Core Areas, Capital Cities, Primate Cities, Forward Capitals and Maritime Boundaries

Core Areas, Capital Cities, Primate Cities, Forward Capitals and Maritime Boundaries

APHG

2015

APHG

2015

Core AreasCore Areas

Refer to the center, heart, or focus. The core area of a nation-state is constituted

by the national heartland. It has the largest population cluster and is the

most productive region. It is the area with the greatest centrality and

accessibility. It may also contain the capital city.

Refer to the center, heart, or focus. The core area of a nation-state is constituted

by the national heartland. It has the largest population cluster and is the

most productive region. It is the area with the greatest centrality and

accessibility. It may also contain the capital city.

Core AreasCore Areas

May be identified on a map by looking at population distributions and transport networks

As one travels from the core area, towns get smaller, factories fewer, and open land more common.

Some examples: Paris Basin in France, Kanto Plain in Japan, the Cairo-Alexandra Axis and the Nile Delta in Egypt, and in Chile, Santiago lies in the nucleo central.

May be identified on a map by looking at population distributions and transport networks

As one travels from the core area, towns get smaller, factories fewer, and open land more common.

Some examples: Paris Basin in France, Kanto Plain in Japan, the Cairo-Alexandra Axis and the Nile Delta in Egypt, and in Chile, Santiago lies in the nucleo central.

Multicore statesMulticore states

States that possess more than one core area May present problems especially if the areas

are ethnically diverse, e.g. Nigeria May not always present problem, e.g., the

United States- primary core: Washington, D.C. to Boston; secondary core: West Coast (San Diego to San Francisco); other core areas: Chicago and other Midwestern cities and Atlanta in the South.

States that possess more than one core area May present problems especially if the areas

are ethnically diverse, e.g. Nigeria May not always present problem, e.g., the

United States- primary core: Washington, D.C. to Boston; secondary core: West Coast (San Diego to San Francisco); other core areas: Chicago and other Midwestern cities and Atlanta in the South.

Capital CityCapital City

The political nerve center of the country National headquarter and seat of government The center of national life The status of the capital city is recognized by

using its name interchangeably with that of the state itself. E.g., “Washington is at odds with Moscow.”

The political nerve center of the country National headquarter and seat of government The center of national life The status of the capital city is recognized by

using its name interchangeably with that of the state itself. E.g., “Washington is at odds with Moscow.”

Primate cityPrimate city

A country’s largest and most economically influential city

It is most expressive of the national culture and usually (but not always) the capital city as well.

There is no other city that comes close to rivaling the city in terms of size and influence.

Some examples: London, Paris, Mexico City, Jakarta, Nairobi, etc.

A country’s largest and most economically influential city

It is most expressive of the national culture and usually (but not always) the capital city as well.

There is no other city that comes close to rivaling the city in terms of size and influence.

Some examples: London, Paris, Mexico City, Jakarta, Nairobi, etc.

Forward CapitalForward Capital

The relocation of the capital in pursuit of some national objectives, e.g., economic, political, etc.

Examples: Abuja, Nigeria; Brasilia, Brazil, Malawi: from Zomba to Lilongwe

Pakistan: from Karachi to Islamabad Malaysia: from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya Japan: from Kyoto to Tokyo

The relocation of the capital in pursuit of some national objectives, e.g., economic, political, etc.

Examples: Abuja, Nigeria; Brasilia, Brazil, Malawi: from Zomba to Lilongwe

Pakistan: from Karachi to Islamabad Malaysia: from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya Japan: from Kyoto to Tokyo

United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Conferences organized by the United Nations

for the purpose of defining maritime boundaries, commonly referred to as the Law of the Sea Conference

There have been three of such conferences: UNCLOS I UNCLOS II UNCLOS III: 1982; signed by 157 countries

Conferences organized by the United Nations for the purpose of defining maritime boundaries, commonly referred to as the Law of the Sea Conference

There have been three of such conferences: UNCLOS I UNCLOS II UNCLOS III: 1982; signed by 157 countries

How are maritime boundaries determined?How are maritime boundaries determined?

Historically, how were maritime boundaries determined?Historically, how were maritime boundaries determined? Originated in Europe many centuries ago A 14th century Italian legal scholar is credited with the

first formal proposal that states should be awarded sovereignty over a strip of water next to their coastlines

Led to many debates over the width of the offshore zone

Some suggested the width should be determined by how far a cannonball would fall if fired from the coastline

Various states chose various widths Very confusing

Originated in Europe many centuries ago A 14th century Italian legal scholar is credited with the

first formal proposal that states should be awarded sovereignty over a strip of water next to their coastlines

Led to many debates over the width of the offshore zone

Some suggested the width should be determined by how far a cannonball would fall if fired from the coastline

Various states chose various widths Very confusing

Maritime BoundariesMaritime Boundaries

1982- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) signed by 150 countries

The convention delimits territorial boundaries and rights by defining four zones:

1. A territorial sea

2. A contiguous zone

3. An exclusive economic zone (eez)

4. The high seas

1982- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) signed by 150 countries

The convention delimits territorial boundaries and rights by defining four zones:

1. A territorial sea

2. A contiguous zone

3. An exclusive economic zone (eez)

4. The high seas

Territorial seaTerritorial sea

Extends up to 12 nautical miles (1 nm = 1.15 statute miles)

Coastal states have sovereignty over this area, including fishing rights

Vessels of all types normally have the right of innocent passage through this area, except noncommercial (primarily military and research) could be challenged

Extends up to 12 nautical miles (1 nm = 1.15 statute miles)

Coastal states have sovereignty over this area, including fishing rights

Vessels of all types normally have the right of innocent passage through this area, except noncommercial (primarily military and research) could be challenged

Median Line PrincipleMedian Line Principle

Put in effect to determine the extent of a country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), especially for island countries whose EEZ tend to overlap

Put in effect to determine the extent of a country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), especially for island countries whose EEZ tend to overlap

What happens when countries lie closer than 400 nautical miles to each other?

What happens when countries lie closer than 400 nautical miles to each other?

Median Line Principle

Contiguous zoneContiguous zone

Extends up to 24 nm (38 km) Coastal states do not have complete

sovereignty in this area, it may enforce customs, immigration, and sanitation laws and has the right of hot pursuits out of its territorial waters

Extends up to 24 nm (38 km) Coastal states do not have complete

sovereignty in this area, it may enforce customs, immigration, and sanitation laws and has the right of hot pursuits out of its territorial waters

Exclusive economic Zone (EEZ)Exclusive economic Zone (EEZ)

Up to 200 nm (370 km) Right to explore, conserve, and manage the

natural resources, both living and non-living of the seabed and waters

Up to 200 nm (370 km) Right to explore, conserve, and manage the

natural resources, both living and non-living of the seabed and waters

The high seas (the global common)The high seas (the global common)

Beyond the EEZ Outside any national jurisdiction Open to all states, whether coastal or

landlocked Freedom of the high seas includes the right to

sail ships, fish, fly over, lay submarine cables and pipelines, and pursue scientific research

Beyond the EEZ Outside any national jurisdiction Open to all states, whether coastal or

landlocked Freedom of the high seas includes the right to

sail ships, fish, fly over, lay submarine cables and pipelines, and pursue scientific research