Ironically, once a country can define its political boundaries, as we learned in the previous lesson, one of the first tasks to ensure its economic survival is to determine how to go beyond its borders to establish positive trade relations with other countries. *To help facilitate the flow of writing and reading course materials moving forward, a “state” will be referred to as a “country” even though we understand from the last lesson that the correct political geography term is “state” or “nation-state.”
By the end of this lesson, you will gain profound insights into the paramount role a country’s geography plays in its participation in global trade. Exploring the examples of Chile, Indonesia, Russia, Canada, South Africa/Lesotho, Turkey (Türkiye), and Switzerland, we will untangle how the size, shape, and relative location of these countries act as either instruments of or obstacles to participation in the global exchange of goods and services. The lay person does not often consider such things, but the geographer, as you are becoming, primarily considers the relationship between the land and human activities. Remember the two overarching questions to continually ask yourself throughout the course, “why there?” and “why care?” Why is trade easier or more difficult in each of these example countries and why should we, as geographers, care?
Guide Point 🧭
Geography & Trade
Chile:
Chile's unique geography as the world's longest country serves as a strategic advantage in global trade. Thanks to its elongated shape, the country's narrow width expedites access to both the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains. This facilitates efficient transportation routes for exports. It also provides a plethora of opportunities for deep water ports along its long coastline, like the one in Valparaiso (pictured). The north-south orientation also provides diverse climates, allowing for the cultivation of various agricultural products for international markets. Positioned in South America, Chile strategically connects to key trade routes in the Pacific Rim, fostering positive international trade partnerships. On the other hand, the elongated shape of Chile and the presence of the Andes Mountains can present the country with significant challenges in transporting products throughout. Look at the map of Chile. Do you notice all the port cities to allow more export points for goods? This helps mitigate the potential problem of having an elongated shape.
Indonesia:
Jakarta, Indonesia. Aerial view of many containers and cranes with container ship berthing at industrial port.
As the world’s largest archipelago country, Indonesia's geography presents both opportunities and challenges in global trade. The vast maritime territory offers opportunities for maritime trade, like that in Jakarta (pictured), but the fact that the country is made up of over 18,000 islands poses logistical challenges for inter-island connectivity. Positioned in Southeast Asia, Indonesia benefits from proximity, or closeness to major shipping routes, enhancing its connectivity and trade relationships on the global stage. Look at the map of Indonesia. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to connect all those islands with trade routes? But also notice its strategic position in Southeast Asia. It’s hard to navigate through Southeast Asia without traversing Indonesian territory, which makes it simple for Indonesia to establish international connections.
Russia:
As the largest country in the world, Russia's expansive landmass, while abundant in resources, poses logistical challenges due to vast internal distances. And we thought Chile might have problems. Chile’s issues of transporting goods pales in comparison to the issues presented in Russia. The size influences transportation costs and logistical considerations. Additionally, eastern Russia, also called Siberia, has a very continental climate with exceptionally cold temperatures, especially close to the Arctic Circle, which prevents Russia from accessing many of the vast resources found in the ground of that region, like natural gas and petroleum. These cold conditions can also sometimes prevent ships from docking to exchange goods due to frozen conditions. However, the country's vast territory spanning Europe and Asia allows Russia to form trade relationships in both regions. Russia's strategic relative location influences connectivity with Europe and Asia, with key access points like the Trans-Siberian Railway (pictured) playing a pivotal role in trade.
Freight train moves along Lake Baikal on Trans-Siberian railway in Russia.
Canada:
As the world’s second largest country, Canada's vast land area contributes to resource abundance and diverse climates, enabling the production of a wide range of exportable goods. Canada and Russia are similar in their struggles with the logistics of the transportation of goods and cold, harsh climates prohibiting access to resources, especially in northern Canada. However, its relative location, next to the United States, its largest trading partner, greatly enhances its trade relations and global economic prowess. The shared Great Lakes (minus Lake Michigan, which is entirely within the United States) and world’s longest overland border, at over 5,000 miles long provide for ample trade opportunities between the two high-income countries. Look at the image of trucks lining up to take the bridge from Windsor, Ontario to Detroit, Michigan. How many trucks do you think cross this border every day? Roughly 30,000 trucks at nearly 100 border crossings make this journey every day!
Windsor, Canada. Transport trucks pass under a "Bridge To USA" at the entrance to the Ambassador Bridge, US-Canada border crossing.
South Africa/Lesotho:
This is a unique situation. South Africa and Lesotho are two separate countries. Lesotho (map on right) is an enclave of South Africa (map on left). Meaning it is completely surrounded by the country of South Africa, as you can see from the map of South Africa. Obviously, the relative location of Lesotho has a significant impact on its participation in global trade. On the one hand, it is an advantage to be so close to one of the more economically developed countries of Africa. On the other hand, it is a disadvantage to be surrounded by that country and have no access points to the sea for exportation of goods. South Africa's diverse geography, including Lesotho, contributes to a mix of agricultural and mineral exports, providing economic diversity. Its coastal areas along the Atlantic and Indian Oceans facilitate maritime trade. South Africa's position at the southern tip of Africa influences access to global shipping routes and trade relationships with other continents.
Turkey (Türkiye):
Turkey, now referred to as Türkiye ("Turkey" in Turkish) has a strategic relative location, like that of Russia, as a natural bridge between Europe and Asia across the Anatolia Peninsula. Türkiye’s position serves as a significant trade advantage, situated as a crossroads for international commerce. Part of Türkiye (known as Thrace) is on the European continent, while the larger part (known as Anatolia) is on the Asian continent. Also, Türkiye's peninsular shape, surrounded on three sides by water, influences maritime trade dynamics in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, enhancing regional trade connections. Look at the map of Türkiye. Find the most populated city of Türkiye, Istanbul (pictured). It is at the southern end of the Bosporus Strait, which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, which connects to the Mediterranean Sea through the Dardanelles Strait, which connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar. Wow! So, one ship can move from the shores of the Black Sea, which is bordered by six countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, all the way to the Atlantic Ocean! But, not without traveling through two “chokepoints” in Türkiye first. See how geography helps us understand why countries like Russia would actively position themselves to attain more access to the Black Sea?
Switzerland:
Despite its small size, Switzerland's relative location in the heart of western Europe serves as a substantial advantage, facilitating trade with neighboring economically vibrant nations like Germany, France, and Italy. Being landlocked, in this case by several economically strong neighbors, is quite different from how Lesotho is landlocked. Switzerland's relative location influences its role as a trading, financial, and most importantly, banking center, of not only Europe, but the entire world. Look at the photo of the entrance of one of the Credit Suisse in Zürich, Switzerland. Although headquartered in Switzerland, it is a major player in international financial services. Additionally, the physical geography of Switzerland, particularly the presence of the Alps, has influenced the trading patterns of the country. The mountainous terrain and the difficult transportation routes posed by the Alps have historically made the movement of heavy goods challenging. As a result, Switzerland has focused on trading lightweight goods that are easier to transport across mountainous regions. This specialization in lightweight goods has allowed Switzerland to become renowned for luxury watches, precision instruments, pharmaceutical drugs, and high-end chocolates, which have contributed to its economic success in the global market.
Entrance of historic bank building of Swiss bank Credit Suisse in Zürich, Switzerland.
Trade Matching | Practice Activity
Which country matches the trading description in the self-assessment below?
Reflection
As we wrap up this lesson, you've navigated the intricate relationship between geography and trade, examining how the size, shape, and relative location of countries act as either catalysts or hurdles in global commerce. Reflect on these examples, considering how geographic features influence trade patterns and economic opportunities. In our next lesson, we'll pivot our focus towards the causes of external and internal conflicts among cultural groups, exploring historical instances such as the partition of India, post-colonial Africa, and the independence movements of the Scots, Kurds, and Basques. Get ready to investigate cultural conflicts that have shaped the geopolitical landscape.
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