4.4-4.7 Presentation

Unit 4 - Political Patterns and Processes

Unit 4 Big Ideas

• How do historical and current events influence political structures around the world?

• How are balances of power reflected in political boundaries?

• How can political, economic, cultural, or technological changes challenge state sovereignty?

4.4 Defining Political Boundaries

Standard

• IMP-4.A.1: Types of political boundaries include:

  • Relic

  • Superimposed

  • Subsequent

  • Antecedent

  • Geometric

  • Consequent

Learning Objective

1. Define types of political boundaries used by geographers.

I. Types of Political Boundaries

1. Relic

2. Superimposed

3. Geometric

4. Antecedent

5. Subsequent

6. Consequent

II. Other Boundary Types

1. Natural

2. Cultural

3. Militarized

4. Administered

5. Open

MAIN CLASSIFICATIONS OF BOUNDARIES

Other Types of Boundaries

Type Definitions and Examples

4.5 The Function of Political Boundaries

Standards

• IMP-4.B.1: Boundaries are defined, delimited, demarcated, and administered to establish limits of sovereignty, but they are often contested.

• IMP-4.B.2: Political boundaries often coincide with cultural, national, or economic divisions. However, some boundaries are created by demilitarized zones or policy, such as the Berlin Conference.

• IMP-4.B.3: Land and maritime boundaries and international agreements can influence national or regional identity and encourage or discourage international or internal interactions and disputes over resources.

• IMP-4.B.4: The United Nations Convention on the Law of Seas defines the rights and responsibilities of nations in the use of international waters, established territorial seas, and exclusive economic zones.

Learning Objective

1. Explain the nature and function of international and internal boundaries.

I. Function of Boundaries

1. Exist to add clarity.

2. Signal:

   • Where one political entity begins/ends.

   • What territory is theirs and what is not.

3. Conflicts when neighbors disagree on the line may lead to:

   • Uncertainty

   • Conflict or bloodshed

   • War

4. Represent:

   • Changes in the use of space

   • Changes in rules, expectations, or behaviors

   • Changes in laws when crossing formal international, national, or local boundaries

5. Informal boundaries:

   • Mark spheres of influence of powerful countries.

   • Reflect neighborhoods controlled by street gangs in a city.

II. Boundaries Establish Limits to Sovereignty

1. Defined: Established by legal document (e.g., treaty) that divides one entity from another (invisible line).

   • Example: Real estate deeds.

2. Delimited: A line drawn on a map to show limits of a space.

3. Demarcated: Identified by physical objects (e.g., signs, walls) placed on the landscape.

4. Political boundaries can be:

   • Natural or geometric

   • Cultural boundary (less precise)

III. Political Boundaries Coincide with…

1. Cultural Divisions:

   • Sometimes cultural traits are considered but may separate similar cultural groups.

   • E.g., Shatterbelt: regions endangered by local conflicts and opposing great powers (e.g., Eastern vs. Western Europe).

2. National Divisions:

   • Distinct ethnicities often not considered; boundaries decided by dominant ethnic groups.

   • Example: Sri Lanka: Sinhalese (Buddhist) vs. Tamils (Hindu); conflict led to thousands of deaths.

3. Economic Divisions:

   • Post-WWII Europe became more peaceful due to EU agreements promoting freedom of movement, reducing violence related to disputes (e.g., North/South Korea).

4. Demilitarized Zones or Policy:

   • Example: Korean Peninsula where the DMZ separates North and South Korea, obstructing trade and movement.

4.6 Internal Boundaries

Standard

• IMP-4.B.5: Voting districts, redistricting, and gerrymandering affect election results at various scales.

Learning Objective

• Explain the nature and function of international and internal boundaries.

I. Voting Districts

1. Internal boundaries play a role in representative democracies.

2. Different levels include:

   • National (House of Representatives)

   • State/provincial (State House/Senate)

   • Local levels (school board, city council)

3. Electorate: Elected officials represent citizens within designated districts.

4. The census, conducted every ten years, leads to:

   • Reapportionment: Determining each state’s number of representatives based on population.

   • Redistricting: Redrawing district boundaries to ensure equal population across districts.

II. Gerrymandering

1. Drawing boundaries to benefit a particular political party.

2. Originated with Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry; districts shaped like a salamander led to the term “gerrymander.”

3. Used on various scales from national to local levels.

4.7 Forms of Governance

Standards

• IMP-4.C.1: Forms of governance include unitary states and federal states.

• IMP-4.D.1: Unitary states have a centralized governance, while federal states are more distributed.

Learning Objective

1. Define federal and unitary states.

2. Explain how federal and unitary states affect spatial organization.

I. Forms of Governance

II. State Morphology

1. 
   

2. Morphology refers to the shape of the state, influencing interactions.

3. 
   

4. Highly populated central regions may create issues for outlying areas, such as:

   • Difficulty receiving goods and services

   • Feelings of underrepresentation

   • Local demands leading to conflict

5. 
   

6. Types of State Morphology:
   

   Type	Characteristics	Example
   Compact State	Distance from center varies minimally; efficient	Poland, Romania, Zimbabwe
   Elongated State	Challenging to govern/travel	Chile, Malawi, Norway
   Prorupted State	Compact area with extensions; limited access	India, Thailand
   Perforated State	Surrounded by another state; dependent for trade	South Africa, Italy
   Fragmented State	Scattered islands or areas; complicates governance	Philippines, Indonesia, US
   III. Patterns of Local + Metropolitan Governance

   1. Local and metropolitan governance includes municipalities and regional planning.

   2. There is often overlap in levels of government (federal, state, local).

   3. Cities may expand by annexation, legally adding territory.

   IV. Trend Toward Democracy

   1. Movement from monarchies to elected governments.

   2. Emphasis on individual liberties; wider participation in governance.

   3. Diffusion of democratic structures globally, particularly in Europe and North America.

   Check for Understanding

   1. Compare and contrast unitary and federal forms of governance.

   2. Describe types of state morphology and provide examples for each.