geography test

WHAT IS AN INSTITUTION

• An institution is a system of established and embedded social rules that structure social interactions.

• This lecture examines the different institutions that make up the culture of a nation and their impact on the populace.

THE NATION

• A nation consists of a large group of people sharing a common history and language.

• Nations develop a strong sense of identity among their members.

• Nations can exist even without political boundaries; for example, the Kurdish people in the Middle East.

DEFINITIONS (IN REFERENCE TO NATION)

• Nation: refers to a people.

• Country: refers to the land of the people.

• State: refers to the institution that governs the people.

• Tribe: a group sharing a common ancestor, typically governed by elders.

• Conflicts arise when nations try to separate from one another through political boundaries.

NATION-STATE

• A nation-state is a nation of people that has established its own government (state).

• Historical examples include Athens and Sparta in Ancient Greece.

EMPIRE

• An empire is formed when one nation conquers another beyond its borders, such as the Roman Empire.

POLITICAL MAPS

• Political maps show the boundaries established by a state around its people, irrespective of cultural differences.

• The world consists of 196 recognized states, each possessing sovereignty.

• The smallest state: Vatican City (108.7 acres).

• The largest state: Russia (6.6 million miles, spanning two continents and encompassing 100 ethnic groups).

• Territories like Taiwan may have independent governance but lack official recognition as states.

POLITICAL BOUNDARIES

• Political boundaries indicate the limits of a state’s authority over its citizens.

• They may follow natural boundaries (rivers, mountains) or geometric boundaries (latitude and longitude).

• Example: The US/Canada border primarily follows the 49th parallel, while the Texas/Mexico boundary follows the Rio Grande.

UNSTABLE POLITICAL BOUNDARIES

• Some boundaries are unstable as they cut across natural features, languages, religions, and ethnic groups, leading to conflicts.

• Disputes over state authority may trigger wars; approximately 30-40 states are in conflict at any time.

• Civil wars arise when internal factions challenge their government; the US experienced one such conflict.

MASS MEDIA

• Media has significantly influenced global culture, leading to the adoption of Western styles, such as music and dress.

• Cultural convergence is occurring due to mass communication, although mass media often distorts reality.

• Social media highlights idealized moments, potentially leading to insecurity among viewers.

• The news can reflect biases depending on audience demographics.

MASS MEDIA (CONTINUED)

• Caution is advised when consuming media, as it has the potential to corrupt values.

DEMOGRAPHY: THE STATISTICS OF SOCIETY

• Demography: the study of human populations and their characteristics.

• Conducted through three methods:

  • Vital Statistics: records of births, marriages, divorces, deaths.

  • Census: official counts of the entire population within a nation’s boundaries.

  • Surveys: sampling methods gathering information on demographics like age, marriage, education.

VITAL STATISTICS

• Vital Statistics indicate the life signs of a society, measured by:

  • Rate of Natural Increase: compares births to deaths annually.

  • Life Expectancy: the anticipated lifespan of an individual.

RATE OF NATURAL INCREASE

• Population growth is measured by comparing crude birthrates (number of births per 1,000 people) vs. crude death rates (number of deaths per 1,000 people).

• Example: In 2012, the US had a crude birthrate of 13.7 and a crude death rate of 944.1.

LIFE EXPECTANCY

• Represents the average number of years a person is expected to live.

• Historically, life expectancy has fluctuated due to factors like war, disease, and food availability.

• Example: Life expectancy in the US is roughly 78.5 years, with women typically living longer than men.

INFANT MORTALITY RATE

• Measures child mortality by comparing live births to infant deaths within the first year.

• In 2012, the world infant mortality rate stood at 39.48; for the US, it was 6 and Singapore recorded the lowest at 2.65.

FACTORS AFFECTING INFANT MORTALITY

• The decline in infant mortality rates can be attributed to better nutrition, prenatal care, improved medicines, and technological advances.

COMMUNITY STATISTICS

• Urbanization: the process of population movement from rural to urban areas, leading to urban growth at the expense of rural regions.

• Over 80% of Americans reside in urban areas, compared to only 5% living on farms, a significant decline from 95% 200 years ago.

SUBURBS

• Many Americans prefer living in suburban areas, situated between urban and rural regions, combining benefits of both without urban problems.

POPULATION DENSITY

• Refers to the average number of people per square mile of land.

• Example: Egypt's population density is around 219 people per square mile, while France is approximately 303 due to the smaller area.

POPULATION DENSITY (CONTINUED)

• Clustering occurs around arable land; demographers assess land suitable for crops.

• Example: In Egypt, only 2.9% of land is arable.

PHYSIOLOGICAL DENSITY

• Measures total population vs. arable land, indicating food sustainability for a nation.

• Example: Egypt's physiological density is over 6,000 people per mile, while France's is less than 1,000 due to greater arable land.

GOVERNMENT

• Defined as the rule of man over man, with biblical principles outlined in Romans 13:1-6:

  • Preserve order;

  • Protect citizens;

  • Promote good;

  • Punish evil.

FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT

• Justice: involves laws and courts resolving citizen disputes (e.g., criminal cases).

• Defense: entails a police force for domestic protection and military defense against foreign threats.

ANARCHY

• A state of no government leads to chaos, where individuals act without moral or legal constraints.

TYPES OF GOVERNMENT

• Classification is based on the source of rulers' power, ideally under God’s authority.

• Common forms:

  • Dictatorship;

  • Totalitarianism;

  • Democracy;

  • Constitutional Monarchy;

  • Republic.

DICTATORSHIP

• Ruled by authority, often with military backing, disallowing opposition.

• Common in less developed nations.

TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENT

• Controls all aspects of citizens' lives; e.g., China and North Korea, where party dominance dictates governance.

ELECTED GOVERNMENTS

• Depend on people's consent to maintain authority.

DEMOCRACY

• Represents elected governance, historically signifying complete population rule.

• Modern democracies are generally representative, electing officials to legislate on behalf of citizens.

CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY

• Monarch's powers are limited by law, with real authority vested in elected bodies; example: Great Britain.

REPUBLIC

• A system where a president supervises bureaucracy while legislatures create laws; example: the United States.

FOREIGN POLICY

• The guiding principles for a government's international relations, balancing negotiation and potential conflict.

THREAT OF WAR

• Nations wield military strength and economic influence to deter conflicts, relying on continual assessment of military capabilities.

MILITARY STRENGTH

• Measured in various factors such as active troop counts and defense budgets.

ACTIVE TROOP STRENGTH

• Comprises full-time soldiers, which can be misleading in effectiveness; historical examples demonstrate discipline's importance.

ANNUAL DEFENSE SPENDING

• Reflects military technology investment; e.g., the US spent roughly $711 billion, about 4.7% of GDP.

POWERFUL NATIONS

• The US is the only remaining superpower, with global influence.

• China and Russia are emerging as potential superpowers, both having significant military and geopolitical strategies.

• The US's aim is the global dissemination of capitalism and freedom.

OTHER POTENTIAL SUPERPOWERS

• Include Russia, France, UK, Germany, Japan, and militarized states with substantial military might and potential conflicts.

ROGUE NATIONS

• Nations that oppose superpower ideals and pursue power without regard for international principles; e.g., Iran and North Korea.

NEGOTIATING PEACE

• Diplomacy: the art of inter-country agreements, characterized by two main treaty types:

  • Peace treaties (between adversaries);

  • Military alliances (with allies).

POLICY IN THE PAST

• The US initially adhered to strategies of avoiding conflicts but later formed numerous alliances due to global conflicts and rising threats.

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

• The US was instrumental in establishing NATO and the UN as platforms for international cooperation.

NATO (NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION)

• Founded in 1947 to counter Soviet threats, embodying a collective defense strategy.

UN (UNITED NATIONS)

• Established post-WWII to promote dialogue and manage disputes, albeit with challenges such as veto powers of permanent members.

SECURITY COUNCIL

• Comprises five major WWII allies with veto authority affecting UN decisions, reflecting power dynamics and complexities in international relations.

SELF DETERMINATION

• The principle empowering people to choose their governance, raising concerns of potential fragmentation of sovereign states.

• Sustainable coexistence demands dialogue and shared commitment, ideally rooted in mutual understanding and peace.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RIVERS

• Rivers serve as crucial transport routes for trade and goods.

• For Canada, rivers like the Saint Lawrence enable shipping, facilitating economic activity.

HISTORY OF RIVERS

• Historical exploration figures, such as Jacques Cartier, highlighted the significance of rivers in connecting regions and expanding influence.

• The Northwest Passage represents a sought-after route for trade during colonial expansion.

THE GREAT LAKES

• Comprising significant freshwater bodies in North America, they play a key role in trade and resource transit.

• Named features of the Great Lakes illustrate geographic and economic importance.

SHIPWRECKS

• Historical dangers of Great Lakes navigation are evidenced by thousands of shipwrecks due to adverse weather conditions.

• Notable wrecks, like the Edmund Fitzgerald, highlight maritime risks and have influenced regional culture.

CANADIAN REGIONAL STATISTICS

• Canada showcases diverse geography influencing population distributions and resource allocation.

• Rural vs urban populations have drastically shifted over centuries.

TRIBES IN CANADA

• Detailed overview of native tribes and their adaptations to harsh climates.

• Historical events, such as the Yukon gold rush, reshaped tribal populations and dynamics.

AGRICULTURE IN CANADA

• Limited agricultural zones contrast with dominant urban populations; essential crops produced point to climate influences.

NOTABLE EVENTS

• Events like the Calgary Stampede emphasize Canada’s cultural identity while reflecting historical agricultural practices and community importance.