POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
AP Human Geography
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY IS….
• The study of the political organization of the world
• What is a state
• Why states are where they are
• Physical geography of states (their affect on a state)
• Interactions between states
• Interaction within a state
A STATE….
•An organized region with:
• Permanent population
• Defined territory
• Government
• Capacity to enter into relations with other states
• Montevideo Convention, Organization of American
States December 26, 1933
SOVEREIGNTY
•Recognized right to control
territory both politically and
militarily
:A state also needs
HOW TO GET RECOGNIZED
•Other countries must recognize your right
to exist.
•Need to have a couple of big countries
recognize you or a majority of the United
Nations
REAL STATE OR NOT?
•Republic of China (AKA Taiwan)?
•Kosovo?
•North Korea?
• Israel?
•Armenia?
•Palestine?
TERMS RELATED TO STATES
Multinational state?Country?
Microstate?
Multistate nation?
Satellite State?
NATION
• People bound together
• Ancestrally
• Historically
• Culturally
• Language
NATION STATE
•Blueistan •Everyone living
in Blueistan is
also Blueistani
MULTINATION STATE
•Blueistan •The people living in blueistan are different nationalities – like purpleini, greeneons, etc
MULTISTATE NATION
•The Blueistanis live not only in Blueistan, but also in neighboring countries. The Nationality is in several neighboring states
STATELESS NATION
•The Blueistani people
are not the majority in
any country. They
don’t have a country
to call their own
NOT A STATELESS NATION
• In this case the Bluestanis are not a stateless nation –because they are all in one country. They may not have a country called Bluestani, but they are all together
SEMI-AUTONOMOUS REGION
• In Tanalanaland:
• Several nationalities
• Orangemen have a very different
background – history, language
• More wealthy, pay higher taxes
• Want independence
• To keep them happy & part of the
country, the government has given
them autonomy over education and
tax spending in the region
AUTONOMOUS REGION
• In Tanalanaland:
• The Purpleini have been granted
complete control of the red area.
• They control:
• Schools
• Government
• Public services
• The Purpleini also has all the
benefits anyone in Tanalanaland
enjoys.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS????
•Can you divide
these
• Nations?
• States?
• Stateless nations?
• Semi/autonomous
regions?
Into the right category?
SHAPES OF STATES
THE SHAPE OF A STATE CAN EFFECT:
ORGANIZATIONCONTROL
TRANSPORTATIONMANAGEMENTGOVERNANCE
ECONOMYRELATIONSHIP WITH NEIGHBORS
COMPACT STATE
•Usually the perfect state shape
•Especially when capital is in
the center
•Transportation
•communication
ELONGATED STATE
•Least efficient
•Further from the capital =
isolation
•Transportation
•Defense
PRORUPT STATE
•Combo of compact and
elongated
•Proruption usually has some
sort of significance
FRAGMENTED STATE
•Most difficult
•Can be only islands or part
continent, part island
•Communication, defense,
control
PERFORATED STATE
•One state completely
surrounds another state
•Surrounded state = enclave
•Access, defense, dependence