The Political Organization of SpaceThe Political Organization of Space

Political Political GeographyGeography

What is Political Geography?What is Political Geography?

►The study of how space is The study of how space is organized on multiple levelsorganized on multiple levelsMulti-state levelMulti-state levelState levelState levelLocal levelLocal level

StateState► A defined area of space that includes four key features:A defined area of space that includes four key features:

Internationally recognizes bordersInternationally recognizes borders Governing bodyGoverning body Permanent populationPermanent population Sovereignty (governmental control of activities within the state)Sovereignty (governmental control of activities within the state)

NationNation► A group of people who share common cultural traits and A group of people who share common cultural traits and

are unified based on those traits (language, ethnicity, are unified based on those traits (language, ethnicity, religion, etc.)religion, etc.)

► National boundaries can surpass political (or state) National boundaries can surpass political (or state) boundaries.boundaries.

Nation-State vs. Multi-nation StateNation-State vs. Multi-nation State►Nation-states are states that share the same Nation-states are states that share the same

nationality throughout the entire political nationality throughout the entire political boundaryboundary Japan, Portugal (w/o Azores)Japan, Portugal (w/o Azores)

►Multi-nation states are states that have several Multi-nation states are states that have several different “nationalities” within the political different “nationalities” within the political boundariesboundaries United States, United Kingdom, RussiaUnited States, United Kingdom, Russia

IrredentismIrredentism► The desire to annex (or claim) territory currently occupied The desire to annex (or claim) territory currently occupied

or governed by another state as one’s own due to current or governed by another state as one’s own due to current or historical similaritiesor historical similarities Ethnic or cultural tiesEthnic or cultural ties Previous control of territoryPrevious control of territory Historic DiasporaHistoric Diaspora

NationalismNationalism► The ideology led by a population to unify based on a unified The ideology led by a population to unify based on a unified

nationalitynationality► Commonly used in revolutions, irredentist claims, or Commonly used in revolutions, irredentist claims, or

independence movementsindependence movements► Purpose is usually centered around popular sovereignty Purpose is usually centered around popular sovereignty

and the idea that the citizens should be in controland the idea that the citizens should be in control

Self Determination Theory (SDT)Self Determination Theory (SDT)

►Edward Deci and Richard RyanEdward Deci and Richard RyanPeople will naturally try to control their People will naturally try to control their

environment and the activities that environment and the activities that take place within that environmenttake place within that environment

When others take control or determine When others take control or determine the fate of a given area, SDT can lead to the fate of a given area, SDT can lead to revolt, coup d’etat, or irredentismrevolt, coup d’etat, or irredentism

Enclave and ExclaveEnclave and Exclave

►Exclave —Exclave —a bounded (non-island) piece of a bounded (non-island) piece of territory that is part of a particular state territory that is part of a particular state but lies separated from it by the territory but lies separated from it by the territory of another stateof another state

►Enclave —Enclave —a piece of territory that is a piece of territory that is surrounded by another political unit of surrounded by another political unit of which it is not a partwhich it is not a part

Multi-state (International Level)Multi-state (International Level)► The use of political boundaries to define international The use of political boundaries to define international

organizations or multi-state organizationsorganizations or multi-state organizations Soviet UnionSoviet Union European UnionEuropean Union United NationsUnited Nations

► These organizations share one or more common:These organizations share one or more common: Political interestsPolitical interests Military interests (NATO)Military interests (NATO) Economic interestsEconomic interests Human interestsHuman interests Cultural interestsCultural interests

European UnionEuropean Union► Shares common political structure including interstate Shares common political structure including interstate

laws, court systems, regulations, and borderslaws, court systems, regulations, and borders► The political boundaries around the EU is much more The political boundaries around the EU is much more

secure than those inside the statesecure than those inside the state► Transportation is improved between states to allow people Transportation is improved between states to allow people

to travel and/or work between statesto travel and/or work between states► Common currency allows ease of inter-state commerceCommon currency allows ease of inter-state commerce► Many people work in other countries daily and commute to Many people work in other countries daily and commute to

and from countriesand from countries► Common agricultural and resource management allows a Common agricultural and resource management allows a

shared stake in the success of each member stateshared stake in the success of each member state

United NationsUnited Nations

Creation of the United NationsCreation of the United Nations►League of Nations (created after WWI to prevent League of Nations (created after WWI to prevent

WWII…whoops!WWII…whoops!►United Nations Conference on International United Nations Conference on International

Organizations in 1945Organizations in 1945►Agreed to allow Allied Powers and other sovereign Agreed to allow Allied Powers and other sovereign

nations to join in a shared diplomatic relationship to nations to join in a shared diplomatic relationship to foster open communication between statesfoster open communication between states

►Primary goals were:Primary goals were: World Peace (easy enough)World Peace (easy enough) Open forum for international discussionOpen forum for international discussion Prevent conflicts between member states and help deal Prevent conflicts between member states and help deal

with conflicts between non-member stateswith conflicts between non-member states

UN AchievementsUN Achievements► Human rights issuesHuman rights issues► Economic developmentEconomic development► DecolonizationDecolonization► Health and educationHealth and education► RefugeesRefugees► TradeTrade

UN WeaknessesUN Weaknesses► Military support is dependent upon the “Permanent Five”Military support is dependent upon the “Permanent Five”

China, U.S., France, U.K., RussiaChina, U.S., France, U.K., Russia► Sanctions and agreements are often not enforced or ignored Sanctions and agreements are often not enforced or ignored

by member statesby member states► Rogue states can unravel years of UN workRogue states can unravel years of UN work

Creating State BoundariesCreating State Boundaries►Boundaries were originally created to define Boundaries were originally created to define

areas of use or valueareas of use or value►Physical features and limitations defined Physical features and limitations defined

these areas and ease of transportation these areas and ease of transportation regulated these boundariesregulated these boundaries

►Predicted that protection of boundaries stems Predicted that protection of boundaries stems from animalistic instinct to mark and protect from animalistic instinct to mark and protect one’s territory from others (which can include one’s territory from others (which can include animals, people, or environment) – animals, people, or environment) – ROBERT ROBERT SACKSACK

Creating Political BoundariesCreating Political Boundaries►Negotiated or compromised Negotiated or compromised

boundaries are agreed upon boundaries are agreed upon ((definition)definition)

►Mapping of boundaries or borders on Mapping of boundaries or borders on paper/GIS (Remote sensing has helped paper/GIS (Remote sensing has helped with this process) (with this process) (delimitation)delimitation)

►The area is physically marked The area is physically marked ((demarcation)demarcation)

Historic Context of Creating StatesHistoric Context of Creating States►Force Theory – states were created through forced Force Theory – states were created through forced

movement and demarcation of an areamovement and demarcation of an area►Divine Right Theory – states were created through Divine Right Theory – states were created through

the ideology that people had a god-given right to a the ideology that people had a god-given right to a territory and they had to defend itterritory and they had to defend it

►Social-Contract Theory – states were a compromise Social-Contract Theory – states were a compromise of ideas, beliefs, and people agreed to be members of ideas, beliefs, and people agreed to be members of these states based on the shared beliefsof these states based on the shared beliefs

►Evolution Theory – states evolved from necessity Evolution Theory – states evolved from necessity and expansion of humans, differences in size and and expansion of humans, differences in size and territory were dependent upon the evolutionary territory were dependent upon the evolutionary needs of the peopleneeds of the people

Colonialism vs. NeocolonialismColonialism vs. Neocolonialism►Colonialism – sovereign state takes control over an Colonialism – sovereign state takes control over an

uninhabited or uncontrolled parcel of land and uninhabited or uncontrolled parcel of land and claims it as their own claims it as their own

► Imperialism – sovereign state takes control over Imperialism – sovereign state takes control over another sovereign state or group of people to another sovereign state or group of people to impose political, cultural, and economic values on impose political, cultural, and economic values on the people (Africa, Southeast Asia, United States)the people (Africa, Southeast Asia, United States)

►Neocolonialism – current dependence of former Neocolonialism – current dependence of former colonies on the previous colonizer (sub-Saharan colonies on the previous colonizer (sub-Saharan Africa). Also based on globalization and capitalist Africa). Also based on globalization and capitalist claims to resources around the worldclaims to resources around the world

The Shapes of StatesThe Shapes of States►Rivers, mountains, deserts, oceans, plateaus, and Rivers, mountains, deserts, oceans, plateaus, and

climate can shape the shape of statesclimate can shape the shape of states►Some states are larger than others due to Some states are larger than others due to

resources, needs, and colonizationresources, needs, and colonization►RussiaRussia►CanadaCanada►ChinaChina►U.S.U.S.►BrazilBrazil