Students will analyze and evaluate the physical and human geographic factors that contribute to the formation of states (countries****) and the forces that function to either unite and bind a country together or divide a country.
Differentiate between a state (country) and a nation, specifically focusing on the concepts of territorial control and self-determination***** of internal and foreign affairs. Analyze the relationship between nations and the states in which they lie. [National Character, Cultural Landscapes, Sense of Place]
EXAMPLES: Iraq and Kurdistan (1930–Present); China and Tibet (1949–Present); Spain and the Basque (1492–Present)
Analyze the formation of states (countries) in selected regions and identify and appraise the contribution of factors, such as nationalism******, in their formation. [Change Over Time, Physical Systems, Origins, National Character]
EXAMPLES: The development of the United States from the 13 Colonies (1763–1825); the development of the countries of Columbia and Venezuela from the Vice royalty of New Granada (1775–1825); the formation of Germany (1848–1989); the formation of the Republic of China on Taiwan (1945–Present); potential nationalistic movements with the Palestinians and Kurds (Present)
Evaluate and predict the successes and failure of democratic reform movements in challenging authoritarian or despotic regimes in different countries. [Change Over Time, Diffusion, Spatial Variation]
EXAMPLES: The formation of Brazil (1820–1875); Russia: from Czar to federalism (1905–1995); the future of Iraq (1945–Present); Korea (1945–Present); South Africa: from white supremacy to black majority rule with protection of the rights of minorities (1900s); Nigeria: from dictatorship to democracy (1960–Present)
Investigate and assess the impact of imperialistic policies on the formation of new countries in various regions of the world. [Change Over Time, Spatial Organization]
EXAMPLES: The Netherlands and Indonesia (1750–1945); Great Britain and Kenya (1870–1970); Belgium and the Congo (1870–1970); France and Indo-China (1890–1954); United States and the Philippines (1898–1947); Portugal and Angola (1925–1975); Japan and Korea (1910–1945)
Use a variety of sources, such as atlases, written materials, ands statistical source materials to identify countries of the world that are true nation-states. Draw conclusions about why certain regions of the world contain more nation-states than others. [Spatial Distribution, Spatial Variation, National Character]
EXAMPLES: The development of France (500–1850); compare Europe with Africa (1700–1990); the emergence of the federal state of Australia (1775–1925); Japan: homogeneity (1945–Present); Singapore: City and State (1950–1965)
Analyze the human and physical geographic forces that either bind and unite (centripetal forces*******) or divide (centrifugal forces********) a country or countries. Predict the impact of these forces on the future of these countries. Propose strategies that countries can use to overcome the impact of centrifugal forces. [Change Over Time, Spatial Distribution, Spatial Variation, National Character]
EXAMPLES: Compare and contrast Switzerland and Yugoslavia (1200–Present); the emergence of countries in the Indian Sub-continent (1775–1985); the road to federalism in Nigeria (1925–Present); the evolution of countries of contemporary Europe, such as Great Britain, France, Spain, and Italy.
*State—A politically organized territory that is administered by a sovereign government and is recognized by a significant portion of the international community. A state must also contain a permanent resident population, an economy, and be self-governing within a defined territory.
**Nation—A group of people generally linked by language, ethnicity, religion, and other shared cultural attributes including a common cultural consciousness. Such homogeneity does not occur in all states, and a nation may not necessarily enjoy statehood.
***Nation-state—A state (country) whose population possesses a substantial degree of cultural homogeneity and unity and is recognized as a political unit. The territory of a nation-state usually coincides with the area settled by a certain national group or people.
**** Country—Synonymous with the term state.
***** Self-Determination—The principle that a people should be free to determine their own political status.
****** Nationalism—The belief that groups of people are bound together by territorial, cultural and (sometimes) ethnic links.
******* Centripetal forces—Forces that unite and bind a country together—such as a strong national culture, shared ideological objectives, and a common faith.
******** Centrifugal forces—A term employed to designate forces that tend to divide a country—such as internal religious, linguistic, ethnic, or ideological differences.