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This article explores the intricate relationships between power, place, and conflicts in political geography. It discusses how culture, history, and demographic factors contribute to territorial disputes, with a focus on conflicts like the Israel-Palestine situation. Key concepts such as centrifugal and centripetal forces, devolution, balkanization, and irredentism are defined and illustrated with contemporary and historical examples. The analysis reveals how internal divisions and unifying elements shape political landscapes and influence the quest for autonomy and identity.
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What We’ve Already Learned… • Political Geography is the study of POWER as it relates to place/space • “Who is in control?”, “Who wants to control an area, and why?”
Connections to What We’ve Learned • Political Geography is connected to culture and history • Conflicts over land often come from these things • What examples can you think of thus far? • Israel/Palestine for sure
Terms We Need To Know: • Centrifugal Force • Centripetal Force • Devolution • Balkanization • Irredentism
Centrifugal Force • Anyone familiar with this outside of Geography? • Similar to scientific definition: forces from within a state that tend to divide it, or tear it apart • causes of conflicts, essentially • What are some possible examples? • Religion • Language • Ethnicity • Ideology
Centripetal Forces • Uh-oh • Similar sound – but these are forces from within a state that tend to unite it. • Examples: • Religion • Language • Ethnicity • Ideology, PLUS • A popular national hero (Gandhi, Simon Bolivar) • A common outside threat (historical enemy, etc.)
So, what happens when centrifugal forces start to beat out centripetal ones?
Devolution • When regions in a larger state demand and gain political strength and autonomy (independence) at the expense of the central government • This is not the same thing as secession • Secession is where a region does not recognize the central government at all, and becomes its own entity • Example of secession?
Quebec • Why might the Quebecois want to take control away from the Canadian Government? • Differences of culture, history • Quebec is French-speaking • Originally part of French Empire, lost to Britain • Quebec has almost split from Canada • 49% voted to leave in 1990s!
Navajo & Hopi Nations (Indian Reservations) • Governed by BIA for decades (no local control) • In 1930s-50s, US Govt turned some power over to tribes • Indian Reservations are considered “domestic dependent nations” • Have own laws – hence casino gambling, cheap cigarettes, ban on liquor for some • Still subject to Federal Government
Balkanization • Fragmentation of a region into smaller (and often hostile) states • Origin of term: Region of Europe (Th e Balkans) known for violent cultural confl ict
The Balkans * Mountainous region (which separated people) * Cultures developed in isolation * Different languages, religions, histories * “Graveyard of Empires” – World War I
Examples of Balkanization: Pre-1991 Soviet Union Post-1991: Balkanized ex-Soviet Union
End of the Soviet Union • Dominated by Russia, it was an “alliance” of 16 countries • Economically dissolved for decades in the Cold War with the United States • Finally collapsed in 1991 – now 16 separate states • Question: What was the centripetal force holding the Soviet Union together? • What might have been some centrifugal forces tearing it apart?
Irredentism • Policy of cultural extension and political expansion aimed at a national group living in a neighboring country • What? • Basically, when one country has members of its group living in another country, and it attacks the other country or absorbs it in order to “save” its own people • Example from history: Hitler annexes the Sudetenland, part of Czechoslovakia, and Austria because German-speaking people need to “come home”
