Chapter 8 Learning Guide – Political Geography
Key Issue 1 – Where Are States Located?
Pgs. 238 – 247
Problems of Defining States
1. Define state:
2. Define sovereignty:
3. There is some disagreement about how many states there actually are in the world because of regions which may, or may not, actually be states. Complete the chart to demonstrate three cases.
Korea (North & South) / People’s Democratic Republic of China (China) and/or Republic of China (Taiwan) / Western Sahara or Sahrawi RepublicOne state if you agree that… / One state if you agree that… / One state if you agree that…
Two states if you agree that… / Two states if you agree that… / No state if you agree that…
Varying Size of States
4. List the 6 largest states in order.
5. How many microstates are recognized? What do many have in common? List 6 that you can find on a map, and state where they are. (If you can only come up with 3 on your own, you’ll have to look up three more!)
Development of the State Concept
6. Complete the graphic organizers on the topics indicated below as they related to the history of the concept of political states and their developments.
Ancient StatesEarly European States
7. By definition, what is a colony?
8. Define colonialism:
9. Summarize three reasons Europeans sought colonies.
10. Define imperialism:
11. Which country had the largest empire? Second largest?
12. Use the chart below to contrast the basic colonial policies of these two countries.
Colonial Practices of… / Colonial Practices of…13. List the largest remaining colonies in the world and who possesses each.
Chapter 8 Learning Guide – Political Geography
Key Issue 2 – Why Do Boundaries Cause Problems?
Pgs. 247 – 256
1. Define boundary:
Shapes of States
2. Complete the chart based on your reading. The text gives examples of African countries that you should provide (map pg. 250).
Shapes / ExamplesCompact / Greatest advantage…
Elongated / Biggest problem…
Prorupted / Reason for prorupting the shape of a state…
Perforated / How is the perforator state dependent on the “perforatee”?
Fragmented / Different kinds…
3. Define landlocked state:
4. Where are most of the world’s landlocked states?
5. Why there?
6. What problems do landlocked states have?
7. Shade and label all 15 of Africa’s landlocked states.
Types of Boundaries
8. Define physical boundary:
9. Define cultural boundary:
10. Complete the chart below to describe the advantages of each type of physical boundary.
Deserts / Mountains / Water11. What are three types of cultural boundaries that have often been used? Give an example of each type of cultural boundary and describe.
Case Study: Cyprus
12. Bullet in the most significant facts regarding the boundary and ethnic situation in Cyprus. Annotate the map as appropriate.
13. Define frontier:
14. List characteristics of frontiers:
Boundaries Inside States
15. Define unitary state:
16. Define federal state:
17. Regarding unitary states, what are the three characteristics that tend to favor it for a country?
18. Where are unitary states most common?
19. Why is the federal state system more effective for larger states?
20. List good examples of federal states that fulfill these conditions rather well.
21. Why has tiny Belgium adopted a federal system?
22. Why has enormous China adopted a unitary system?
23. Multinational states often adopt unitary systems for what reason? Also, describe an example where this has occurred.
Case Study: France
24. Describe the internal political organization of France in the box below.
France: Internal Political Organization25. Why are boundaries of legislative districts occasionally redrawn? How often is this done in the U.S.?
26. How is this type of boundary redrawing different in the U.S. than in Europe?
27. What is gerrymandering?
28. What are the three types of gerrymandering? Explain them.
29. How is gerrymandering combined with ethnicity for political use?
Chapter 8 Learning Guide – Political Geography
Key Issue 3 – Why Do States Cooperate With Each Other?
Pgs. 257 – 260
Political & Military Cooperation
1. When was the United Nations established? By whom?
2. Identify the reason for which membership in the UN grew significantly in each of the following periods.
19551960
1990s
3. Who are the five permanent members of the Security Council?
4. Identify some of the problems the UN faces as it attempts to operate and influence world affairs.
5. Why is the idea of two superpowers a relatively new one?
6. Define balance of power:
7. Describe the purpose of NATO.
8. Describe the purpose of the former “Warsaw Pact” countries.
9. List 3 facts about the OSCE (Organization on Security & Cooperation in Europe).
10. Complete the chart on notable non-military regional organizations.
Regional Organization / Members / PurposeOAS (Organization of American States)
AU (African Union)
The Commonwealth
Economic Cooperation
11. What states have joined the “superpowers” based on their economic successes? What former power has “slipped” from its earlier status?
12. The leading (economic) superpower since the 1990s is not a single state. What is the leading (economic) superpower in the world today?
Answer #s 13-16 regarding the European Union
13. When was it formed?
14. By what states?
15. For what purpose?
16. What are some important changes in recent years?
Chapter 8 Learning Guide – Political Geography
Key Issue 4 – Why Has Terrorism Increased?
Pgs. 260 – 268
1. By definition, what is terrorism?
2. List typical methods/acts of terrorists.
Terrorism By Individuals & Organizations
3. Why is terrorism different from other acts of political violence?
4. List some places in which Americans were attacked by terrorists in the late 20th century.
In #s 5-9, identify each of the following terms as they relate to the terrorist organization known as Al-Qaeda.
5. Osama bin-Laden:
6. Afghanistan:
7. Yemen & Somalia:
8. “the base”:
9. fatwa:
10. In what ways does Al-Qaeda, its religious and political views, and its methods pose a challenge to Muslims?
11. In what ways does Al-Qaeda, its religious and political views, and its methods pose a challenge to Americans?
State Support for Terrorism
12. List three ways in which states (particularly in the Middle East in recent decades) have given support to terrorists.
13. Note in which of the above ways each of the following states has supported terrorism and then briefly describe it.
State / Type of Support(from question #12) / Brief Summary of Issues
Libya
Afghanistan
Iraq
Iran
Chapter 8 Learning Guide – Political Geography
Key Issue 1 – Where Are States Located?
Pgs. 238 – 247
Problems of Defining States
1. Define state:
Area organized into a political unit ruled by an established government that has control over its internal & foreign affairs; it occupies a defined territory & has permanent population
2. Define sovereignty:
Ability of a state to govern its territory without intervention from other states
3. There is some disagreement about how many states there actually are in the world because of regions which may, or may not, actually be states. Complete the chart to demonstrate three cases.
Korea (North & South) / People’s Democratic Republic of China (China) and/or Republic of China (Taiwan) / Western Sahara or Sahrawi RepublicOne state if you agree that…
The Korean govt’s should unify into one / One state if you agree that…
China has control of Taiwan / One state if you agree that…
The Polisario Front has rightful control of the territory
Two states if you agree that…
According to the UN they are 2 separate states / Two states if you agree that…
Nationalists control Taiwan & agree with most countries that they are separate sovereign states / No state if you agree that…
Morocco has control of the territory
Varying Size of States
4. List the 6 largest states in order.
Russia, Canada, United States, China, Brazil & Australia
5. How many microstates are recognized? What do many have in common? List 6 that you can find on a map, and state where they are. (If you can only come up with 3 on your own, you’ll have to look up three more!)
24; many are islands in the Caribbean, Pacific & Indian Oceans
Development of the State Concept
6. Complete the graphic organizers on the topics indicated below as they related to the history of the concept of political states and their developments.
Ancient StatesEarly European States
7. By definition, what is a colony?
Territory legally tied to a sovereign state rather than being completely independent
8. Define colonialism:
Effort by one country to establish settlements in a territory and to impose its political, economic & cultural principles on that territory
9. Summarize three reasons Europeans sought colonies.
God – spread of Christianity
Gold – extract useful resources
Glory – establish power through a number of colonies
10. Define imperialism:
Control of a territory already occupied and organized by an indigenous society
11. Which country had the largest empire? Second largest?
Largest – British; 2nd Largest - French
12. Use the chart below to contrast the basic colonial policies of these two countries.
Colonial Practices of…British Empire / Colonial Practices of…French- Protected diverse cultures, local customs & educational systems through decentralized approach
- Generally made peaceful transitions to independence / - Assimilate colonies into French culture
- Educate elite group to provide leadership
13. List the largest remaining colonies in the world and who possesses each.
Puerto Rico in the possession of U.S.
Pitcairn Island in the possession of United Kingdom
Chapter 8 Learning Guide – Political Geography
Key Issue 2 – Why Do Boundaries Cause Problems?
Pgs. 247 – 256
1. Define boundary:
Something that separates a state from its neighbors; an invisible line marking the extent of the state’s territory
Shapes of States
2. Complete the chart based on your reading. The text gives examples of African countries that you should provide (map pg. 250).
Shapes / ExamplesCompact / Greatest advantage…
Good communications can be established to all regions / Rwanda & Burundi
Elongated / Biggest problem…
Poor internal communications / Malawi & Mozambique
Prorupted / Reason for prorupting the shape of a state…
To provide a state with access to a resource or to separate two states that would normally share a boundary / Congo & Namibia
Perforated / How is the perforator state dependent on the “perforatee”?
For the import and export of goods / South Africa
Fragmented / Different kinds…
States separated by water; states separated by another state / Madagascar; Angola
3. Define landlocked state:
State that has no outlet to the sea because it’s surrounded by other states
4. Where are most of the world’s landlocked states?
Africa
5. Why there?
Due to colonial era where Britain & France set up regions, and now those regions are independent states
6. What problems do landlocked states have?
They have trouble accessing sea ports to send & receive goods
7. Shade and label all 15 of Africa’s landlocked states.
Types of Boundaries
8. Define physical boundary:
Boundary that coincides with significant features of the natural landscape
9. Define cultural boundary:
Boundary that follows the distribution of cultural characteristics
10. Complete the chart below to describe the advantages of each type of physical boundary.
Deserts / Mountains / Water- Permanent
- Not really inhabited
- Difficult to cross / - Difficult to cross
- Sparsely inhabited / - Good protection against attacking state
11. What are three types of cultural boundaries that have often been used? Give an example of each type of cultural boundary and describe.
Geometric Boundary (i.e. line at 49th parallel that separates U.S. & Canada)
Language Boundary (i.e. lines drawn between/around Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland & Romania after WWI at Versailles Conference)
Religious Boundary (i.e. line that separates India (Hindus) & Pakistan (Muslims)
Case Study: Cyprus
12. Bullet in the most significant facts regarding the boundary and ethnic situation in Cyprus. Annotate the map as appropriate.
- Population: 78% Greek & 18% Turkish- Greek & Turkish halves separated by UN buffer
- Peace & unification plan accepted by Turkish side but rejected by Greek side
13. Define frontier:
Zone where no state has complete political control
14. List characteristics of frontiers:
Tangible geographic area; provides separation; sparsely inhabited
Boundaries Inside States
15. Define unitary state:
States where most power is in the hands of central gov’t officials
16. Define federal state:
States that give strong power to units of local gov’ts within the country
17. Regarding unitary states, what are the three characteristics that tend to favor it for a country?
1. Few internal differences; 2. Strong national unity; 3. Smaller states
18. Where are unitary states most common?
Europe
19. Why is the federal state system more effective for larger states?
National capital may be too far/remote to provide effective control over regions
20. List good examples of federal states that fulfill these conditions rather well.
United States, Russia, Canada
21. Why has tiny Belgium adopted a federal system?
To accommodate 2 cultural groups: Flemmish & Waloons
22. Why has enormous China adopted a unitary system?
To promote Communist values
23. Multinational states often adopt unitary systems for what reason? Also, describe an example where this has occurred.
So that the values of one nationality can be imposed on others. Kenya & Rwanda – one ethnic group has become dominant over weaker groups
Case Study: France
24. Describe the internal political organization of France in the box below.
France: Internal Political Organization- Strong national gov’t that dominates local gov’t decisions
- 96 local gov’t departments with elected general council & appointed prefet
- 36,686 local communes with an elected mayor & council
- 22 regional councils that are elected & can raise taxes
25. Why are boundaries of legislative districts occasionally redrawn? How often is this done in the U.S.?
To ensure each district has same population; every 10 years following the census