Human Migration, Political, & Economic Geography
This week, we engage the geography of politics, race, migration, and economics. In some ways these topics may seem more linked to your daily life. Try to integrate what you are learning and reading with your own experiences and if you like post it here. As always, you may want to post about your answer to one of this week’s Guided Report questions.
DISCUSSION POST Discussion is an excellent place to bring in your creative thinking and independent research into class-related concepts and ideas. Include sources and links whenever possible!
Slide 1 Political geography Updated 1/20/18 Nation-state Multinational state Stateless nation States and nations * State: independent political unit occupying a defined, populated territory and having full control over its internal and foreign affairs. * State = country * Colonies, protectorates, possessions are not states * Nation: group of people with a common culture bound by sense of unity; often occupies particular territory. * Nation-state: state whose territory coincides with a distinct nation, or whose population has a sense of cohesion/unity (eg. Iceland, Poland, Slovenia). * Cultures or ethnic groups can span several states. * "Arab": from Morocco to Iraq. * Kurds. Fig. 12.6 Fig. 12.5 Africa: many nations/ethnic groups per state Europe at the start of WWI (1914) Europe after WWI (1918) Modern Europe Small island states of the Pacific B. State boundaries * Natural; physical * Mountains: Alps, Himalayas, Andes * Rivers: Rio Grande, Mekong, Rhine * Coast * Geometric; artificial: along latitude or longitude (eg. US-Canada) * Boundary disputes * Positional: states disagree about interpretation of boundary definition; often when boundary is set before large-scale human habitation. * Chile-Argentina (highest crests of Andes) * Territorial: usually when ethnic group straddles boundary. * Nazi Germany vs. Czechoslovakia & Poland (Germans) * Somalia-Ethiopia (Somalis) * Resource: eg. US-Mexico (Colorado R.), Iraq-Kuwait (oil) * Functional: states disagree over policies concerning a boundary (eg. immigration). C. Forces that promote state cohesion * Patriotism: allegiance and loyalty to the state. * Institutions * School: learn history, laws * State church (eg. Buddhism in Thailand, Islam in Pakistan) however state churches can also be divisive in multi-ethnic regions * Government services & competence * Social Contract: Constitution Legal System * Infrastructure: transportation, communication Head of state: leader of government; operation of state *Head of nation: symbol of nation; the head of a nation is typically considered a unifying factor in society, but in some cases are actually divisive. USA United Kingdom Head of state Head of nation National anthem president flag & prime minister flag monarchy "Star Spangled Banner" "God Save the Queen" D. Forces that weaken state cohesion * Religion * Conflict: Northern Ireland, Kashmir * Revolution: Iran in 1979 * Ethnic/cultural minority * Separatism = autonomous nationalism * Canada: French in Quebec * Europe: Basques (Spain), Bretons (France) * Israel: Palestinians * India: Sikhs * Austria-Hungary --> many states after WWI --> break-up of Yugoslavia * USSR: Muslims of Chechnya E. Projection of power * States project/exert power or influence beyond home territories * Ancient empires: Persia, Greece, Rome, China, Aztec * Age of Imperialism (1500-1960) * England, France, Spain, Portugal * Commonwealth: ~50 countries that recognize United Kingdom's monarch as head of Commonwealth and use English language & legal system * Geopolitics: consideration of strategic value of land & sea. * USA: "Manifest Destiny", Monroe Doctrine (1823) * Japan (1930-40s): "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" * Nazi Germany (1930s): Lebensraum ("living space") for resources * USSR: annexed Baltic countries after WWII * Modern: micro-technology may make territory less important F. International relations * Non-governmental organizations (NGOs): members from many countries:Greenpeace, Amnesty International, Doctors without Borders,Red Cross/Crescent * The League of Nations created after WWI * Ineffective against Mussolini & Hitler 1945 F. International relations The United Nations Initiated by President Franklin Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Signed in to law in 1945 at the end of WWII as a means of establishing international law Today the UN includes almost all states on earth * F. International relations * The United Nations * Organization includes: the General Assembly, the Secretariat General, and the Security Council consisting of five permanent seats: US, Russia, UK, France, China and ten rotating seats (2 year terms.) * Relief, Research, Humanitarian, & Health agencies * Multinational forces & peacekeeping * Defines legal uses of force between states in the UN Charter 1. If attacked or in imminent danger of attack. 2. If authorized by the Security Council. * Defines Human Rights in the Geneva Conventions and elsewhere * Supports international efforts to resolve humanitarian challenges * Fosters peaceful solutions to conflicts between governments. * Defines legal boundaries of nations 1974-84: Law of the Sea * The Charter of the United Nations defines the legal basis for war. The use of force by one nation against another is legal under international law only if it is: 1) in response to attack or imminent attack 2) authorized by the UN security council. (Articles 2, 24, 42, 51) * The Universal Declaration of Human Rights UN General Assembly (1948) Includes protection for the: Dignity, Life, liberty, & security, Humane treatment, Fair trials, & legal protection Of all peoples * 492.psd The Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (1949) defines the legal responsibilities of nations to prisoners during times of war Includes: Humane treatment Medical care Fair trials & legal protection (Articles 3, 7, 13, 14, 15, 99) * territorial rights (as on land) economic/ exploitation rights open access 1974-84: Law of the Sea- All state territories extend 200 mi offshore EEZ: all states have them, even the smallest F. International relations * The International Atomic Energy Agency was founded in under the auspices of the UN. The IAEA mandate is to promote: scientific an technical co-operation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology In particular the IAEA has been used to insure international compliance with treaties related to nuclear weaponry. Since the first atomic device was devised in the US, many of the worlds’ states have developed the necessary technical and resource base from which they could, if motivated to dedicate enough resources, develop a nuclear weapon * After the IAEA was founded and a number of nuclear weapons treaties called the NPR (Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation Regime) were signed, the rate of nuclear testing, the size of stockpiles, and the rate of nuclear proliferation dropped. Global Nuclear Weapons Tests 1945-1998 * 0 - 5 6-7 8-9 10 World Nuclear Weapon Capacity Developed by Dr. Stephen Meyer of MIT The Dynamics of Nuclear Proliferation. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1984.modified by Dr. Richard Stoll of Rice University Since then, many more nations have developed the necessary technical, economic, and natural resource base from which they could, if motivated to dedicate sufficient resources, develop a nuclear weapon. This potential is referred to as nuclear weapon capacity. However with the exception of Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea all states have respected the NPR ban on the development of nuclear weaponry making the NPR one of the worlds most successful international treaties. * * Nuclear Weapon Free Zones (shown in green) * 517.psd F. International relations * Alliances * Political/Military * NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization): post-WWII * Countered by Warsaw Pact (Eastern Bloc) * Former Warsaw Pact countries have joined NATO: Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic * OAS (Organization of American States; 1948): Western Hemisphere The Organization of American States F. International relations The European Union F. International relations * Alliances & Institutions * Economic * European Union (EU): stems from mid-1940s; cooperation in trade, agriculture, fisheries * WTO (World Trade Organization; 1995): 144+ members; cut tariffs; works to “liberalize” trade- the “free trade” model advocated by the WTO is contrasted to “fair trade” models. * NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement; 1994): remove trade & movement restrictions across Canada, USA, Mexico * ASEAN (1967): Association of Southeast Asian Nations * The World Bank (1945) – International Development Loans * The International Monetary Fund ; IMF, 1944) stated goals include: stabilizing, regulating, and promoting international finance * OPEC (The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) ~1965 potentially regulates international oil market Slide 1 Economic Geography Updated 1/22/18 The trade in coffee is a worldwide business I. Introduction to Conventional and Ecological Economic Theories A. Ecological vs “Free Market” environmental economics B. Circular vs linear economies II. Economic Sectors: A. Primary Sector (focus on Agriculture and CAFOS) B. Tertiary Sector (focus on WalMart) C. Quinary Sector (focus on IMF, World Bank III. Developmental Geography, Distribution of Wealth and Income A. The Global Divide 1. Global South’s Debt and Structural Adjustments (focus on Life in Debt) 2. Measures of Development 3. Distribution of Wealth and Income in the First World. capital use waste 1. Capital * Form * Abiotic: water, air, energy sources (solar, wind, fuels, etc.) * Biotic: organisms; diversity of species & within species * Renewable? Input Throughput Output 2. Extraction & Processing: efficiency, pollution, degradation 3. Consumption: population, per capita consumption 4. Waste management 5. Reuse 6. Impact on resources * Recycling * Degradation General economic model 1 2 3 4 5 6 Resources "Ecosystem services" Perpetual sun, wind, geothermal, moving water use waste Renewable clean air & water, soil, organisms Nonrenewable fuels, minerals air & water circulation soil formation chemical cycling waste detox. pest control Natural capital Solar capital 99% of energy 1% Conventional economic theory: maximize economic growth; maximize use * Profit incentives guide development * Create jobs, satisfy human needs & wants * Currency: market value of goods & services (GNP, GDP) * Assumptions: self-contained system (consumers & producers) * Unlimited resources ("Nature's cornucopia", "cowboy economics") * Limited or non-existent environmental impact * Planetary biosphere and ecosystems are self-correcting * Technology ultimately resolves all or most problems * Does not explicitly include environmental impacts * Does not explicitly include human health or morale natural capital use waste emphasize high input (extraction) & throughput (use; consumption) of resources natural capital use waste “Ecological" economic theory: sustain natural capital * Preserve resources & ecosystem services * Currency: include value of natural capital, standard of living (GPI) --- how to put