Chapter 4:3 Political Geography

Nation

• Geographers’ definition: community of people with common ancestry, culture and territory

• Does not imply an independent political unit• e.g. Quebec; Acadians in Eastern Canada; “First Nations” throughout

Canada

State

• An independent political unit holding sovereignty over a territory (Canada)

• Casually referred to as “country”• United States of America: 50 theoretically independent units that

chose to join together in 1 ‘State’

Nation-States

• State whose territory coincides with the area occupied by a single nation

• E.g. Iceland – all residents of the state are members of a single Icelandic nation

• vs. Canada – several different nations within the boundaries of the Canadian state

Democracy

• In a democracy, the government is elected by the people. Everyone who is eligible to vote has a chance to have their say over who runs the country. It is distinct from governments controlled by a particular social class or group (aristocracy; oligarchy) or by a single person (despotism; dictatorship; monarchy).

• A democracy is determined either directly or through elected representatives.

Monarchy

• A monarchy has a king, queen, emperor or empress.

• The ruling position can be passed on to the ruler’s heirs.

• In some traditional monarchies, the monarch has absolute power.

• But a constitutional monarchy, like the UK, also has a democratic government that limits the monarch's control.

Dictatorship

• A country ruled by a single leader. The leader has not been elected and may use force to keep control.

• In a military dictatorship, the army is in control.

Communist

• In a communist country, the government owns property such as businesses and farms.

• It provides its people's healthcare, education and welfare.

Checks and Balances

Characteristics of Nations-Size-

Characteristics of Nations-Shape-

Characteristics of Nations-Location-

Boundary Types

• Natural and Artificial

Chapter 4:4

Urban Geography

Urban Geography• Differences between cities and rural areas

– Size

– Commerce

– Social life and culture

Urbanization

Land UseResidential: Living spaceMixed Use: Housing and businessIndustrial: ManufacturingCommercial: Private business, buying and selling

Chapter 4:5

Economic Geography

Economic Systems

• Economy: The production and exchange of goods and services among a group of people. Stuff and $!!!

• Economic System: How people produce and goods and services. How do we get stuff and $!!!

Traditional Economy

• Goods and services are bartered. That is, they are exchanges without using money.

Command Economy

• The government owns the means of production and, in turn, sets production levels and pricing.

Market Economy

• Supply is determined by demand. Consumers and profit are the driving forces. Also called capitalism.

Mixed Economy

• This combination of command and market systems has capitalism as its base but also provides goods and services to all citizens.

Levels of Economic Activity• Primary: Gathering raw materials

– Cut down the trees and mine the minerals

• Secondary: Increase the value of raw materials by changing their form– Shape the pencil blanks and create the lead and eraser

• Tertiary: Provide business or professional services– Sell the pencils

• Quaternary: Provide information, management, and research services– Help the pencil company expand its customer base and advertising

• Materials occurring naturally on the earth that have economic value. This can only happen when technology and demand meet to transform resources into goods. Think gold and petroleum.

Natural Resources

Infrastructure

Economic Measures

• GNP – Gross National Product– The total value of all goods and services produced by a country

• GDP – Gross Domestic Product– The total value of all goods and services produced within a country

• Per Capita Income – Average amount of money earned by each person– GNP/Poplulation