Political Geography Study Guide
Characteristics of a State
Definition of a State: A state is a political entity characterized by a defined territory, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.
Requirements to be a State
Defined Territory: A clearly delineated geographical area.
Permanent Population: A stable community that resides within the territory.
Government: An organized political structure that governs the state's affairs.
Capacity to Enter Relations with Other States: Recognition by other states and engagement in international relations.
Types of States
Multi-nation State: A state that contains two or more nations within its borders. Example: Canada.
Stateless Nation: A group of people who share a common identity (often cultural) but do not have an independent state. Example: The Kurds.
Failed State: A state that has lost political authority and cannot provide basic public services. Example: Somalia.
Nation-State: A state that coincides with the territory of a particular nation. Example: Japan.
City-State: A sovereign state that consists of a city and its surrounding territory. Example: Singapore.
Jurisdiction of a State
Important Concepts
Law of the Sea: International laws governing the rights and responsibilities of nations regarding the use of the world's oceans, including maritime boundaries.
Antarctica Claims: Territorial claims made by countries over sections of Antarctica, governed by the Antarctic Treaty System.
Arctic Disputes: Conflicts arising over territorial claims and resource control in the Arctic region due to melting ice caps.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): A sea zone prescribed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, extending 200 nautical miles from a state's coast, where the state has special rights regarding resource exploration and use.
Development of the State through History
Historical Concepts
Territoriality of State: The establishment and control of a territory by a state as a core aspect of its identity and sovereignty.
City-State: Historical entities that were city-sized and independently governed, characterized by political autonomy. Examples include ancient Athens and Sparta.
Colonization: The process by which a country establishes control over a foreign territory and its people. Examples include European colonization of the Americas.
Modern Colonies: Territories still controlled by a foreign power, not yet fully independent.
Self Determination: The principle that a nation has the right to freely choose its sovereignty and international political status.
Decolonization: The process through which colonies gain independence from colonial powers.
Theories in the Development and Expansion of the State
Key Theories and Thinkers
Halford Mackinder: Proposed the Heartland Theory, suggesting that the nation that controls Eastern Europe commands the heartland and thus the world.
Friedrich Ratzel: Developed the concept of Lebensraum, suggesting that states need geographic space to grow.
Heartland Theory: A geopolitical hypothesis which asserts that control of the Heartland (Eurasia) is key to world domination.
Rimland Theory: The idea that power lies in the coastal fringes of Eurasia, as opposed to the Heartland.
Lebensraum: A geopolitical theory claiming that a nation needs territory for its natural development.
Domino Theory: The belief that the spread of communism in one nation would lead to a chain reaction affecting neighboring countries.
Containment: A U.S. policy during the Cold War aimed at preventing the spread of communism.
Irredentism: The political or popular movements which claim that a territory formerly belonging to one nation should be annexed by another.
Impact of the Shapes of States
State Morphologies
Morphology of the State: The study of the shape and layout of states, influencing politics and communication.
Compact State: A state shape where the distance from the center to any boundary does not vary significantly, facilitating transportation and governance. Example: Poland.
Perforated State: A state that completely surrounds another state, affecting the interior state's political interactions. Example: Italy surrounding San Marino.
Elongated State: A state that is long and narrow, which can lead to internal communication issues. Example: Chile.
Prorupted State: A state that has a projecting extension, impacting regional interactions. Example: Thailand.
Fragmented State: A state that consists of several discontinuous pieces of territory, complicating governance. Example: Indonesia.
Political Enclave: A territory that is politically controlled by a state but is surrounded by another sovereign state. Example: Lesotho.
Political Exclave: A portion of a state's territory that is separated from the main part and surrounded by a different sovereign state. Example: Alaska.
Landlocked State: A state that is entirely surrounded by land and lacks coastal access, impacting trade. Example: Switzerland.
Different Types of Boundaries
Boundary Concepts
Border Landscape: The physical and cultural landscape of borders, which can influence the perceptions and interactions across boundaries.
Delimitation: The process of drawing boundaries on a map based on treaties and legal agreements.
Demarcation: The physical marking of boundaries on the ground with posts, fences, or walls.
Geometric Boundaries: Boundaries established by the use of grid systems or straight lines without consideration for natural features. Example: the US-Canada border.
Physical Boundaries: Boundaries that follow natural features like rivers, mountains, and lakes, often providing clear demarcation. Example: the Rio Grande.
Superimposed Boundaries: Boundaries imposed by external powers without regard to existing cultural or ethnic boundaries. Example: African borders drawn during colonialism.
Berlin Conference: A meeting in 1884-1885 dividing African territories among European powers, which led to arbitrary boundaries.
Subsequent Boundary: Boundaries established after significant settlement and cultural interactions, potentially altering due to social and political trends. Example: borders in South Asia post-independence.
Relic Boundary: A boundary that is no longer in use but has left a lasting impact on culture and geopolitics, such as the former Berlin Wall.
Gerrymandering: The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party over another.
Redistricting: The process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts in response to changes in population.
Growth and Weakening of States
Influential Forces
Centripetal Force: Forces that unify a state, creating stability and a sense of national identity. Example: national culture, shared faith.
Centrifugal Force: Forces that divide a state, leading to instability and potential conflict. Example: ethnic divisions, inequality.
National Iconography: Symbols, ceremonies, and practices that represent a nation, contributing to national identity.
Balkanization: The fragmentation of a region into smaller, often hostile units. Example: the breakup of Yugoslavia.
Devolution: The process through which central governments grant autonomy to regional governments, often in response to pressures for self-determination.
Shatterbelt Region: A region caught between stronger colliding external cultural-political forces, often causing fragmentation. Example: Eastern Europe during the Cold War.
Arab Spring: A series of protests and uprisings across the Arab world, affecting state stability and governance.
Types of Governments in States
Government Types
Unitary State: A state governed as a single entity where central authority holds most of the power. Example: France.
Federal State: A state where power is distributed between a central government and regional governments. Example: United States.
Sharia State: A state governed by Islamic law (Sharia). Example: Saudi Arabia.
Theocracy: A system of government in which priests or religious leaders control the government, often claiming authority from a divine source. Example: Vatican City.
Supranationalism
Definitions and Impacts
Supranationalism: A concept where multiple countries delegate authority to an organization that transcends national borders, often for political, economic, or environmental cooperation.
Examples of Supranational Organizations:
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): A military alliance primarily between North American and European nations.
United Nations (UN): An international organization formed to promote peace and cooperation among states.
Warsaw Pact: A military alliance of socialist states, now dissolved, in response to NATO.
European Union (EU): A political and economic union of European countries.
Purpose & Growth of the UN: To promote international peace, security, and cooperation; it has expanded its missions and member states since its founding in 1945.
Deterritorialization: The process by which social relations are no longer tied to specific locations, often due to globalization.
Reterritorialization: The adaptation of cultural practices and identities within new spatial contexts following deterritorialization.
Brexit: The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, representing a significant case of de-globalization and challenges to supranationalism.
Types of Terrorism and its Impact on States
Definitions
Terrorism: The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.
International Terrorism: Terrorism that transcends national boundaries, often involving coordinated actions in multiple nations.
State-sponsored Terrorism: The use of terrorist groups by a state to achieve its political objectives indirectly.
Domestic Terrorism: Terrorist activities committed by individuals or groups within their own country, typically motivated by domestic policy or ideological factors.