4.1 Introduction to Political Geography

Introduction

• The spatial distribution of political power and resources within a state, such as the distribution of electoral votes in the United States or the allocation of government funding to different regions within a country.
• The ways in which natural resources, such as oil and minerals, shape the political dynamics of a region or country.
• The role of international organizations, such as the United Nations or the European Union, in shaping the political landscape of different regions.
• The impact of territorial disputes, such as border disputes or disputes over natural resources, on international relations.
• The influence of political processes, such as elections or revolutions, on spatial patterns and the distribution of resources.
• The relationship between political and economic development, including the role of foreign investment and trade in shaping the political landscape of a region.
• The impact of political events, such as wars or civil conflicts, on the spatial organization of a region or country.

What's a State?

• The United States of America
• The People's Republic of China
• The Russian Federation
• The Federal Republic of Germany
• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• The Republic of India
• The Islamic Republic of Iran
• The French Republic
• The Italian Republic
• The Federal Republic of Brazil

Other Political Entities

Nation

• The United States of America is a nation made up of people who share a common language (English), culture, history, and identity.
• The French nation is made up of people who speak French, have a shared culture and history, and identify as French.
• The Kurdish nation is made up of people who speak Kurdish, have a shared culture and history, and identify as Kurdish, although they do not have their own state and are dispersed across several countries in the Middle East.
• The Maori nation is made up of the indigenous people of New Zealand, who have a distinct language, culture, and identity.
• The Japanese nation is made up of people who speak Japanese, have a shared culture and history, and identify as Japanese.

Nation-State

• The United States of America is a nation-state, as the majority of the population shares a common language, culture, and identity, and the government represents the interests of the American nation.
• The People's Republic of China is a nation-state, as the majority of the population speaks Chinese, shares a common culture and history, and identifies as Chinese, and the government represents the interests of the Chinese nation.
• The Federal Republic of Germany is a nation-state, as the majority of the population speaks German, shares a common culture and history, and identifies as German, and the government represents the interests of the German nation.
• The Republic of India is a nation-state, as the majority of the population speaks Hindi and shares a common culture and history, and the government represents the interests of the Indian nation.
• The Kingdom of Sweden is a nation-state, as the majority of the population speaks Swedish, shares a common culture and history, and identifies as Swedish, and the government represents the interests of the Swedish nation.

Multinational State

• The Russian Federation is a multinational state, as it consists of more than 190 different ethnicities and nationalities, many of which have their own language, culture, and identity.
• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a multinational state, as it consists of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, each of which has its own distinct culture and identity.
• The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (now known as Serbia and Montenegro) was a multinational state that consisted of Serbian, Montenegrin, Croatian, Slovenian, and Macedonian nations.
• The Republic of South Africa is a multinational state, as it consists of a diverse population with a variety of languages, cultures, and identities, including the Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans nations.
• The Kingdom of Belgium is a multinational state, as it consists of the French-speaking Walloon region and the Dutch-speaking Flemish region, each with its own distinct culture and identity.

Stateless Nation

• The Kurdish people are a stateless nation, as they are dispersed across several countries in the Middle East and do not have their own sovereign state.
• The Palestinian people are a stateless nation, as they have historically been denied a sovereign state and have been living under Israeli occupation.
• The Tibetan people are a stateless nation, as they have been occupied by China since the 1950s and have been denied self-determination.
• The Basque people are a stateless nation, as they have a distinct language, culture, and identity, but do not have their own sovereign state and are dispersed across Spain and France.
• The Roma people are a stateless nation, as they have a distinct language, culture, and identity, but do not have their own sovereign state and are dispersed across Europe.

Source: Newell Weebly

Multistate Nations

• The Korean people are a multistate nation, as they are dispersed across North and South Korea, as well as China and the United States.
• The Hungarian people are a multistate nation, as they are primarily concentrated in Hungary, but also have a significant presence in the Transylvania region of Romania.
• The Palestinian people are a multistate nation, as they are dispersed across the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Israel, and other countries in the Middle East.
• The Romani people are a multistate nation, as they are dispersed across multiple countries in Europe and have a significant presence in the United States.
• The Cherokee people are a multistate nation, as they are dispersed across the United States, with a significant presence in Oklahoma.