The Modern StateThe Modern State

The creation of the world as The creation of the world as you now know it. you now know it.

Why is Space Politically Why is Space Politically Organized into States Organized into States

and Nations?... and how and Nations?... and how did they get that way??did they get that way??

Key Question:

StateStateState – a politically organized territory with a permanent State – a politically organized territory with a permanent

population, a defined territory, and a government. To be a population, a defined territory, and a government. To be a state, an entity must be recognized by such by other states.state, an entity must be recognized by such by other states.

►Territoriality –Territoriality –““the attempt by an individual or group to affect, the attempt by an individual or group to affect, influence, or control people, phenomena, and influence, or control people, phenomena, and relationships, by delimiting and asserting control relationships, by delimiting and asserting control over a geographic area.” – Robert Sackover a geographic area.” – Robert Sack

►Sovereignty –Sovereignty –having the last say over a territory – legally.having the last say over a territory – legally.

►Territorial Integrity –Territorial Integrity –a government has the right to keep the borders a government has the right to keep the borders and territory of a state in tact and free from attack. and territory of a state in tact and free from attack.

NationsNations►Nation – a culturally defined group of people Nation – a culturally defined group of people

with a shared past and a common future who with a shared past and a common future who relate to a territory and have political goals. relate to a territory and have political goals.

• People construct nations to make sense of People construct nations to make sense of themselves. themselves.

• Nations are “imagined communities” Nations are “imagined communities” -Benedict Anderson -Benedict Anderson

► imagined = you will never meet all the people in your nationimagined = you will never meet all the people in your nation►community = you see yourself as part of itcommunity = you see yourself as part of it

The Modern State IdeaThe Modern State Idea►The idea of a state that is tied to a The idea of a state that is tied to a

particular territory with defined particular territory with defined boundaries came out of Europe and boundaries came out of Europe and diffused through:diffused through: mercantilismmercantilism colonialismcolonialism

Nation-StateNation-State►Nation-State – Nation-State –

a politically organized area in which nation and a politically organized area in which nation and state occupy the same space. state occupy the same space.

Where did the ideal of the nation-state originate?Where did the ideal of the nation-state originate?

How did the ideal of the nation-state diffuse?How did the ideal of the nation-state diffuse?

Are there any nation-states in the world today?Are there any nation-states in the world today?

Multinational State – A state with more than one nation.

The Former Yugoslavia

Multistate Nation – A nation with more than one state.

Transylvania – homeland for both Romanians and Hungarians.

Stateless Nation –Stateless Nation –a nation without a statea nation without a state

Nation and TerritoryNation and Territory““The control and maintenance of a The control and maintenance of a

territory is as crucial as the control territory is as crucial as the control and maintenance of a national and maintenance of a national language, religion, or particular way of language, religion, or particular way of life. Indeed, a language, religion, or life. Indeed, a language, religion, or way of life is difficult to maintain way of life is difficult to maintain without control over territory.” without control over territory.”

- George White- George White

The Economic Dimensions of The Economic Dimensions of PowerPower

►ColonialismColonialism►Wealth and power Wealth and power ►Theories concerning power and wealth Theories concerning power and wealth

European Colonialism and the European Colonialism and the Diffusion of the Nation-State ModelDiffusion of the Nation-State Model►Colonialism -Colonialism -

a physical action in which one state takes over a physical action in which one state takes over control of another, taking over the government and control of another, taking over the government and ruling the territory as its own.ruling the territory as its own.

Two Waves of European Colonialism:1500 - 1825 1825 - 1975

Two Waves of DecolonizationFirst wave – focused on decolonization of the Americas(1750 -1939)Second wave – focused on decolonization of Africa and Asia (after 1940)

Theories of Political Theories of Political OrganizationOrganization

These men each sought to describe and These men each sought to describe and explain how power/influence is gained, explain how power/influence is gained, kept, and diffused among states and kept, and diffused among states and throughout the world (throughout the world (geopoliticsgeopolitics!)!)

► Immanuel WallersteinImmanuel Wallerstein: World System : World System AnalysisAnalysis

►Friedrich RatzelFriedrich Ratzel: Organic Theory: Organic Theory►Sir Halford MakinderSir Halford Makinder: Heartland Theory: Heartland Theory►Nicholas SpykmanNicholas Spykman: Rimland Theory: Rimland Theory

GeopoliticsGeopolitics►Geopolitics –Geopolitics – the interplay among geography, power, the interplay among geography, power,

politics, and international relations… or, how countries try to politics, and international relations… or, how countries try to influence each other to their own benefit. influence each other to their own benefit.

Critical GeopoliticsCritical Geopolitics►The idea that leaders construct ideas The idea that leaders construct ideas

about places, these ideas influence about places, these ideas influence and reinforce their political behaviors and reinforce their political behaviors and policy choices, and these ideas and policy choices, and these ideas affect how we, the people, process our affect how we, the people, process our own notions of places and politics… in own notions of places and politics… in other words, we shape our own actions other words, we shape our own actions based on our perceptions and, in turn, based on our perceptions and, in turn, our actions influence our perceptions.our actions influence our perceptions.

How do Geopolitics How do Geopolitics and Critical and Critical

Geopolitics Help us Geopolitics Help us Understand the Understand the

World?World?

Key Question:

Immanuel Wallerstein’s Immanuel Wallerstein’s World-Systems Theory:World-Systems Theory:

1.1. The world economy has one market and a The world economy has one market and a global division of labor. The world is seen global division of labor. The world is seen as an interlocked system of states bound as an interlocked system of states bound together by the world market (capitalism). together by the world market (capitalism).

2.2. Although the world has multiple states, Although the world has multiple states, almost everything takes place within the almost everything takes place within the context of the world economy.context of the world economy.

3.3. The world economy has a three-tier The world economy has a three-tier structurestructure..

Three Tier StructureThree Tier StructureCore Processes that incorporate

higher levels of education, higher salaries, and more technology

* Generate more wealth in the world economy

Semi-periphery Places where core and

periphery processes are both occurring. Places that are exploited by the core but then exploit the periphery.

* Serves as a buffer between core and periphery

Periphery Processes that incorporate

lower levels of education, lower salaries, and less technology

* Generate less wealth in the world economy

Classical GeopoliticsClassical Geopolitics►German SchoolGerman School

Ratzel’s organic state theoryRatzel’s organic state theory

►British / American SchoolBritish / American SchoolMackinder’s Heartland TheoryMackinder’s Heartland Theory

Friedrich Ratzel’s Organic Friedrich Ratzel’s Organic TheoryTheory►Nations functions as an organism (think of the Nations functions as an organism (think of the

people as that organism’s cells). people as that organism’s cells). ►Organisms need nourishment to survive… Organisms need nourishment to survive…

“nourishment”= weaker states. “nourishment”= weaker states.

Ratzel’s theories were baseless conjectures Ratzel’s theories were baseless conjectures founded in environmental determinism, but they founded in environmental determinism, but they got people thinking about how the world is got people thinking about how the world is interconnected… what we now call “geopolitics” interconnected… what we now call “geopolitics” … His theories also supplied the NAZIS with … His theories also supplied the NAZIS with their justification for trying to take over the their justification for trying to take over the world!world!

Mackinder’s Heartland Theory: Mackinder’s Heartland Theory: “Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland“Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland

Who rules the Heartland commands the World Island Who rules the Heartland commands the World Island Who rules the World Island commands the world”Who rules the World Island commands the world”

Spykman’s Rimland TheorySpykman’s Rimland Theory►Who controls the Rimland rules Who controls the Rimland rules

EurasiaEurasia►Who rules Eurasia controls the Who rules Eurasia controls the

destinies of the world. destinies of the world.

Modern Challenges to the Modern Challenges to the Nation-State ConfigurationNation-State Configuration

►Centripetal and Centripetal and CentrifugalCentrifugal Forces Forces►DevolutionDevolution: Ethnic, Economic, Spatial: Ethnic, Economic, Spatial►Supranational OrganizationsSupranational Organizations

Centripetal Forces Centripetal Forces (not a challenge to States, but a benefit)(not a challenge to States, but a benefit)► bind together the people of a state… giving bind together the people of a state… giving

it strength. it strength. ►NationalismNationalism: basing your identity on : basing your identity on

nationhood… “your country is who you are” nationhood… “your country is who you are” very strong mentality… and potentially very strong mentality… and potentially dangerous. Tools of Nationalism: symbols dangerous. Tools of Nationalism: symbols such as flags and rituals, institutions: such as flags and rituals, institutions: militarymilitary

►Other Centripetal Forces: systems that Other Centripetal Forces: systems that literally keep the people close… improved literally keep the people close… improved transportation and communication systemstransportation and communication systems

Centrifugal ForcesCentrifugal Forces►These are destabilizing forces that encourage These are destabilizing forces that encourage

the country to fall apart. Such as:the country to fall apart. Such as:►Weak government/ governmental institutionsWeak government/ governmental institutions►Strong opposition institutions (often lead to Strong opposition institutions (often lead to

separatist movementsseparatist movements))

►As a result of these types of pressures, some As a result of these types of pressures, some states are experimenting with states are experimenting with devolutiondevolution::

Movement of power from the central government to regional governments within the state.

-What causes devolutionary movements?

-Ethnocultural forces-Economic forces-Spatial forces

Devolution

Ethnocultural Devolutionary Ethnocultural Devolutionary MovementsMovements

Eastern EuropeEastern Europedevolutionary devolutionary forces since the fall forces since the fall of communismof communism

Ethnonationalism: the tendency for an ethnic group to see itself as a distinct nation with a right to independence… this is a fundamental force promoting devolution.

Ethnocultural Devolutionary Ethnocultural Devolutionary MovementsMovements

Scotland Scotland rise in independence rise in independence movement is movement is coupled with: coupled with: - European Union- European Union- Scotland’s oil - Scotland’s oil resourcesresources

Economic Economic Devolutionary Devolutionary MovementsMovements

Catalonia, SpainCatalonia, SpainBarcelona is the Barcelona is the center of banking center of banking and commerce in and commerce in Spain and the Spain and the region is much region is much wealthier than the wealthier than the rest of Spain.rest of Spain.

Economic inequalities may also destabilize a nation-state, especially if the inequalities are regional

Spatial Spatial Devolutionary Devolutionary MovementsMovements

Honolulu, Honolulu, Hawai’iHawai’iA history apart A history apart from the United from the United States, and a States, and a desire to live apart desire to live apart in order to keep in order to keep traditions alive. traditions alive.

Spatial distance or remoteness can promote devolution, especially if water, desert, or mountains separate the areas from the center of power.

How are Boundaries How are Boundaries Established, and Why do Established, and Why do

Boundary Disputes Boundary Disputes Occur?Occur?

Key Question:

Boundary – a vertical plane that cuts through the rocks below and the airspace above, dividing one state territory from another.

Boundaries often divide resources, such as oil between Kuwait and Iraq

Establishing BoundariesEstablishing Boundaries►DefineDefine►DelimitDelimit►DemarcateDemarcate►AdministrateAdministrate

Types of BoundariesTypes of Boundaries►Geometric boundaries – Geometric boundaries – based on grid based on grid

systemssystems eg. Boundary between the US and Canadaeg. Boundary between the US and Canada

►Physical-political boundaries – Physical-political boundaries – follow an follow an agreed-upon feature in the physical geographic agreed-upon feature in the physical geographic landscape.landscape. eg. Boundary between the US and Mexicoeg. Boundary between the US and Mexico

Us versus ThemUs versus ThemTerrorists “come from Terrorists “come from

diverse places but share diverse places but share a hatred for democracy, a hatred for democracy, a fanatical glorification of a fanatical glorification of violence, and a horrible violence, and a horrible distortion of their distortion of their religion, to justify the religion, to justify the murder of innocents. murder of innocents. They have made the They have made the United States their United States their adversary precisely adversary precisely because of what we because of what we stand for and what we stand for and what we stand against.”stand against.”

““They [the terrorists] They [the terrorists] stand against us stand against us because we stand in because we stand in their way.” their way.”

“I’ve said in the past that nations are either with us or against us in the war on terror.”

Us versus ThemUs versus ThemTerrorists “come from Terrorists “come from

diverse places but share diverse places but share a hatred for democracy, a hatred for democracy, a fanatical glorification of a fanatical glorification of violence, and a horrible violence, and a horrible distortion of their distortion of their religion, to justify the religion, to justify the murder of innocents. murder of innocents. They have made the They have made the United States their United States their adversary precisely adversary precisely because of what we because of what we stand for and what we stand for and what we stand against.”stand against.”

““They [the terrorists] They [the terrorists] stand against us stand against us because we stand in because we stand in their way.” their way.”

“I’ve said in the past that nations are either with us or against us in the war on terror.”

President William J. Clinton

President George W. Bush

President George W. Bush

Geopolitical World OrderGeopolitical World OrderTemporary periods of stability in how Temporary periods of stability in how

politics are conducted at the global scale.politics are conducted at the global scale.►bi-polarbi-polar►multi-polarmulti-polar►unilateralismunilateralism

Will individual states remain the dominant Will individual states remain the dominant actors in a future geopolitical world order? actors in a future geopolitical world order?

What are What are Supranational Supranational

Organizations, and Organizations, and What is the Future of What is the Future of

the State?the State?

Key Question:

Supranational OrganizationsSupranational OrganizationsA separate entity composed of three or A separate entity composed of three or

more states that forge an association more states that forge an association and form an administrative structure for and form an administrative structure for mutual benefit in pursuit of shared mutual benefit in pursuit of shared goals.goals.

* How many supranational organizations* How many supranational organizationsexist in the world today?exist in the world today?

Global Scale – The United Nations

Regional Scale – The European Regional Scale – The European UnionUnion

How does Supranationalism affect the How does Supranationalism affect the State?State?

identities

economics

Electoral GeographyElectoral Geography►A state’s electoral system is part of its A state’s electoral system is part of its

spatial organization of government. spatial organization of government.

In the United States:In the United States:- territorial representation- territorial representation- reapportionment- reapportionment- voting rights for minority populations- voting rights for minority populations

Gerrmandering – Gerrmandering – drawing voting districts to benefit drawing voting districts to benefit one group over another. one group over another.

Majority-Minority districts drawn so that the majority of the population in the district is from the minority.