Ch. 8 Reading Guide: Political Geography

Vocabulary. Take notes on the following terms. You must also include an example.

  • balance of power
  • Boundary
  • City-State
  • Colonialism
  • Compact State
  • Elongated State
  • European Union (EU)
  • Federal State
  • Fragmented State
  • Gerrymandering
  • Imperialism
  • Landlocked State
  • League of Nations
  • Microstate
  • Nation vs State
  • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
  • Organization of American States (OAS)
  • Organization for African Unity (OAU)
  • Perforated State
  • Prorupted State
  • Terrorism
  • Warsaw Pact
  • Unitary State
  • United Nations(UN)
  • Warsaw Pact

Short Response. The following short response questions are adapted from the Katz on Geography Now website.

  1. Define state and sovereignty. What are some issues that arise when defining states and sovereignty?
  1. 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 table to demonstrate three cases…

KOREA (North and South) / People’s Democratic Republic
of China (CHINA) and/or
Republic of China (TAIWAN) / WESTERN SAHARA or
SAHRAWI REBPUBLIC
One 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: / Two states if you agree that:
  1. Development of the state concept. Complete the tables on the topics indicated below as they relate to thehistory of the concept of political states and their developments.

Ancient States / Modern European States

  1. Summarize three reasons why Europeans sought colonies.
  1. Contrast the French and British forms of governing their colonies.
  1. Use the map at right to replicate the Figure 8-8 “Colonial Possessions Map.” Be sure to include a key.
  1. The Five Basic Shapes of States (Use Figure 8-10)

Basic Shape / Description / Drawing / Examples of Countries
Compact State
Elongated State
Prorupted State
Perforated State
Fragmented State
  1. Where are most of the world’s landlocked states? Why there? What problems do landlocked states have?
  1. Types of Boundaries

Type / Advantages, Disadvantages & General Details / Examples of Countries
Desert
Mountain
Water
Geometric
Religion
Language
  1. Define the concept of a frontier. List the characteristics of frontiers.
  1. Regarding unitary states, what are the two geographic conditions that tend to favor it for a country?
  1. Whereare unitary states most common?
  1. Multinational states often adopt unitary systems for what reason? Also,describe an example where this has occurred.
  1. Regarding federal states, what are three geographic conditions that tend to favor it for a country? List good examples of federal states that fulfill these conditions rather well.
  1. Gerrymandering: Explain with examples some of the three different types of gerrymandering.
  1. Why are the boundaries oflegislative districts occasionally redrawn?
  1. How often is this done in the US?
  1. How is this type of boundaryredrawing different in the US than in Europe?
  1. How is gerrymandering combined with ethnicity for politicaluse?
  1. United Nations: When was the United Nations established? By whom?
  1. Identify the reason for which membership in the UN grew significantly in each period:

1950s:

1960s

1990s

  1. Who are the five permanent members of the Security Council?
  1. Identify some of the problems the UN faces as it attempts to operate and influence world affairs.
  1. Explain the Cold War. Use the terms: “era of two superpowers,” balance of power, NATO and Warsaw Pact.
  1. Complete the chart on notable non-military regional organizations.

Organization / Members / Purpose
The Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
The Organization of American States (OAS)
The African Union (AU)
  1. The European Union (EU) has become a powerful economic force in the world. Explain what the EU is and how it has brought economic unity to Europe (think Euro €).
  1. List typical methods/acts of terrorists.
  1. Why is terrorism different from other acts of political violence?
  1. It is sometimes difficult to determine whether a group is a “terrorist group” or a legitimate political entity in rebellion. For each of the following countries, identify a group which they consider to be terrorists but which others (including the “terrorist group” itself) may believe to be a legitimate political entity.

Israel:

Russia:

Britain:

  1. List places in which Americans were attacked by terrorists in the late 20thcentury. In what ways does Al-Qaeda with its religious, political views and methods pose a challenge to Americans and the world’s Muslim population?
  1. Identify each of the following terms as they relate to the terrorist organizations known as Al-Qaeda.

Osama bin-Laden:Afghanistan:

Yemen and Somalia: “the base”:

Majis al Shura:Cell:

23. List the three ways in which states (particularly in the Middle East in recent decades) have given support to terrorists:

a. / b. / c.
  1. Note in which of the above ways each of the following states has supported terrorism and then verybriefly describe it.

State / Type of Support / Summary of Issues
Libya
Afghanistan
Iraq
Iran