My political geography notes

What group has the potential to cause more global problems: a nation-state or stateless nations?

• Stateless nations have more potential to cause global problems because they often seek sovereignty and can become involved in conflicts with the states that govern them. Stateless nations may resort to separatist movements, protests, or even armed conflict to achieve self-determination. Examples include the Kurds in the Middle East or the Palestinians in Israel.

Define and give an example of a semiautonomous region.

• A semiautonomous region is an area within a state that has some degree of self-governance but is still under the control of the central government.

• Example: Hong Kong in China. While Hong Kong has its own legal and economic system, China controls its foreign relations and defense.

Define and give an example of a shatterbelt.

• A shatterbelt is a region caught between stronger external forces that often experience political instability, conflict, and fragmentation.

• Example: The Balkans during the 20th century. This region saw conflict between ethnic and religious groups, leading to the breakup of Yugoslavia.

What were the results of the Law of the Sea?

• The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) established territorial waters and economic zones:

  • Territorial waters: Up to 12 nautical miles from a country's coast, where it has full sovereignty.

  • Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): Up to 200 nautical miles from a country's coast, where it has rights to resources like fishing and oil.

  • International waters: Beyond 200 nautical miles, open for all states to use freely.

Define gerrymandering.

• Gerrymandering is the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to benefit a particular political party or group. This is done to increase a party's chances of winning elections by either concentrating opposition voters in a few districts (packing) or spreading them out to dilute their influence (cracking).

United Nations (UN) facts:

• Established: 1945 after World War II.

• Location: New York City, USA

• Major goal: Maintain international peace and security, promote diplomacy, and prevent conflicts.

• Only "weapon": Sanctions (economic restrictions or diplomatic measures against countries).

• Effectiveness: Sanctions can be powerful but are sometimes ignored or bypassed by powerful nations.

What is a separatist region?

• A separatist region is an area within a country where a group seeks independence due to ethnic, religious, or political differences.

Example of a separatist region:

• Catalonia in Spain: Many people in Catalonia seek independence from Spain due to cultural and economic differences.

Two examples of centrifugal political forces (forces that divide a state):

• Ethnic Conflict: Different ethnic groups may struggle for power, leading to instability. Example: The conflict between Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda.

• Economic Disparities: Unequal economic development can lead to tensions. Example: Italy's North-South divide, where the north is wealthier than the south.

Two examples of centripetal political forces (forces that unify a state):

What is the difference between a federal and unitary state?