Unit 4: Political Patterns and Processes

Identify two problems that a country in a shatterbelt region may experience.

1) Political and economic influence from outside countries. 2) May get pulled into a war that does not concern them. 3) Could see fighting within their country. 4) Citizens have to live in uncertainty as they do not know what will happen with the larger conflict. 5) States will see lower economic growth and possibly less autonomy

Identify three ways in which colonialism reshaped the world.

1) Spread languages such as english and spanish around the world. 2) New ideas and goods/services were traded. 3) New agricultural products allowed for population booms. 4) Countries citizens were suppressed and in some cases killed or sold into slavery. 5) Diseases spread around the world.

ethnonationalism

A form of nationalism where the nation is defined in terms of ethnicity. Here nations are defined by a shared cultural heritage

What makes a geometric boundary unique and which boundary category is it part of?

A geometric boundary is a form of a cultural boundary. Here the boundary is created to go with latitude and longitude.

Explain the difference between a nation and a state

A nation is a large group of people who share a common history/cultural characteristics with a history of self-determination. A state is a geographic area organized into one political unit. Nations deal with groups of people with a culture tied to a hearth/homeland, while a state is a territory with a recognized government.

Multistate nation

A nation that stretches across states Ex: North and South Korea, Kurdish Nation

Stateless nation

A nation with a history of self-determination but does not have a recognized state Ex: Catalonia, Palestinians

Irredentism

A policy of advocating the for coups or separatist movements into another country based on advocating for the restoration of a former territory, or moral claim to the land.

Nation-state

A sovereign state that is made up of subjects who are relatively homogenous Ex: The majority of European countries

Multinational state

A state that contains two or more nations with a history of self-determination who have agreed to coexist as one state Ex: Soviet Union, Russia

What is the difference between an antecedent and relic boundary?

An antecedent boundary is a boundary that has existed before the development of the cultural landscape. A relic boundary is a boundary that revolves around a boundary that no longer exists but still impacts the cultural landscape.

Political devolution

As more ethnic groups with self-determination seek autonomy governments may create more autonomous or semi-autonomous regions shifting power from the central power to regional levels. We could also see political parties demand changes in the operation of current political systems to allow more representation of the people

What is the difference between an autonomous and semi autonomous region?

Autonomous regions are regions that have some autonomy from an external authority. Autonomous regions are also geographically distant from the country. Semi Autonomous regions have some control over their own affairs, however, here another state also controls the region. Semi Autonomous regions are not geographically distant from the country.

Explain how the spatial layout of a voting district can impact election results.

By creating districts that are based off of people's voting history politicians can manipulate elections and diminish the impact of citizens' votes. This reduces the citizens ability to hold politicians in check and can alienate citizens from the political system.

Unitary

Central Gov: Has all of the power Regional Gov: Does not have any power Pro: The government can make big changes quickly Con: Government will not be able to address the concerns of each region

Confederation

Central Gov: No power Regional Gov: All of the power Pro: Regional government can make laws for specially their region Con: Can be hard to keep a national identity, due to the lack of a central power

Federal

Central Gov: Still hold a large amount of power, however, shares certain power with regional government Regional Gov: Has their own power, with some shared powers with the central government Pro: Can keep a strong national identity, while also addressing the concerns at each level of society Con: Disputes can happen between regional governments and the central government over control of power

What is the difference between centripetal forces and centrifugal forces?

Centripetal forces are factors that unify people and keep a state together. Centrifugal forces are factors that divide people and push a state apart.

How has China been using neocolonailism in Africa?

China has been spending large amounts of money on African infrastructure projects. The goal is to use their economic and political power to influence African countries to side with them politically and also use their cheap labor to make cheap products for their country. China is indirectly influencing the content of Africa without directly ruling it.

Social devolution

Citizens who do not feel like they are being heard in the government will seek change. We can see this in states with ethnic groups who make up a large percentage of a geographic area but have little to no representation in the government. If groups are denied and/or oppressed in society we could see more radical pushes for change, such as terrorist groups starting to form.

Geographic Centripetal

Compact state with citizens living in a geographically close area, lack of isolated groups due to the physical geography

Compare and contrast a subsequent and consequent boundary

Consequent and subsequent boundaries both illustrate divisions in culture. However, the difference between the two comes with how the boundary is created. Consequent boundaries are boundaries that divide different ethnic groups by physical features of the landscape. Consequent boundaries are made by the environment, while subsequent boundaries are purposefully created by society.

Political Centrifugal

Corruption in the government, lack of voice for citizens, oppression of rights, discrimination against certain citizens

Explain why countries around the world pay special attention to choke points.

Countries pay close attention to choke points, especially ones that involve trade, because if these points were ever closed or transportation/travel was hindered the world economy would be impacted. Choke points are geographic areas that have to be passed to reach a certain destination. Countries who control a choke point gain political and economic power over countries who do not own the choke point but wish to travel through it.

What is the difference between packing and cracking?

Cracking is when politicians spread like minded voters across many districts. This limits the impact of their vote, since they will be the minority in all of the different districts. Packing is where politicians put like minded voters all into a few districts. This causes them to win those districts but lose the rest of them

Provide an example of a definitional boundary dispute

Egypt and Sudan had a boundary dispute over the Halayib Triangle. Both countries were using different documents to define the border. These documents had conflicting information on the definition of the boundary.

Culutral Centrifugal

Ethnic conflicts between citizens of a state, discrimination of certain cultural groups, lack of political or economic opportunities for certain ethnic groups

Which map/image shows a relic boundary? Why?

Image B shows a relic boundary. The Berlin wall is no longer up today, but it still impacts the cultural landscape.

Which map/image shows a superimposed boundary? Why?

Map A shows a superimposed boundary because we can see the states in Africa were created by European powers.

Which map/image shows a subsequent boundary?

Map C would be an example of subsequent boundaries. The former Yugoslavia split and created new states based on the different ethnic groups in the area.

Cultural factors that have challenged state sovereignty

People do not live in isolation and with advancements in communication/ technology we have seen a global culture start to form. This has diminished the ability of cultures to remain isolated and maintain one single identity.

Explain what type of region Native American Indian reservations would be

Semi Autonomous region. This is because they have some control over their own affairs, however, the United States government has final say on many issues. They are also geographically connected to the United States and are not separated.

Economic factors that have challenged state sovereignty

States today participate in a variety of international organizations, and trade deals with other states. States that join may have to give up some sovereign control over certain economic aspects to participate in these groups/deals. States that refuse to join or go against internal organizations can also have their sovereignty hindered through tariffs, sanctions, or military actions.

Economic devolution

States with high inflation or an economy that has been struggling for a significant amount of time will see more pressure from citizens for drastic change. This could lead to a shift in power away from a centralized government to more regional administrations

Explain how subnational political units illustrate the concept of devolution

Subnational political units is a small geographic area that has its own local government. Here devolution has occurred, meaning that power has shifted from a central government to the regional level. Allowing the formation of a subnational political unit to form. (Oftentimes in the form of a village, town, city, exctra..)

Why would an allocational boundary dispute happen?

There is confusion over who gets the resources on the boundary, and both countries want to have the resources.

Explain when a locational boundary dispute would happen

These disputes happen because geographic features of an area have shifted, causing the boundary to shift with it. Example a river that splits two states may move over time causing part of one state to now be in the other state.

Why does Africa have less nation-states compared to other parts of the world?

This is because of colonialism and the Scramble for Africa. When European powers created states in Africa they based them on longitude and latitude not ethnic groups. This made it difficult for homogenous nation-states to form. Africa also has such a large variety of different ethnic groups that live in a small geographic area that it would be hard to have a nation-state for each ethnic group.

territoriality

This is how people use space to communicate ownership or occupy a geographic area.

sovereignty

This is the authority of a state to govern itself without any interference from another government, state, or group of people.

Baseline

This is the shoreline State has sovereignty over their internal and external affairs

Political Centripetal

Unified government, political system that allows citizens to participate in society, strong sense of patriotism, war with another state

.How has technology facilitated supranationalism?

With the increase in communication and access to information more and more sovereign states are interacting. This has led to more alliances for cultural, economic, or military reasons.

Which country experienced devolution, Yugoslavia or Madagascar?

Yugoslavia

Geographic Centrifugal

fragmented states that have isolated groups, physical geographical features that divided groups of people

Identify two supranational organizations and example how they impact state's sovereignty

1) The United Nations. While states who are part of the U.N. retain their sovereignty they also must follow the U.N. charter and support U.N. actions. 2) The European Union. States in the European Union give up control over a variety of decisions such as immigration, trade deals, and more. 3) The Eurozone. States give up control over the currency, having to use the Euro instead of their own currency.

Environmental devolution

Physical geography can create isolated groups that evolve independently of other cultural groups in the geographic area. The terrain of an area can also create unique cultures due to the differences in the terrain over the geographic area.

How can centripetal forces and centrifugal forces apply at the state/regional scale and country/national scale?

Regionally people bound over local rivalries, cultural traditions unique to the area, and sports. People become divided over local politics, or major changes over the cultural landscape. Nationally people are held together with a sense of nationality, identity, and pride in the country. They are pulled apart due to cultural differences, or debates over how the country should be run

What is the difference between self-determination and devolution?

Self-determination is the idea that a nation has the right to govern itself to protect its traditions and culture. Devolution is the transfer of power to a lower level of government.

Explain how self-determination impacts a territory.

Self-determination is the idea that nations have the right to govern themselves. They do this in order to preserve their cultural characteristics

Identify two historical examples of international conflicts that have impacted a country's boundaries

The DMZ between North and South Korea, the Berlin Wall, Israel and Palestine, the World Wars.

.Provide an example of an operational dispute

The United States border with Mexico. Both countries can not agree on a way to handle the migration of people over the border

How can global efforts to address a changing world create more supranationalism?

The global community has been working to resolve a variety of global issues. Such as climate change, with the Paris Agreement. As sovereign states work with other states to address global concerns more and more supranational organizations are created.

Identify two ways in which gerrymandering impacts political elections in the United States

1) Diminishes the impact of citizens votes 2) Creates safe districts where politicians do not have to worry about being reelected. 3) Can diminish voters ability to hold politicians accountable

Political factors that have challenged state sovereignty

Globalization has led to the creation of more supranational organizations, which have powers that exceed state boundaries. States that wish to participate in international organizations, treaties, trade deals sometimes give up parts of their sovereignty.

Economic Centripetal

Growing GDP, low unemployment, sense of mobility in the economic system

International Waters

No state has control

Technological factors that have challenged state sovereignty

With the diffusion of technology like the internet, cell phones, and social media more and more states are seeing challenges to their governments. This can happen in terms of election meddling, interference of daily life, or political revolution like seen during the Arab Springs, or recently Hong Kong.

Exclusive Economic Zone

200 natural miles States have the sole right to all natural resources. Example oil, natural gas, or fish

Contiguous Zone

24 nautical miles States may enforce laws concerning pollution, taxation, customs, and immigration

Economic Centrifugal

High inflation, lack of economic opportunities in society, high unemployment, lack of economic growth

Cultural Centripetal

Homogeneous society, one national identity, ethnic groups that retain differences while also being part of a shared culture

Territorial Zone

12 nautical miles from baseline States can set laws regulating passage of ships from other countries

Identify the two boundary categories

Cultural boundaries and Physical boundaries