Cultural GeographyPolitical Divisions SOL WG 10A

Local Political Divisions

Political Divisions are regions of the Earth’s surface over which groups of people establish social, economic, and political control

Reasons for Political Divisions

1. Government closer to home

2. Need to solve local problems

3. Need to administer resources more efficiently

Local Political Divisions

1. States

2. Counties

3. Cities

4. School Districts

5. Election Districts

6. Neighborhoods

7. Regional Districts

A. Bus Lines

B. Waste Disposal

C. Conservation Districts

D. Planning Districts

E. Area Codes

Local Political Divisions

Reasons for Conflict

1. Boundary Disputes

2. Cultural Differences

3. Economic Differences

4. Competition for Scarce Resources

5. Political Advantages (Gerrymandering)

Reasons for Cooperation

1. Natural Disasters

2. Economic Advantages

3. Cultural Similarities

4. Addressing Regional Issues

International Political Divisions

1. Countries

2. Alliances between countries

Economic Alliances

1. OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

2. European Union or African Union

3. NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)

4. ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)

International Political Divisions

Political

1. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

2. United Nations

3. African Union

Cultural/Humanitarian

1. League of Arab States – North Africa and Middle East

2. Commonwealth of Nations – Countries that used to be British colonies

3. Red Cross/Red Crescent

International

Political Divisions

International Political Divisions

Reasons for International

Political Divisions

1. Differences in culture, language, and religion

2. Retention of historical boundaries

3. Imperial conquest and control

4. Economic similarities and differences

Conflict

Boundary and territorial disputes

1. Syria vs. Israel (Golan Heights) – Israel occupies Golan Heights

2. Western Sahara vs. Morocco

3. China vs. Taiwan (China claims Taiwan)

4. India vs. Pakistan (Kashmir)

Cultural differences

1. Canada (Quebec) – People speak French in Quebec

2. Northern Ireland – Protestants vs. Catholics

Economic Differences

Nationalism

Conflict

Ethnic Differences

1. Balkans – Bosnians/Serbians

2. Cyprus (Island split between Turks and Greeks)

3. Rwanda/Burundi – Hutus killed Tutsis in a genocide

4. Kashmir (India is Hindu and Pakistan is Muslim)

Conflict

Cooperation

1. Foreign Aid

2. Alliances for environmental preservation

3. Antarctica Treaty

4. United Nations peacekeepers

5. Law of the Sea