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Examines how the physical shape and size of a state affect its governance, communication, and defense.
Why is Chile over 4,000 km long but only 175 km wide? Could a country's physical outline on a map be the secret predictor of its political stability or economic success?
Consider Chile's geography: 1. It stretches north-to-south for over 4,000 km. 2. The capital, Santiago, is centrally located, but the northern Atacama Desert and southern fjords are thousands of kilometers away. 3. This creates high infrastructure costs for roads and telecommunications to keep the remote regions integrated into the national economy.
Quick Check
Which state shape is most likely to suffer from 'peripheral isolation' where the outskirts feel ignored by the central government?
Answer
Elongated states.
A prorupted state (e.g., Thailand, Namibia) is a compact state with a large projecting extension. These 'arms' are usually created for two reasons: to reach a vital resource (like a river or ocean) or to act as a buffer zone between two powerful neighbors. However, these extensions can be difficult to defend and may be inhabited by ethnic groups different from those in the core. Fragmented states (e.g., Indonesia, Philippines, USA) consist of several discontinuous pieces of territory. Fragmentation can be caused by water (archipelagos) or by another state (an exclave, like Alaska). These states face the ultimate challenge in national integration, as physical separation often leads to regionalism and high costs for maintaining a unified military and market.
Namibia features a 450 km proruption called the Caprivi Strip. 1. It was created by Germans in 1890 to give their colony access to the Zambezi River. 2. The goal was to connect to the Indian Ocean (though the river proved unnavigable). 3. Today, it remains a complex administrative zone bordering four other countries.
Quick Check
What is the primary reason a state might seek a 'prorupted' shape during border negotiations?
Answer
To gain access to a specific resource (like water) or to create a buffer between other states.
A perforated state (e.g., South Africa) completely surrounds another state. The state that is surrounded (e.g., Lesotho) is an enclave. This creates a unique power dynamic: the enclave is entirely dependent on the perforated state for imports, exports, and travel. This leads to the broader issue of landlocked states, which lack a direct outlet to the sea. There are approximately 44 landlocked states globally. Because 90% of global trade moves by sea, these states are at a massive economic disadvantage. They must maintain friendly relations with 'transit states' to access international markets. If a neighbor closes its borders, the landlocked state's economy can be paralyzed instantly.
A 'double-landlocked' state is surrounded only by other landlocked states. 1. Uzbekistan is one of only two such states (the other is Liechtenstein). 2. To reach the ocean, an Uzbek product must cross at least two international borders. 3. This multiplies transit taxes and diplomatic hurdles, making their exports significantly less competitive in the global market.
Which state shape is most likely to be created specifically to provide access to a resource like the sea?
If State A completely surrounds State B, State A is ________ and State B is an ________.
A fragmented state composed of islands generally finds it easier to maintain national unity than a compact state.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to list the five state shapes and name one real-world country for each without looking at your notes.
Practice Activity
Open a world map and find one example of a landlocked state in South America and one in Africa. Research which 'transit state' they rely on most for trade.