Chapter 4, Section 3Chapter 4, Section 3Political Geography

Objectives:

1 - define 4 categories of government

2 - identify 3 important geographic characteristics used to describe a country

3 - distinguish between natural and artificial boundaries

4 - identify main types of regional political systems

Political Geography

Objectives:

1 - define 4 categories of government

2 - identify 3 important geographic characteristics used to describe a country

3 - distinguish between natural and artificial boundaries

4 - identify main types of regional political systems

Nations of the World…Nations of the World…

Currently we have 245 countries in the world (debatable, depends on HOW you define a country)

State = country -- an independent unit that occupies a specific territory and has full control of internal and external affairs

Nation -- a group of people with a common culture living in a territory with a sense of unity

Nation-State -- a nation and a state occupy the same territory

Question: Is it possible for a nation not to have a territory?

--Palestine, the Kurds, the Basque

-video on Palestine Street, video on the Basque

Currently we have 245 countries in the world (debatable, depends on HOW you define a country)

State = country -- an independent unit that occupies a specific territory and has full control of internal and external affairs

Nation -- a group of people with a common culture living in a territory with a sense of unity

Nation-State -- a nation and a state occupy the same territory

Question: Is it possible for a nation not to have a territory?

--Palestine, the Kurds, the Basque

-video on Palestine Street, video on the Basque

Types of Government1. Democracy - citizens hold political power either

directly or through representatives…examples?

2. Monarchy - a ruling family headed by a king or queen holds political power and may or may not share the power with citizen bodies…UK, Saudi Arabia

3. Dictatorship - an individual or group holds complete political power…North Korea

4. Communism - nearly all political power and means of production are held by the government in the name of all the people…examples?

Types of Government1. Democracy - citizens hold political power either

directly or through representatives…examples?

2. Monarchy - a ruling family headed by a king or queen holds political power and may or may not share the power with citizen bodies…UK, Saudi Arabia

3. Dictatorship - an individual or group holds complete political power…North Korea

4. Communism - nearly all political power and means of production are held by the government in the name of all the people…examples?

Geographic Characteristics of NationsGeographic Characteristics of Nations3 geographic characteristics of a country:

1) Size - does size equate power? Use examples to prove it…

2) Shape - goods, govern-ability, relations to other nations…chile versus germany

3) Location - relative location, Singapore versus Bolivia, landlocked

3 geographic characteristics of a country:

1) Size - does size equate power? Use examples to prove it…

2) Shape - goods, govern-ability, relations to other nations…chile versus germany

3) Location - relative location, Singapore versus Bolivia, landlocked

National BoundariesNational BoundariesWhy do you think boundaries are important? Language, taxes,

legal code, claiming resourcesNatural Boundaries-based on physical features: rivers, lakes, chains of mountains

ex. Rio Grande, others?-what if physical features change?

Artificial Boundaries-fixed line following latitude and longitude lines

see 49degrees N b/w US and Canada (book)-what other artificial boundaries can we find?-how did this idea of setting boundaries affect Africa? -what other artificial boundaries are there? In China?

Let’s look at a map of Senegal…

Why do you think boundaries are important? Language, taxes, legal code, claiming resources

Natural Boundaries-based on physical features: rivers, lakes, chains of mountains

ex. Rio Grande, others?-what if physical features change?

Artificial Boundaries-fixed line following latitude and longitude lines

see 49degrees N b/w US and Canada (book)-what other artificial boundaries can we find?-how did this idea of setting boundaries affect Africa? -what other artificial boundaries are there? In China?

Let’s look at a map of Senegal…

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Regional Political SystemsRegional Political SystemsWhy do countries and nation-states divide power into

smaller units? How do they do this?

In US: states, counties, cities, towns, villages, municipalities, neighborhoods, etc…

Countries, too, can join or form groups: EU, UN…

More to come on this when we dissect regions of the world…

Why do countries and nation-states divide power into smaller units? How do they do this?

In US: states, counties, cities, towns, villages, municipalities, neighborhoods, etc…

Countries, too, can join or form groups: EU, UN…

More to come on this when we dissect regions of the world…