Essential Political Geography concepts

1. Essential Political Geography concepts State a political unit Nation a cultural unit based on Latin status – “to stand” independent country defined boundaries internationally recognized sovereignty over land and people within boundaries gray areas, including colonies based on Latin natio – “birth” ethnic identity common ancestry (mythical or actual); common religion (usually) and/or language; accepted ways of behavior political aspirations has a homeland (“the sacred soil”)

2. “Nationalism” can take several forms “Ethnic nationalism” – pride of nation based on group identification with specific culture or “Civic nationalism” – pride of nation based on government system or political ideals that transcends ethnicity How do multi-ethnic or multi-nation states promote a sense of national identity? Is there a downside with fostering nationalism?

3. The geography of nations and states Situation 1 –Nation-State Model - close match between political sovereignty and extent of a nation’s homeland Situation 2 – Multi-nation State Political unit with two + national homelands – may lead to ethnonationalism and stages of political fragmentation: separatism, devolution, or secession Situation 3 – Multi-state Nation Cultural unit (homeland) exists across the boundaries of more than one political unit – may lead to irredentism:political goal to unify a nation across existing state borders Situation 4 - Stateless Nation – a nation (with political aspirations) without sovereignty over its homeland

4. Strategies used by multi-nation states for unifying countries (“nation-building”) 1. Maintain central control Dominant group (political core) doesn’t grant any political autonomy to ethnic regions Examples: Yugoslavia under Tito, UK prior to Irish independence, Iraq under Saddam 2. Devolution Peripheral ethnic regions pressure core group for local control = sharing of some power by the core (dominant) group with the ethnic-minority region Examples: Spain (Basques, Catalans), Belgium (Walloons, Flemish), Canada (Quebec)

5. Boundary of former Turkish (Ottoman) Empire Empires often divided peoples to maintain control over ethnic-minority regions Mismatch between “state” and “nation” in Central Asia – borders drawn by Russian and British Empires

6. Devolution in the UK Efforts at greater local control from a core nation’s political dominance Scotland has own Parliament for its local affairs Northern Ireland and Wales have its own Assembly for its local affairs Rep. of Ireland (Eire) split from English control completely in 1922 London

7. Political Fragmentation What if devolution fails to unify a State? Separatism Independence movements in peripheral ethnic regions – seek to break free from core’s domination Examples? Secession Fragmenting of multi-nation state into smaller states as local ethnic regions gain independence – may lead to “balkanization” – fragmentation into small states that may not be viable Examples?

8. CZECHOSLOVAKIA (BORDERS FROM 1919 TO 1992) Fragmentation -Czechoslovakia split in 1993: one multi-nation state became two nation-states CZECH REPUBLIC Population: 10,200,000 Ethnicities Czech & Moravian 95% Slovak 3% All others 2% SLOVAKIA Population: 5,400,000 Ethnicities Slovak 86% Hungarian 11% All others 3% CZECHOSLOVAKIA (data before separation in 1993) Total population: 15,600,000 Ethnicities Czech & Moravian 62% Hungarian 4% Slovak 32% All others 2%

9. Pop.GNI/PPPEthnicity Singapore 4.3 $ 26,590 77% Chinese Malaysia 26.1 $ 9,630 60% Malay Singapore split from Malaysia in 1965 SINGAPORE MALAYSIA

10. Successor states to the former Soviet Union (15 countries) Russia 142 million Ukraine 47 million Uzbekistan 26 million Total of 12 others 70 million

11. Russian Federation: still a multi-nation state, with designated “internal ethnic republics” Chechnya: Internal ethnic republic in Russia - mostly Muslim; declared independence in 1994 – led to devastating war

13. Fragmenting of the former Yugoslavia into six countries (so far) Serbia Croatia Slovenia Bosnia - Herzegovina Macedonia Montenegro

14. Aceh Moluccas West Papua East Timor Separatist Flashpoints in Indonesia (East Timor gained independence in 2002)

15. Core area (Irrawaddy River valley) Myanmar (Burma) Ethnically diverse, not unified Karenni kids Burmese are politically dominant Peripheries (mountainous)

16. Irredentism Cross-border political movement: a nation divided by int’l borders seeks to unify and control all of its land in one state Examples: Irish, Serbs, Albanians, Hungarians, Germans (pre-WW2) Ethnic Cleansing Political strategy by a dominant group to forcibly remove ethnic minorities from within its state boundaries Nations of Southeastern & Central Europe

22. Governing States • National governments can be classified as democratic, autocratic, or anocratic. • A democracy is a country in which citizens elect leaders and can run for office. • An autocracy is a country that is run according to the interests of the ruler rather than the people. • An anocracy is a country that is not fully democratic or fully autocratic, but rather a mix of the two.

23. Regime Type

24. Governing States -National Scale: Democracies and autocracies differ in three essential elements: • Selection of Leaders • Democracies have institutions and procedures through which citizens can express effective preferences about alternative policies and leaders. • Autocracies have leaders who are selected according to clearly defined (usually hereditary) rules of succession from within the political elite. • Citizen Participation • Democracies have institutionalized constraints on the exercise of power by the executive. • Autocracies have citizens’ participation restricted or suppressed.

25. Governing States • National Scale: Democracies and autocracies differ in three essential elements cont’d: • Checks and Balances: • Democracies guarantee civil liberties to all citizens. • Autocracies have leaders who exercise power with no meaningful checks from legislative, judicial, or civil society institutions. • In general, the world has become more democratic since the turn of the 19th century.

27. Governing States – Local Scale • Unitary States – places most power in the hands of central government officials (more suitable for smaller states) • Ex. France, China

28. Federal States – allocates strong power to units of local government within a country (more suitable for larger states) • Ex. United States, Mexico

29. Supranationalism vs. Devolution

30. Supranationalism= cooperation (economic, political, military) among several countries for mutual benefit

31. Supranationalism • Can be connected with globalizing forces • States may give up some political power (sovereignty) to join a supranational organization • Examples: United Nations, European Union, NATO, NAFTA, ASEAN, OPEC, OAS, CIS.

32. Since 1980s - Europe has had 15+ new countries created by ethnic nationalism Since 1950s - Also has been project to increase economic & political integration – an example of concept of “supranationalism” EU Flag and Flags of Its Member States (as of 2006)

33. European Union • Primarily for economic purposes, but also politically, environmentally, and security oriented • Economic changes: Border-free work, Euro currency (most members), Free trade in EU, Free flow of currency • Has made EU largest “market” in the world • Member states elect representatives to EU Parliament • “Four freedoms” of movement—of people, goods, services and capital

34. Some key elements in EU integration Free trade among member states Remove barriers to movement of labor & capital Uniform fiscal & environmental policies EU Members 15 members joined 1958-1995 12 newest members joined 2004-2007 Candidate countries

37. Association of Southeast Asian Nations • Main aim: • “To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region…” • “To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the U.N. Charter.”