PGE - Introduction to Political Geography Lesson

Introduction to Political Geography

Political Geography

• Studies the people and systems used to control space and populations
• Politics – People who hold the power in government
• Territoriality – Creating ownership of space on the Earth's surface

Basic Units of Territory

• When we discuss a country of the world, we are actually discussing a state. A state (or country) is a political unit with a government, defined territory and a population
  • Antarctica is the only large landmass without an official state (several countries claim influence, but Antarctica is not part of any one state - this land is an example of a global common)
  • Sovereignty – the power and ability for a country to rule itself
• States are separated from one another by a boundary (invisible line)
• Can include natural and cultural boundaries - Very often become areas of conflict
  • What would be a natural boundary? Natural boundaries are caused by rivers, mountains, etc.
  • What would be a cultural boundary? Cultural boundaries are those created by religion or language.
• Largest states (in geographic size): Russia, China, Canada, US, Brazil, Australia
• Microstates: Monaco, Bahrain, Grenada, Singapore

Problem States

• Korea (North & South)
• Split because of WWII – US (S) and USSR (N)
• The countries have been trying to reconcile, but the nuclear weapons of North Korea have created issues
• China and Taiwan
• Split because of civil war (Communist vs. Nationalist)
• Sahrawi Arab Republic and Morocco
• Sahrawi Republic (in Northern African) gained their independence from Spain in 1976
• Morocco and Mauritania took the land for themselves, even after Mauritania left – Morocco remained

Israel and Palestine

• The country of Israel was delineated within land claimed by Palestinians
• The differing religious systems have added to the conflicts

Sudan and South Sudan

• Sudan split into two countries (Sudan and South Sudan) due to ongoing ethnic and religious conflicts
• Sudan is Islamic and South Sudan is Christian and Animist

History of States

• • The earliest roots of states can be traced to the River Valley Civilizations (these locations are also the origins for permanent farming and the basis for urbanization)
  • Mesopotamia (Fertile Crescent) – 3200 bc
    • Between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
    • Farming as early as 6000 bc
    • Connected the land between Israel and Persian Gulf
    • Lived in city-state – town and surrounding countryside
  • Nile River Valley – 3100 bc
    • Empire building begins
  • Indus River Valley – 3000 bc
    • City builders
  • Huang He River Valley – 2200 bc
    • Farming as early as 6000 bc

Map of the Tigris - Euphrates Watershed

 

Ancient Empires

• Persians - built the largest empire stretching from North Africa through Europe and to India
• Rome - one of the most powerful empires in history, stretching from Europe to the Middle East
• After the fall in the 5th century various ruling families claimed pieces of land - these would eventually create the boundaries for countries (much later in history)
• Medieval states - after the fall of Rome, noble families traded their loyalty and service to the royal families in exchange for land
• The system used to protect, farm and trade on these lands was known as feudalism

Colonialism and Imperialism

• Exploration and colonialism started during the 1400s
  • Mostly Britain & France
  • Colony - area tied to a different sovereign nation with the goals of economic and territorial gain
  • Imperialism - establishing control over an area that is already politically organized
    • England and the United States are examples of countries accused of imperialism (and those that colonized)
    • It is important to remember that cultural imperialism can occur without military or government involvement (simply ideas and practices)
    • Colonialism was originally driven by the concepts of "God, Gold & Glory" and then the benefits of mercantilism became the driving force
      • Countries wanted to control as much of the wealth of the world as possible, so they did this at the expense of their rivals as well as their own colonies (raw materials from colonies)
  • The earliest European colonies (not territories) were in the Americas, then Africa and Asia
  • WWII was the starting point for the independence of most Asian and African colonies (decolonization)
    • Colonies still exist - Puerto Rico, French Polynesia, Guam, etc.
    • Although colonies are rare, neocolonialism is not rare - this model holds that although one country no longer officially controls the other, there is still economic and cultural control
• Political Economies
  • Different countries have chosen varying economic systems
  • Capitalism is a free-market economy with private ownership and driven by the principles of supply and demand
  • Communism is the system that believes in shared ownership of all assets and property in order to avoid exploitation of the working class
  • Socialism holds that the government has the responsibility of redistribution of wealth by shared ownership of the means of production, while allowing for private property and profits

Map of the British Empire

The image below illustrates the power of the British Empire at its height. The territories that were at one time or another part of the British Empire. The British Overseas Territories are underlined in red.

IMAGES CREATED BY GAVS (Images are available in the Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons; Creative Commons License Attribution)