Political Geography Review Sheet

How is Space Politically Organized into States and Nations?

What is a state?
  - A state is a defined territory with a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.
  - Essential components that make a state:
    - Defined territory: Geographical boundaries that are recognized.
    - Permanent population: Residents who live there.
    - Sovereign government: Authority that governs the territory and people.
    - Recognition by other states: Acknowledgment by other nations as an entity.
European Colonialism
  - The Berlin Conference (1884-1885) regulated European colonization and trade in Africa, leading to the partition of the continent among European powers.
  - Its impact includes:
    - Arbitrary borders ignoring ethnic and cultural divisions, causing long-term conflict.
    - Economic exploitation of African resources and local populations.
    - Legacy of underdevelopment in many African countries due to colonial governance.
What is a nation?
  - A nation is a cultural and social group that shares common elements such as language, ethnicity, cultural practices, and history.
  - Difference from a state:
    - A nation does not necessarily have a territorial or sovereign government.
    - A state is political, while a nation is socio-cultural.

Nation-states

Definition: A nation-state is a political entity characterized by a state that is predominantly inhabited by a single nation or people.
Multinational State: A state that contains two or more nations (e.g., Canada, India).
Multi-State Nation: A nation that spans across multiple states (e.g., the Kurds).
Stateless Nations: Nations that do not possess their own state (e.g., Palestinians, Basques).

How Do States Spatially Organize Their Governments?

Centripetal Forces:
- Factors that promote unity and integration within a state, strengthening the state.
- Examples: Nationalism, effective leadership, and a shared culture or language.
Centrifugal Forces:
- Factors that lead to the fragmentation or division within a state, weakening it.
- Examples: Ethnic tensions, political corruption, economic disparities.
Unitary Government:
  - A system of government where a central authority holds most of the power and makes decisions for the nation.
  - Characteristics:
    - Centralized control, limited local authority.
    - Examples: France, Japan.
Federal System:
  - A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and various regional bodies.
  - Characteristics:
    - Regional governments have significant power and autonomy.
    - Examples: United States, Australia.
Devolution:
  - The transfer of authority from a central government to regional governments.
  - Influenced by:
    - Ethnocultural forces: Ethnic groups seeking self-governance (e.g., Scotland).
    - Economic forces: Regions requiring economic control (e.g., Catalonia in Spain).
    - Territorial forces: Geographic factors leading to demands for self-governance (e.g., Quebec in Canada).
Balkanization:
- The process of fragmentation or division of a region or state into smaller, often hostile, units.
- Historical reference: The breakup of Yugoslavia into smaller states.
Shatterbelt States:
- Regions where political alliances are constantly splintering and fracturing based on ethnic, cultural, or political divisions.
- Often found in areas of geopolitical tension; examples include the Middle East.

Electoral Geography

Territorial Representation:
- The method by which voters are represented based on geographic divisions, such as districts.
Reapportionment:
- The process of redistributing seats in the legislature based on population changes; involves the counting of populations through a census.
Role of Census:
- A tool used to collect demographic data vital for effective representation and resource allocation.
Majority-Minority Districts:
- Electoral districts where the majority of the constituents belong to a minority group; designed to enhance minority representation.
Gerrymandering:
  - The practice of manipulating district boundaries to favor one political party over another.
  - Impacts:
    - Can undermine electoral fairness; causes political polarization.
    - Example of its effects in various states across the U.S.

How Are Boundaries Established and Why Do Boundary Disputes Occur?

Steps in Establishing a Boundary:
  1. Define: Establish the legal and political description of the boundary.
  2. Delimit: Mark the boundary on a map or document.
  3. Demarcate: Physically mark the boundary on the ground.
  4. Administrate: Manage and enforce regulations across the boundary.
UN Law of the Sea:
  - International law governing maritime boundaries and usage of the world's oceans.
  - Key terms include:
    - EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone): An area extending 200 nautical miles from the coast, where a state has rights to explore and exploit marine resources.
    - Median Line: A method used to determine maritime boundaries that gives equal distance to opposite states.
Enclaves / Exclaves:
- An enclave is a territory entirely surrounded by another state.
- An exclave is a part of a state separated from the main state by another country.
Genetic Political Boundaries:
  - Antecedent: Boundaries established before the cultural landscape developed.
  - Subsequent: Boundaries that consider the cultural landscape after settlement.
  - Superimposed: Boundaries imposed by outside forces, ignoring existing cultural or ethnic patterns.
  - Relict: Boundaries that no longer exist but still impact the cultural or political characteristics of a region.
Boundary Disputes:
  - Definitional: Disputes arising from different interpretations of the boundary's legal description.
  - Locational: Disputes over the actual location of the boundary on the ground.
  - Operational: Disputes arising from the day-to-day operations and management at the boundary.
  - Allocational: Disputes related to the distribution of resources at the boundary area.
EU Open Border Policy:
- The European Union's commitment to allowing free movement of people across member states' borders, enhancing integration and cooperation among members.

Geopolitics and Supranationalism

Examples of Supranational Organizations:
- Global: United Nations, World Trade Organization.
- Regional: European Union, African Union.
Advantages of Supranationalism:
- Promotes peace, economic cooperation, and collaboration on global issues like climate change and trade.
Disadvantages of Supranationalism:
- Loss of national sovereignty, potential for centralization of power, and conflicts over policy implementations.
European Union (EU):
- Benefits of joining include access to a single market, political stability, and cooperative advantage in treaty negotiations on global issues.