Political Geography

  1. The State as a Political-Geographic Unit
    1. Defining the State
      1. Criteria for Statehood
        1. Permanent Population
          1. Demographic Requirements
            1. Population Stability
            2. Defined Territory
              1. Clear Boundaries
                1. Territorial Integrity
                2. Government
                  1. Effective Control
                    1. Administrative Capacity
                    2. Capacity for International Relations
                      1. Diplomatic Recognition
                        1. Treaty-Making Power
                      2. Evolution of the Modern State System
                        1. The Westphalian System
                          1. Peace of Westphalia 1648
                            1. Principles of State Sovereignty
                              1. Non-Interference Doctrine
                              2. Colonialism and State Formation
                                1. European Colonial Expansion
                                  1. Administrative Structures
                                    1. Imposed Boundaries
                                    2. Decolonization and New States
                                      1. Post-World War II Independence
                                        1. Partition and State Creation
                                          1. Challenges of New Statehood
                                      2. Territory
                                        1. The Shape of States (Morphology)
                                          1. Compact States
                                            1. Advantages of Compactness
                                              1. Examples and Characteristics
                                              2. Prorupted States
                                                1. Extensions and Projections
                                                  1. Strategic Considerations
                                                  2. Elongated States
                                                    1. Communication Challenges
                                                      1. Administrative Difficulties
                                                      2. Fragmented States
                                                        1. Island Nations
                                                          1. Separated Territories
                                                          2. Perforated States
                                                            1. Enclaves Within Territory
                                                              1. Administrative Complexities
                                                            2. Size and Relative Location
                                                              1. Absolute Size
                                                                1. Large State Advantages
                                                                  1. Small State Challenges
                                                                    1. Microstates
                                                                    2. Relative Location and Accessibility
                                                                      1. Strategic Position
                                                                        1. Transportation Networks
                                                                          1. Economic Implications
                                                                          2. Landlocked States
                                                                            1. Access to Sea Routes
                                                                              1. Transit Dependencies
                                                                                1. Economic Constraints
                                                                                2. Enclaves and Exclaves
                                                                                  1. Territorial Discontinuity
                                                                                    1. Administrative Challenges
                                                                                      1. International Relations
                                                                                  2. Sovereignty
                                                                                    1. Internal Sovereignty
                                                                                      1. Authority Within Borders
                                                                                        1. Monopoly on Violence
                                                                                        2. State Institutions
                                                                                          1. Government Structures
                                                                                            1. Administrative Apparatus
                                                                                              1. Law Enforcement
                                                                                            2. External Sovereignty
                                                                                              1. Recognition by Other States
                                                                                                1. Diplomatic Relations
                                                                                                  1. International Law
                                                                                                  2. Participation in International Organizations
                                                                                                    1. United Nations Membership
                                                                                                      1. Regional Organizations
                                                                                                    2. Challenges to State Sovereignty
                                                                                                      1. Globalization
                                                                                                        1. Economic Integration
                                                                                                          1. Cultural Flows
                                                                                                            1. Information Networks
                                                                                                            2. Supranational Organizations
                                                                                                              1. European Union
                                                                                                                1. International Courts
                                                                                                                2. Non-State Actors
                                                                                                                  1. Multinational Corporations
                                                                                                                    1. International NGOs
                                                                                                                      1. Terrorist Organizations
                                                                                                                      2. Secessionist Movements
                                                                                                                        1. Regional Independence
                                                                                                                          1. Ethnic Separatism
                                                                                                                      3. Capital Cities
                                                                                                                        1. Functions of Capital Cities
                                                                                                                          1. Political Administration
                                                                                                                            1. Government Headquarters
                                                                                                                              1. Legislative Functions
                                                                                                                                1. Judicial Centers
                                                                                                                                2. Symbolic Significance
                                                                                                                                  1. National Identity
                                                                                                                                    1. Cultural Representation
                                                                                                                                      1. Historical Importance
                                                                                                                                      2. Economic and Cultural Roles
                                                                                                                                        1. Financial Centers
                                                                                                                                          1. Cultural Institutions
                                                                                                                                            1. Educational Hubs
                                                                                                                                          2. Types of Capital Cities
                                                                                                                                            1. Historic Capitals
                                                                                                                                              1. Traditional Centers
                                                                                                                                                1. Evolutionary Development
                                                                                                                                                2. Forward-Thrust Capitals
                                                                                                                                                  1. Strategic Relocation
                                                                                                                                                    1. Development Goals
                                                                                                                                                    2. Introduced Capitals
                                                                                                                                                      1. Planned Cities
                                                                                                                                                        1. Neutral Locations
                                                                                                                                                        2. Divided Capitals
                                                                                                                                                          1. Multiple Capital Functions
                                                                                                                                                            1. Shared Responsibilities
                                                                                                                                                            2. Rotating Capitals
                                                                                                                                                              1. Temporary Arrangements
                                                                                                                                                                1. Federal Systems

                                                                                                                                                          Previous

                                                                                                                                                          1. Foundations of Political Geography

                                                                                                                                                          Go to top

                                                                                                                                                          Next

                                                                                                                                                          3. Nations, Nationalism, and the Nation-State