Political Geography

       Today in class we went over the most recent test. Then we started a new unit called political geography. Country: an identifiable land area , Nation: a population (group of people) with a common culture, State: a population under a single government, synonymous with "country", Nation-state: a single culture under a single government, a nation which has the same borders as a state. More on Nations: a group of people with a shared identity culture group. Nations are culturally homogenous groups of people, larger than a single tribe or community, which share a common language, institutions, religions, and historical experience. Independent state: Has space or territory which has internationally recognized boundaries (boundary disputes are ok) Has people that live there on an ongoing basis. Has economic activity and an organized economy. A county regulates foreign and domestic trade and issues money. Has the power of a social engineering such as education. Has a transportation system for moving goods and people. Has a government which provides public services and police power. Has sovereignty, no other state should have power over the countries territory. Has external recognition - a county has been "voted into the club" by other countries.