Unit 4 Political Geography-AP Human Geo

The Modern State

  • Definition: An institution with a monopoly over the use of force in a defined territory; synonymous with "country."

    • Characteristics:

      • Spatial extent

      • Permanent population

      • Defined borders

      • Sovereign government

      • Recognition from other states

Evolution of the Modern State

  • Early political states were poorly defined with loyalty to leaders rather than countries.

  • Modern state concept introduced by European political philosophers.

  • States owe allegiance to the state, borders formalized for clarity, imposed globally through colonization.

  • John Locke: Key philosopher in the evolution of the modern state.

Key Definitions

  • Modern states in 1776: Approximately 35.

  • States by WWII: Around 70; post-WWII decolonization increased state numbers.

  • Post-Cold War (1991): More independence movements, especially from the U.S.S.R.

  • Current Recognition: U.S. recognizes 195 states, while the U.N. recognizes 193, highlighting differing definitions of statehood.

Differentiating Government, Regime, and State

  • Government: Institutions/individuals making binding decisions for the state.

  • Regime: Fundamental rules controlling political power access and exercise.

    • Types: Democratic & Authoritarian.

  • State: Political organization with a permanent population and governing institutions.

Nations

  • Definition: A group of people with shared culture/historical attachment seeking political control over their homeland.

Nation-State

  • Definition: A state where the borders of a national group's homeland coincide with the borders of the state.

    • Features:

      • Common culture & history link the population.

      • Typically small and somewhat isolated.

      • Iceland is a prime example due to its ethnic homogeneity.

Multinational State

  • Definition: A country with multiple national groups, one often dominating in power.

Multi-State Nation

  • Definition: A national group's homeland has a state of its own but extends across borders into other countries.

    • Example: Germans in Poland, Belgium, Austria, and Switzerland.

Autonomous & Semi-Autonomous Regions

  • Definition: Regions inside a state with varying degrees of self-governance.

    • Semi-Autonomous: Moderate self-government (e.g., Hong Kong, Macau).

    • Autonomous: High self-governance (e.g., Native American reservations, Cook Islands).

Hong Kong's Autonomy

  • Returned to China as a semi-autonomous region in 1997 after British rule.

  • China's government has increasingly encroached on its autonomy.

Contemporary Political Geography

  • Defined by sovereignty, nation-states, and self-determination concepts.

  • Sovereignty: Right of a state to govern itself.

  • Self-Determination: Peoples' right to govern themselves, often relating to national or ethnic groups.

Case Study: Sudan's Civil War

  • Religious and ethnic tensions led to mass displacement in the Darfur region.

Kurdish People

  • Ethnic group seeking its own state across several countries including Turkey and Iran; culturally and religiously distinct.

Colonialism Impact

  • Political geography shaped by imperialism (control of other nations) and colonialism (territorial claiming).

  • Examples include British South Asian colonization and Spanish colonization in South America.

  • Effects: Cultural (language, religion) and Economic (commodity dependence).

Political Boundaries\ Geography Classics

  • Political boundaries: Divisions of governance reflecting negotiated balances of power.

  • Types of boundaries include:

    • Relic, Superimposed, Antecedent, Geometric, Subsequent, Consequent.

  • Relic: Former boundaries with significance (e.g., Berlin Wall).

  • Superimposed: Drawn by outside powers ignoring local cultures (e.g., Nigeria).

  • Antecedent: Established before settlement, like the Pyrenees.

  • Geometric: Follows a straight line (e.g., U.S.-Canada).

  • Subsequent: Drawn where people already settled, often post-war disputes.

  • Consequent: A subsequent boundary that accounts for differences among groups.

Laws, Policies, and Regulations of Boundaries

  • Boundaries define territoriality, enforce laws, and help create a sense of place.

  • Boundaries can also complicate interactions between groups (e.g., trade issues).

Internal Boundaries & Gerrymandering

  • Internal boundaries: Determine political significance and influence representation.

  • Gerrymandering: Manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor a political party, leading to inequity in representation.

Federal vs. Unitary States

  • Federal States: Power shared between national and regional governments, accommodating local laws and interests.

  • Unitary States: Centralized authority with uniform applications of laws; minor local autonomy.

Challenges to Sovereignty

  • Factors leading to devolution:

    • Divisions by geography, ethnic conflicts, terrorism, economic issues, and irredentism.

  • Devolution: Power transfer from central to local governments, often resulting in greater autonomy (e.g., Quebec).

Supranationalism

  • Refers to international organizations aiming for collaborative goals; impacts sovereignty.

  • Examples: EU, NATO, and UN; can require ceding some national authority.

  • Influenced by advancements in communication technologies facilitating cooperation.

Centrifugal and Centripetal Forces

  • Centrifugal: Factors dividing groups (ethnic discrimination, human rights issues). Effects include failed states and ethnic nationalist movements (e.g., Kurds, Palestinians).

  • Centripetal: Forces uniting groups (common language, nationalism), facilitating national unity and equitable development.