Political Geography

Why do you think European nation-states have put aside their centuries-old rivalries?

Political Geography: The study of how people have

organized Earth’s land surface into countries and alliances, reasons underlying the observed arrangements, and the conflicts that result from the organization.

You should be able to explain, analyze and provide examples of the following for Key issue 1:

1.Territorial dimensions of politicsa. The concept of territorialityb. The nature and meaning of boundariesc. Influences of boundaries on identity, interaction and exchange

2. Evolution of the contemporary political patterna. Territorial assumptions underlying the nation-state ideal.b. Colonialism and imperialismc. Internal political boundaries and arrangements

3. Challenges to the inherited political-territorial arrangementsa. Changing nature of sovereigntyb. Fragmentation, unification and alliancec. Spatial relationships between political patterns and patterns of ethnicity, economy, and environment.

Key issue 1: Where are states located?

1. Define “state” and give its synonym2. What is the only large landmass that is

not part of a state? Explain its status3. Describe where Korea is located and

explain the situation in Korea

STATE CONCEPT-A state is an area organized into a political

unit and ruled by an established government that has control over its internal and foreign affairs.

- The term country is a synonym for state.EX=The 50 states of the U.S. are

subdivisions within a single state: The United States of America

Antarctica-Antarctica is the only large landmass

on Earth’s surface that is not part of a state.

-Several states…claim portions of Antarctica (the U.S., Russia, and other states do not recognize the claims of any country to Antarctica.

Antarctica

-The Treaty of Antarctica, signed in 1959 renewed in 1991, provides a legal framework for managing Antarctica.

-Know the legal framework (evidence from the text)

Korea-A colony of Japan for many years, Korea was

divided into two occupation zones by the United States and former Soviet Union after they defeated Japan in WWII.

-North Korea and South Korea became separate governments in the 1940s and North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, starting a 3 year war.

Korea

-In 1992 North Korea and South Korea were admitted to the United Nations as separate countries.

CHINA AND TAIWAN-List anything you have on you or that

you can think might be labeled “Made in Taiwan”

-List anything you have on you or that you can think might be labeled “Made in China”

CHINA AND TAIWAN

4. Describe the dispute over Taiwan. Find it on a map and outline in bullet form the situation since 1949. What is the U.S. position?

CHINA AND TAIWAN-According to China’s government

officials, Taiwan is not a separate sovereign state but is part of China.

-Until 1999 the government of Taiwan agreed.

-The confusing situation arose from a civil war. After losing, nationalist leaders in 1949 fled to the island of Taiwan.

CHINA AND TAIWAN-Most other governments in the world

consider China and Taiwan as two separate and sovereign states.

-In 1999 Taiwan also regarded itself as a sovereign independent state.

-U.S. supported the Nationalists as official government of China until 1971.

Article QuestionExplain the conflicts involving

business relationships between China and Taiwan.

(Use evidence from the text to support your answer)

Western Sahara(Sahrawi Republic)

5. Can the desert sustain life? Ask any resident of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic! Or perhaps you should ask a Moroccan. Why?? What’s the problem with the Western Sahara??

Western Sahara(Sahrawi Republic)

-The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is considered by most African countries as a sovereign state.

-Morocco, however, controls the territory, which it calls Western Sahara.

Western Sahara(Sahrawi Republic)

-The United Nations is sponsoring a referendum for the residents of Western Sahara to decided whether they want independence or want to continue to be part of Morocco.

Development of the State Concept

-The concept of dividing the world into a collection of independent states is recent. Prior to the 1800s, Earth’s surface was organized in other ways, such as city-states, empires, and tribes.

-Much of the Earth’s surface consisted of unorganized territory.

Development of the State Concept

-Ancient, Medieval, and Early European States.

-Colonies, Colonialism, and Colonial Practices

• When referring to European nations occupying areas around the world, taking over the governments and often brutally suppressing any resistance, why do you think the word "colonialism" is used instead of "invasion?" Explain and elaborate.

Give 2 examples that illustrate the problems of defining states. Use text evidence to support your response.