialized industries, world banking, stability, neutrality ​

    • Zurich (financial center), Geneva (international city) ​

  • Austria:

    • Remnant of Austro-Hungarian Empire ​

    • Vienna (capital and primate city) ​

The Czech Republic ​

  • Key Features:

    • Bohemia Basin

    • Prague (capital and primate city) ​

    • Leaders in technology and engineering ​

The United Kingdom (UK) ​

  • Subregions:

    1. England: Dominant, London (world city) ​

    2. Wales: Rugged, Celtic peoples ​

    3. Scotland: Shipbuilding, North Sea oil and gas, 2014 independence referendum (45% support) ​

    4. Northern Ireland: Protestant from Britain, Roman Catholic from Ireland ​

Republic of Ireland ​

  • Key Features:

    • Independence from Britain in 1921 ​

    • Economic boom in the 1990s (Celtic Tiger) ​

    • High-tech investment from the U.S. ​

Northern Europe

  • Key Features:

    • Remote, isolated, high latitudes ​

    • Languages: Swedish, Norwegian, Danish (mutually intelligible), Finnish, Icelandic ​

    • Religion: Lutheran

    • Democratic governments with strong social welfare and women’s participation ​

Iceland

  • Key Features:

    • Volcanic, glacier-studded, Mid-Atlantic Ridge ​

    • Urbanized population, Reykjavik (capital) ​

    • Economy: Seafood, tourism ​

Norway

  • Key Features:

    • Rich economy (fishing, oil, and natural gas) ​

    • Oslo (capital), Saami (indigenous population) ​

    • Not an EU member, but in Schengen Area ​

Sweden

  • Key Features:

    • Largest and most populous in Northern Europe ​

    • Stockholm (capital, core area) ​

    • Exports: Timber, iron ore, motor vehicles, electronics, stainless steel, furniture, glassware ​

    • Tradition of neutrality ​

Finland

  • Key Features:

    • Helsinki (capital), Tampere (textile), Turku (shipbuilding) ​

    • Exports: Wood, agricultural products, precision machinery, telecommunications ​

    • Linguistic and historic links with Estonia ​

    • Joined NATO

Mediterranean Europe

  • Key Features:

    • Diverse cultures and economies

Spain

  • Key Features:

    • Decentralized administration

    • Catalonia: Leading industrial area, 2014 independence referendum (80% support) ​

    • One of Europe’s Four Motors ​

Portugal

  • Key Features:

    • Population near Atlantic coast ​

    • Lisbon: Natural harbors, potential for container shipping ​

    • Small farms, imports 50% of food

    • Growing tourism and real estate investments ​

Italy

  • Key Features:

    • Most populous southern state, well-connected to European Core ​

    • Major cities: Milan, Turin, Florence, Venice, Rome ​

    • Progressive North (Po River Basin): Urbanized, industrialized, productive agriculture ​

Greece, Cyprus, and Malta ​

  • Greece: Ancient civilization, EU and NATO member, hit by financial crisis ​

  • Cyprus: Greek majority, Turkish minority ​

  • Malta: Five islands, rich culture, thriving tourism, high standard of living, joined EU in 2004 ​