political geography part 2

Why do states break apart?

The New World Order“Now, we can see a new world coming into view. A world in which there is the very real prospect of a new world order. In the words of Winston Churchill, a "world order" in which "the principles of justice and fair play ... protect the weak against the strong ..." A world where the United Nations, freed from cold war stalemate, is poised to fulfill the historic vision of its founders. A world in which freedom and respect for human rights find a home among all nations.”

George H. W. Bush (1991)

Devolution• The process whereby

regions within a state demand and gain political strength and growing autonomy at the expense of the central government– Can be caused by

• Suprantionalism• Ethnonationalism• Economics

Ethno-nationalismEthno-nationalism: when ethnic groups see themselves as distinct nations

Economic Reasons for Devolution

• Regional Wealth – Catalonia, Spain

• Regional Neglect – Sardinia, Italy

Geography & Devolution

• Devolution often occurs near the boundaries of nations or on islands– France (Corsica)– Tanzania (Zanzibar)– US (Hawaii; “Cascadia” NW)

Gateway Theory• Political entities near border zones may become

gateway states that absorb surrounding cultures and become something different.

Devolution in USSROccurred in 1990’s• Reasons:

– USSR loses Eastern Europe

– economic problems– ethnic diversity

Replaced by the CISRise of ethnic conflict Displaced peoples The “Near Abroad”

The Putin Generation

Chechnya

Grozny, Chechnya

The New World Order• States are still important BUT

– Provinces matter– Influence of non-state entities– Increasing influence of religion– Cross border issues– Growth of supranational organizations

FRAGMENTATION & COHESION

Centripetal Forces (promote unity)

Federalism LeadershipExternal threatNational education National ideologyMovement within country

Centrifugal Forces (promotes division)

Tribalism Regional inequalitiesIsolationNew forms of communication

Why do states cooperate and sometimes unite with other states?

SUPRANATIONALISM3 or more states involving formal

– Political– Economic – Cultural

cooperation is based on shared objectives

THE UNITED NATIONS (1945)

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

ECONOMIC & SOCIAL COUNCIL

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE http://whc.unesco.org/

SECRETARIATE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SECURITY COUNCIL

UN Peacekeepers • Not a UN force (troops come from member

nations)• Troops commanded by UN general

MARITIME LAW• UN Conference on Law

of the Sea (UNCLOS)– Territorial seas = 14 miles – Exclusive Economic Zone

= 230 miles• Median Line Principle

– Mineral resources in open seas should be for all humanity (US objection)

REGIONAL MULTINATIONALISMFirst multinational union:

Benelux (1944)•Belgium•Netherlands•Luxembourg

ECSC (1952)European Coal & Steel Community

Lifted restrictions governing the flow of coal, iron and steel

1.Germany2.France3.Italy4.Netherlands5.Belgium6.Luxembourg

Common Market (1958)Elimination of tariffs on other commodities

1.German2.France3.Italy4.Netherlands5.Belgium6.Luxembourg7.Britain8.Ireland9.Denmark10.Spain11.Portugal12.Greece

1. Austria2. Belgium3. Britain4. Bulgaria5. Cyprus6. Czech Rep.7. Denmark8. Estonia9. Finland10.France11.Germany12.Greece13.Hungary14.Ireland15.Italy16.Latvia17.Lithuania18.Luxembourg19.Malta20.Netherlands21.Poland22.Portugal23.Romania24.Slovakia25.Slovenia26.Spain27.Sweden

European Union (1992)Objective: • Economic and

POLITICAL union• Common currency

Problems: • uneven economic

development• fear of loss of local

autonomy• dominance of Germany• national rivalries

Can you name the 27 members

of the EU?

GDP (Gross Domestic Product) 2008

USA $14,440,000,000,000 (14.44 trillion)EU $14,940,000,000,000 (14.94 trillion)

OTHER SUPRANATIONAL UNIONS

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

Will nation-states be supplanted by

supranational unions?