4.3-4.4 Evolution of the Political Map & Devolution PDF

The Shape of the Political Map Learning Goals PSO-4.B: Explain the processes that have shaped contemporary political geography. I can explain the events and forces that have helped to establish the boundaries of the modern political map.  Why does the global political map loo...

The Shape of the Political Map Learning Goals PSO-4.B: Explain the processes that have shaped contemporary political geography. I can explain the events and forces that have helped to establish the boundaries of the modern political map.  Why does the global political map look the way it does today? Driving Forces of Political Change Territoriality→ A willingness by one person or a group of people to defend the space they claim. Sovereignty → Supreme power or authority of a state to govern itself. Self-Determination → The ability of a state to decide its own future. Imperialism & Colonialism Imperialism → A variety of ways of influencing another country or group of people, by direct conquest, economic control, or cultural dominance. Colonialism → A particular type of imperialism in which people move into and settle on the land of another country. Colonialism European powers (Spain, Portugal, France, Britain, etc.) established large empires in the Americas, Asia, and Africa Aims: ○ Religious influence (spreading Christianity) ○ Economic wealth (exploiting land, labor) ○ Political power (expanding their influence) Colonial territories, 1550 Colonial territories, 1754 Colonial territories, 1882  Belgium Germany Spain France Britain Italy Portugal The Berlin Conference → Representatives of the major European Empires met in Berlin in 1884-1885 to lay out claims on the continent of Africa. These claims were used to form the state boundaries in Africa that largely still exist today. WWI (Aftermath) Europe ○ Poland recreated from parts of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia ○ Breakup of Austria-Hungary to form Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and what would become Yugoslavia Africa ○ German colonies divided between UK, France, Belgium, South Africa Asia ○ German colonies administered by UK, France, New Zealand, Australia ○ Breakup of Ottoman Empire Breakup of Austria-Hungary Breakup of the Ottoman Empire WWII (Aftermath) Europe ○ Germany divided into four zones ○ Borders of Poland shifted ○ Evolution of USSR Africa ○ Eritrea given to Ethiopia Asia ○ Division of Korea ○ Formation of Israel Expansion of the Soviet Union Division of Germany Division of Korea Modern Independence Movements Decolonization → When colonized nations won their independence from colonizing forces. Bulk of decolonization in Africa and Asia occurred 1950-1975  Decolonization in Africa 1951-1960: Libya, Morocco, Ghana, Guinea, Senegal, Togo, Mali, Madagascar, DR Congo, Somalia, Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Chad, CAR, Congo, Gabon, Mauritania 1961-1970: Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Cameroon, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Algeria, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Gambia, Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Swaziland, Equatorial Guinea 1971-1980: Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe, Angola, Western Sahara, Seychelles, Djibouti, Zimbabwe  Decolonization in Africa Belgium Germany Spain France Britain Italy Portugal  Decolonization in Asia 1945-1960: Philippines, Burma, Indonesia, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, India, Pakistan, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Kuwait 1961-1970: Singapore, Maldives, Oman 1971-1980: Bahrain, Qatar, UAE Partition of India The Cold War Cold War → A period of diplomatic, political, and military rivalry between the U.S. and USSR that started at the end of WWII and continued until the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. Satellite States → When one state is dominated by another, politically and economically. The Vietnam War Reunification of Germany Dissolution of the Soviet Union What other events can you think of that changed the modern political map? How did they shape it? How did territoriality, sovereignty and self-determination help to drive the changes that shaped the modern political map? Devolution & Balkanization Learning Goals SPS-4.A: Define factors that lead to the devolution of states. SPS-4.C: Explain how the concepts of centrifugal and centripetal forces apply at the state scale. I can explain how and why devolution and balkanization occur. What keeps a state together and what could tear it apart? Centripetal Forces Centripetal Force → A force that unites people together, often leading to the creation or strengthening of states. ○ Nationalism→ A nation’s desire to create and maintain a state of its own. ○ Ex. cultural homogeneity (language, religion, ethnicity), external threats, etc. Centrifugal Forces Centrifugal Force → A force that tends to break states apart or prevent them from forming. ○ Can lead to failed states, uneven development, stateless nations, ethnic nationalist movements, etc. ○ Ex. cultural heterogeneity, multinationalism, etc. What is Devolution? Devolution → The transfer of political power from the central government to lower, subnational levels of government. Decisions can be made locally, without the need for permission from the central government Intended to reduce tensions and maintain the state Can lead to eventual disintegration of the state Factors Leading to Devolution: Physical Geography Very large countries ○ Most devolution occurs at edges, far from capital Geographic isolation due to natural features (mountains, deserts, oceans, etc.) Physical disconnect usually results in cultural disconnect Devolution: France Island of Corsica located in Mediterranean Sea, 105 miles from southern France Corsicans have unique language & traditions from mainland due in part to geographic isolation May 2001, French Government granted Corsica limited autonomy to try end push for independence Factors Leading to Devolution: Economic Problems If government cannot regulate economy, create jobs, etc., people will call for change Uneven development or uneven distribution of natural resources can create inequalities and resentment Richer areas having to support poorer ones Certain areas having an unequal share of resources and therefore benefitting more/less Certain areas seeking more power because of their economic contributions to the state as a whole Devolution: Italy North is Italy’s economic powerhouse South has a declining economy (high poverty, unemployment) due to corruption, poor financial policies Tax revenue collected from North goes to help South In 2017, Northern regions voted for greater autonomy (control of tax revenue) Factors Leading to Devolution: Societal Problems Discrimination Xenophobia Corruption Overpopulation Poverty Unemployment Inequality Etc. Factors Leading to Devolution: Ethnic Separatism Subnationalism → When peoples’ primary allegiance is to a traditional group or ethnicity, rather than to the state. Usually based on cultural and linguistic differences rather than racial or religious differences Exacerbated when cultural groups are not treated equally or given equal and official recognition under law Can strengthen desire to create their own state Devolution: Spain Galicians, Catalans, Basques, etc. wanted autonomy in 1970s after oppression under Franco To prevent separatism, Spain signed autonomy agreements ○ Own parliaments, official languages, control of education and taxes, etc. Devolution: Canada 22% of Canada’s population identifies as French Canadian ○ Primarily concentrated in Quebec Calls for Quebec separatism reached height in 1960s so government granted Quebec autonomy, legally protected French language, culture ○ Controls own laws, education, immigration, etc. Devolution: Belgium Dutch-speaking Flemish live in North & French-speaking Walloons live in South Split into autonomous communities in 1970s, each controlling own economy, education, cultural laws, official languages, etc. Economic disparity between North and South causing further resentment and calls for separatism Factors Leading to Devolution: Irredentism Irredentism → Annexation of another state’s territory on the basis of shared culture, history or ethnicity. Ex. Nazi Germany annexed the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia, justifying this action on the basis most people living there spoke German & were ethnically German Adding land/population to a group that wants autonomy could strengthen their argument Adding land/people to a place that don’t want to belong there could necessitate measures of autonomy Factors Leading to Devolution: Ethnic Cleansing Ethnic Cleansing → A process in which one more powerful ethnic group forcibly removes or eliminates another to form a homogenous state. If carried out by the government, will lead to major calls for change due to abuse of power Could lead to calls for increased autonomy as means of protection for other minority factions Factors Leading to Devolution: Terrorism Terrorism → Organized violence, usually for a political goal. Overwhelming violence or crime will lead to questions about the government’s ability to protect its people and calls for change Can lead to increased xenophobia (fear of “the other”; dislike of people from other places or nations) that exacerbate cultural/ethnic division  Why could devolution be a good thing? Why could it be a bad thing? Possible Benefits of Devolution Could prevent breakup of state More representative government More attention to issues of specific groups Increased cultural and historical preservation More government accountability Accommodation of diversity Could balance economic development Easier to implement projects and deliver services Possible Drawbacks of Devolution Uneven provision of services between regions Rise in nativism Less government accountability Further marginalization of minorities Expensive to implement Increased tensions between groups Could fuel desire for further independence, leading to breakup of country Devolution & Fragmentation: Sudan Conflict between North and South regions since 1800s ○ British and Egypt shared territory, administered regions separately ○ South spoke English, were Christian ○ North spoke Arabic, were Muslim ○ North given preferential treatment and held power over South Devolution & Fragmentation: Sudan After 1956 independence, North held power, discriminated and committed violence against South, tried to force them to speak Arabic and obey Sharia Law Following years of fighting, 1972 treaty signed which made South an autonomous region In 1983, autonomous status revoked, second civil war began In 2005, comprehensive peace agreement signed, giving South autonomy for six years but tension/fighting continued In 2011 referendum, 98.83% voted for independence, leading to formation of South Sudan Balkanization Balkanization → The breaking of a state into smaller, often hostile, states along ethno-linguistic lines. Can occur in multinational states Term originally referred to breakup of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkan Peninsula Balkanization: Yugoslavia After WWII, Yugoslavia re-established as a state of six republics plus two autonomous regions Had always been tensions between ethnic groups but leader Josip Tito kept subnationalism suppressed Balkanization: Yugoslavia In 1980s, Tito died, economy declined, subnationalism grew & ethnic tensions broke Serbs felt threatened by Albanians in Kosovo and leader encouraged Serbs in republics to unite, setting off unrest Slovenia sided with Albanians and when Serbs said they would impose sanctions against them, the Slovenians, Macedonians & Croatians left Communist Party of Yugoslavia (collapsed it) Balkanization: Yugoslavia 1990: multi-party elections held in each republic ○ Independence parties won in Macedonia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Croatia People closed ranks along their ethnic lines, leading to five years of bloodshed and atrocities ○ Estimated 140,000 casualties Balkanization: Yugoslavia 1991: Slovenia & Croatia declared independence, Macedonia left via referendum 1992: Bosnia voted for independence 2006: Montenegro left Serbia via referendum 2008: Kosovo declared independence (still not recognized)