GEOG 254 Society and Environment Political Geography PDF

GEOG 254 Society and Environment 03 Political Geography Power in the Governmental machine of the West Power over (Sovereignty): Supreme political authority is invested in a sovereign (monarchy, parliament) which then rules and governs absolutely; sovereigns have dominion over life and death itsel...

GEOG 254 Society and Environment 03 Political Geography Power in the Governmental machine of the West Power over (Sovereignty): Supreme political authority is invested in a sovereign (monarchy, parliament) which then rules and governs absolutely; sovereigns have dominion over life and death itself. Power to (Governmentality/Biopower): Institutions rule only indirectly by inculcating in subjects particular political rationalities and certain expectations about what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.  Political Geography political organization of space and territory spatial differences determined by – administrative boundaries based on – different values, goals and policies ETHNICITY CULTURE (NATION-)STATE POLICY Territoriality: The will to power over places and spaces, with borders dividing those inside from those outside. Source: ©DARRENWHITESIDE/Reuters/Corbis.  States and sovereignty state: area that is – organized into a political unit and – ruled by an established government that has – control over its internal and foreign affairs sovereignty: exercise of state power – over people and territory, and – recognized by other states and – codified by international law  What is a State? Area organized into a political unit and ruled by an established government that has control over its domestic and foreign affairs Occupies a defined territory Contains a permanent population within the defined territory A state has sovereignty which means recognized independence from control of its domestic affairs by other states “Country” and “nation” are often used synonymously to “state” … but they’re different  Aristotele (384-322 BC) and Political Theory politikos, ‘of, or pertaining to, the polis’ polis refers to ‘city-state’ (relatively small and cohesive units, in which political, religious, and cultural concerns were intertwined) several possible constitutional forms (adapted from Plato): One Ruler Kingship or Tyranny Few Rulers Aristocracy or Oligarchy Many Rulers Democracy Emergence of the Concept of the State A fairly recent concept Prior to the 19th century, Earth’s surface was organized in other ways The first states to evolve in the ancient world were city- states – A sovereign state that comprises a town and the surrounding countryside Characteristics of a city-state – Outer walls for protection – Public space which included temples and government buildings – Majority of the population lived in the city due to it being the centre of culture, commerce, trade, and political activity  City-States Over 1,000 city-states (polis) Each city-state were independent Differed greatly in governing philosophies and interests: – Sparta ruled by two kings and a council of elders, and emphasized maintaining a strong military – Athens was a democracy where every man had the right to vote, valued arts and education, and maintained a strong navy Physical (mountains and sea) and human geographies (aristocracy) Empires Following the slow demise of city-states came empires An empire consists of a group of states (or countries) ruled by a single supreme authority such as an emperor or empress Throughout history, there have been numerous empires – Roman Empire (27 BC to 476 AD) – Mongol Empire (1206 to 1368) – Spanish and Portuguese Empires (Late 15th century to the 1900s) – British Empire (15th century to the 1940s)  Colonialism European states came to control much of the world through colonialism Defined as the effort by one country to establish settlements and to impose and control its cultural, economic, and political principles on the territory’s original inhabitants European countries established colonies around the world for three reasons: 1. Promote Christianity 2. Exploit natural resources from overseas to fuel the economy of European states 3. Symbol of relative power (more colonies = more power)  Colonial times – or imperial? Imperialism Colonialism control of territory control of already occupied previously and organized by uninhabited or another sparsely inhabited (indigenous,..) land society  Nationality – a muddy concept? nationality: identity with a group of people who share legal attachment and personal allegiance to a particular country nation: group of people tied together to a particular place through legal status and cultural tradition comparison between ethnicity and nationality: both are defined by shared values, BUT – ethnicity: derived from cultural values (language, religion, material culture) – nationality: derived from legal/political values (voting, civic duties, passport right) citizenship: legal recognition of membership in a particular country; NOT culturally based concept  Nation-states and political strategies TERRITORIAL MANIPULATION: ETHNIC MANIPULATION: split of Czechoslovakia (1993) Rwanda (1994) Germany during WWII (1939-45) Yugoslavia (1991)  Boundaries vs Frontier frontier: zone where no state exercises complete political control – uninhabited or sparsely populated by few pioneers – tangible geographic zone, larger area of separation boundary: infinitely thin, invisible, imaginary line that separates the territory of two state powers Where are frontiers left on the planet?  Problems of Defining States 208 listed “states” in the United Nations system – 195 UN member states... Generally sovereign/independent states – 2 UN observer states (The Holy See and Palestine) – 13 other “states”  ‘Nation’-building forces centripetal forces: forces that integrate the state centrifugal forces: forces that can lead to the disintegration of the state  Canadian Citizenship 1867: Canada becomes a federal dominion (Union of British North American colonies) 1931 Statute of Westminster grants British dominions complete autonomy. BUT: until 1947, Canada was a nation without citizens. "Canadians" were simply British subjects living in Canada. – embarrassment for a country that emerged from the Second World War with a strong sense of nationhood. 1947: Canadian Citizenship Act came into effect and Canadians finally became "Canadian citizens" – Canada was declared to be of equal status with the UK within the Commonwealth. 1965 Canadian flag followed.  UN: seats and representation Should size be a criterion for statehood? > 40 states have a population of < 1 million Vatican City: permanent – EUROPE: observer status – ASIA: – AFRICA: Switzerland: – LATIN AMERICA: member only – PACIFIC/INDIAN OCEAN: since 2002 –Monaco, San Marino political representation: –Bahrain and Brunei – 4 new UN members in 1999-2000 with populations < –Djibouti and Equatorial 100,000: Guinea Nauru, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu –Suriname, Belize – Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) –Tuvalu, Grenada, now controls more than 20% of the UN General Assembly Maldives vote