IcelandIcelandState? Nation? Nation-State?

Nation-State!

CanadaCanadaState? Nation? Nation-State?

State!(Multinational)

BelgiumBelgiumState? Nation? Nation-State?

State!(Multinational)

Stateless NationsStateless Nations

Palestinian National Authority: interim government according to 1994 agreement with Israel. Negotiations for a permanent settlement stalled and Palestinian-Israeli conflict continues.

Palestine?

A NATION, but NO State

Geographic Characteristics of Geographic Characteristics of States: States:

Boundaries & BordersBoundaries & Borders

A. Boundaries & BordersA. Boundaries & Borders

1. Shapes of states

– five basic shapes– landlocked states

2. Types of boundaries

– physical– cultural

Boundaries are vertical planes…Boundaries are vertical planes…

boundaryboundary: lines that establish the limits of a state’s authority

Controversies Over AirspaceControversies Over Airspace

1. Territorial airspace: 12 nautical miles

• 1983 - Korean Airlines Flight 007 strayed into Soviet airspace - shot down by Soviet military jets - all 269 passengers did.

Controversies Over Subsoil Controversies Over Subsoil ResourcesResources

San Diego, USA - Tijuana, Mexico Border

San Diego, USA - Tijuana, Mexico Border

San Diego, USA - Tijuana, Mexico Border

B. Types of BoundariesB. Types of Boundaries1. geometric boundaries: grid systems

2. physical boundaries: natural features– mountain ranges, rivers, lakes, deserts

3. anthropographic: cultural boundaries– ethnicity, language, religion

Mountain Mountain Boundaries Boundaries

1. Mountains can be effective boundaries if they are difficult to cross

• Argentina and Chile agreed to be divided by the crest of the Andes Mountains but could not decide on the precise location of the crest.

Water Boundaries Water Boundaries

1. Rivers, lakes, and oceans are the physical features most commonly used as boundaries.

• Boundaries are typically in the

middle of the water, although the boundary between Malawi and Tanzania follows the north shore of Lake Malawi (Lake Nyasa).

Cultural Boundaries Cultural Boundaries

• The boundaries between some states coincide with differences in ethnicity.

Language Boundaries Language Boundaries

1. Language is an important cultural characteristic for drawing boundaries, especially in Europe.

• The movement to identify nationalities on the basis of language spread throughout Europe in the twentieth century.

C. Size & LocationC. Size & Location1. Large size: access to natural resources &

population, but can be difficult to administer

2. Small size: can be a disadvantage (W. Africa vs. Singapore)

3. Relative location can be a blessing or a curse

– benefit if close to resources– landlocked countries face challenges

Landlocked States in AfricaLandlocked States in Africa

1. Lesotho is unique in being completely surrounded by only one state and is…landlocked!

• The prevalence of landlocked states in Africa is a remnant of the colonial era, when Britain and France controlled extensive regions.

D. ShapesD. Shapes

1. compact2. elongated3. fragmented4. perforated5. prorupt

AfghanistanAfghanistan

prorupt stateprorupt state: odd

shaped extension

Myanmar

Elongated States: Potential Isolation Elongated States: Potential Isolation

• Best example: Chile

• Elongated states may suffer from poor internal communications

Fragmented Fragmented States: States:

ProblematicProblematicDefendingDefending

fragmented state: includes several discontinuous pieces of territory

India: The Tin Bigha CorridorIndia: The Tin Bigha Corridor

The Tin Bigha corridor fragmented two sections of the country of Bangladesh.When it was leased to Bangladesh, a section of India was fragmented.

South Africa

perforated statesperforated states: a state that completely surrounds another

• South Africa completely surrounds the state of Lesotho

E. Additional Types of BoundariesE. Additional Types of Boundaries

antecedent boundary: drawn before population established itself

subsequent boundary: drawn after population established itself (respects existing cultural patterns)

superimposed boundary: drawn after population established itself (DOES NOT respect existing cultural patterns)

relict boundary: boundary that has ceased to exist but imprint remains on cultural landscape

Antecedent, Subsequent, or Superimposed?Antecedent, Subsequent, or Superimposed?

• Part of U.S.-Canada is a 1,300- mile straight line along the 49° parallel (established in 1846 by a treaty between the United States and Great Britain)

The Aozou Strip: a superimposed geometric boundary

The straight boundary between Libya and Chad was drawn by European powers, and the strip is the subject of controversy between the two countries.

Ethnic Groups in Southwest AsiaEthnic Groups in Southwest Asia

Ethnic boundaries DO NOT match country boundaries, especially in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Antecedent, Subsequent, or Superimposed?

Treaty of Versailles Treaty of Versailles Antecedent, Subsequent, or Superimposed?

Division of CyprusDivision of CyprusAntecedent, Subsequent, or Superimposed?

Ethnicities: S.W. AsiaEthnicities: S.W. Asia

Africa After Berlin Conference of 1884-85Africa After Berlin Conference of 1884-85

Antecedent, Subsequent, or Superimposed?

F. Frontier RegionsF. Frontier Regions

frontierfrontier: zone where no country exercises complete political control

– Antarctica & Saudi Arabian borders

Space - The Last Frontier?Space - The Last Frontier?

Enclaves & ExclavesEnclaves & Exclaves

exclaveexclave: “outlier” territory attached to another territory

enclaveenclave: an area within a state that belongs to another state

The complicated border between Belgium and the Netherlands in the village of

Baarle-Nassau/Baarle-Hertog

primate city:primate city: a country’s leading city that is disproportionately larger & functionally complex than any other

• Metropolitan Seoul contains over 40% of the total population of South Korea

G. Primate Cities & Forward CapitalsG. Primate Cities & Forward Capitals

• Luanda has almost 2/3 of Angola’s urban population

• a heritage of the colonial past

Not all primate cities are in the less-developed world…

Paris

forward “thrust” capitalforward “thrust” capital: a capital moved to a more central location for political or economic goals; usually a “planned” city

• In 1959, Pakistan moved its capital from Karachi to IslamabadIslamabad to focus attention on its historic interior

Abuja, Brasilia, & CanberraAbuja, Brasilia, & Canberra—the classic examples

of forward capitals

BrasiliaBrasilia

AbujaAbuja

CanberraCanberra

Countries withCountries with Two Capitals Two Capitals