Download Urban Geography - Loyola Blakefield

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 Use
Residential: Living space
Mixed Use: Housing and business
Industrial: Manufacturing
Commercial: 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
Natural Resources
• 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.
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