4.1 Introduction to Political Geography

7 min read•january 12, 2023

Amanda DoAmaral

Riya Patel

Amanda DoAmaral

Riya Patel

AP Human Geography 🚜

320 resources

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Introduction

Political geography is the study of the political organization of the world, including the boundaries and power relations between states, the role of international organizations, and the ways in which political processes and events shape and are shaped by spatial patterns. Political geographers also study the distribution of power and resources within states, including issues related to governance, democracy, and territoriality.

Political geography is a broad field that encompasses a wide range of topics and approaches, including comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and spatial analysis. Political geographers often use tools from other disciplines, such as economics, sociology, and anthropology, to better understand the political dynamics of different regions and countries.

Political geography is closely related to other subfields of geography, such as economic geography and human geography, and it is often studied in conjunction with these fields to better understand the complex relationships between political, economic, and social processes.

Here are some examples of topics that might be studied in political geography:

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?

What is a State? Watch everything explained with Dustin Fowler

A state is a political entity made up of a group of people living within defined borders, who have a government and are organized as a unit with the power to make and enforce laws. In international relations, a state is a sovereign, self-governing political entity recognized as such by other states. States are the primary actors in the international system, and they have a number of rights and responsibilities under international law. States are usually divided into smaller units such as provinces or counties, and they may have a federal system of government in which power is divided between a central government and regional governments.

Here are some examples of states:

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

A nation is a large group of people who share a common language, culture, history, and identity, and who often live within defined borders. The term "nation" is often used to refer to a sovereign state, but it can also be used to describe a group of people who do not have their own state but who share a common identity. The concept of nation is closely related to the idea of nationality, which refers to the legal relationship between an individual and a state, and to the rights and duties that come with that relationship.

Examples of Nations

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

A nation-state is a sovereign state in which the majority of the population shares a common language, culture, history, and identity, and in which the government represents the interests of that nation. Nation-states are a relatively modern concept, and they are often characterized by strong central governments and a sense of national unity.

Examples of Nation-States:

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

A multinational state is a state that consists of two or more nations within its borders. This can happen when two or more distinct nations come together to form a new state, or when a state expands its borders through colonization or conquest and incorporates multiple nations within its borders. Multinational states can be challenging to govern because they often have to balance the interests of multiple nations and deal with issues related to national identity and self-determination.

Examples of Multinational States:

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

A stateless nation is a group of people who share a common language, culture, history, and identity, but who do not have their own sovereign state. Stateless nations may seek self-determination and the creation of their own state, or they may seek autonomy or greater political, cultural, and economic rights within the state in which they live.

Examples of Stateless Nations:

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

Multistate nations refer to a group of people who share a common identity, culture, and often history, but are dispersed across multiple countries or states. These groups of people may have their own distinct customs, languages, and traditions, but they are united by a shared sense of belonging. They may also have political or social organizations that represent their interests and advocate for their rights in the countries or states where they reside.

Here are some examples of 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.

🎥 Watch: AP HUG - What's a state?

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