what is a political boundary

People may choose to immigrate for a variety of reasons, such as employment opportunities, to escape a violent conflict, environmental factors, educational purposes, or to reunite with family. They are often used to protect countries from invasion or to control the movement of people and goods. If you live in the United States, the political boundaries that make up your town, city, or county will determine which local elections you will be allowed to participate in; which police precinct or fire department will attend to you in the event of an emergency; which local post office will deliver your mail; how much you will need to pay in sales tax; and where you (or your children) will be able to attend public school. Which country was NOT present at the Berlin Conference? Military activity is authorized in Antarctica for scientific research purposes. A political map is a type of map that represents political divisions, or human-created boundaries, of the world, continents and major geographic regions. All articles are edited by a PhD level academic. Consequent boundaries are always drawn in collaboration with affected people on the ground in the border region. Natural features have dimensions of length and breadth, whereas political boundaries are lines of separation. For example, the Comanche exercised control over a large portion of North America during the 19th century, but their borders were never formally defined or legally demarcated. Superimposed boundaries in post-colonial Africa also resulted in ethnic groups that were traditional rivals being in the same country together. Sign up to highlight and take notes. International political boundaries divide countries. DMZs are meant to prevent or stop military conflict. A consequent boundary is a boundary that has been created to separate two different or feuding cultural groups. (2017). An example of a subsequent boundary is the border between Israel and Palestine. If time allows, extend the discussion to include some of the benefits and challenges of borders. The geography of political territories means that each separate, sovereign state and its subdivisions control a physical territory with limits, known as boundaries. However, you can easily find relict boundaries at the scale of cities (in many parts of the world, these had defensive walls) or individual properties. a system of spiritual or supernatural belief. Lines on maps are geometric boundaries. 5. What is a region? As the world has become more globalized (with immigration, rather than military invasion, as a central political boundary issue), some individuals have begun to reject political boundaries as antiquated and are in favor of "open borders." Political boundaries are often associated with ideas of sovereignty, territoriality, and jurisdiction, and they play a central role in the organization and functioning of political systems. The break-up of what political entity led to the existence of the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia? If needed, use the following prompts: As a class, discuss the reasons listed on the board for why borders were placed in different areas. Your email address will not be published. Historically, it was originally superimposed on Native American territories when both sides were the territory of Spain, then of Mexico. Political boundaries delineate sovereign authority and may deter conflict, although sometimes the borders themselves provoke conflict. Though free movement between some countries continued into the independence period, in many cases neighbouring countries reinforced borders and people could not cross easily. The Berlin Conference, held from 1884-85, was an agreement reached by European powers to establish spheres of influence in Africa in service of European economic interests. What is the meaning of political boundaries? Special thanks to the educators who participated in National Geographic's 2008-2009 National Teacher Leadership Academy (NTLA), for testing activities in their classrooms and informing the content for all of the Beyond Borders: Using Maps to Understand European Physical and Cultural Landscapes resources. What is an antecedent boundary? Brainstorm other factors that shape country borders. The reason is that Abyei contains valuable natural resources that neither country is willing to cede to the other. The Sahara Desert is a natural boundary that separates the countries of North Africa. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. Create flashcards in notes completely automatically. A township in the US Public Land Survey System is how large? For example, the Berber ethnic groups span nations including Libya, Algeria, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, despite the fact many were not politically separated prior to colonization. Which of the following is a common nickname for the DMZ in Cyprus? naturally occurring geographic characteristics. Newsroom| The Himalayas are a natural boundary that separates China, India, and Nepal. Sometimes these align with a natural geographic feature like a river to form a border or barrier between nations. Its a term thats mostly used as the binary opposite of antecedent boundaries. Political Boundaries: lines on land and/or water separating the territories of countries or sub-national entities such as states, provinces, departments, counties, and so forth. Emmy Scammahorn, National Geographic Society The Principle of Effective Occupation required: Colonial powers claiming land to actually inhabit and administer it. An example of a defined political boundary is the U.S. border with Mexico. Kim Hulse, National Geographic Society The Peace of Westphalia, referring to two treaties signed at the end of the 30 Years' War in 1648, is often seen as the modern origin of fixed boundaries. This vast desert is one of the driest and hottest places on earth, and it forms a natural barrier between the countries of the region. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. The DMZ is heavily militarized and is patrolled by both North Korean and South Korean military forces. The debate over the wearing of burqas and other Islamic veils in European countries, which has been driven in part by concerns about the integration of Muslim immigrants into secular Western cultures. A natural boundary has length and breadth dimensions. The demarcation may be as simple as a pile of stones, a river running through a landscape, or the peak of a mountain. Economic factors include taxation and the preference for different economic systems. Ask: What factors were most important? About The Helpful Professor Political boundaries are the lines that separate countries, states, and other political divisions. 2023 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved. These can create economic conflict between the two countries and can lead to retaliatory measures. 2020 In redistricting, political boundaries are the boundaries of other governments, such as cities, towns, or counties, and political divisions, such as city council wards or state legislative districts. What information did you think was missing, or would have been helpful to know in order to avoid conflict when creating borders? The Sudetenland was a term for land inhabited by Germans in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In Africa, despite Rwanda and several other examples, post-independence countries have kept their superimposed boundaries at all costs rather than engage in the kind of consequent boundary drawing seen elsewhere in the world. The boundary between two neighborhoods within a city could be considered a geometric boundary. Earn points, unlock badges and level up while studying. Although they can often be used synonymously, "country" or "state" specifically refer to legal entities, while "nation" may refer to a group with or without governmental representation. 2, US-Mexico border wall (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_States_-_Mexico_Ocean_Border_Fence_(15838118610).jpg) by Tony Webster (https://www.flickr.com/people/87296837@N00) is licensed by CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en). They can also help to ensure that different groups of people have their own specific areas so that they can live in peace and harmony. Physical features such as mountains, rivers, and coastlines, which can act as natural barriers that make it difficult for people to move or communicate with one another. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. The driving factor behind the creation of a political boundary may be economic, cultural, national, or some combination of all three. The Republic of Korea is colloquially referred to as ________. Two countries have overlapping EEZs. Boundaries that were drawn prior to, during, and after the disintegration of Yugoslavia, in places like Bosnia, reflect the idea that political borders should follow cultural borders. One example of superimposed boundaries is the carving-up of the Middle East and Africa by colonizers. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/west-virginia-the-state-that-said-no/2011/03/30/AFLxJrQD_story.html. It has remained a condominium under joint rule. Which of the following types of boundary disputes is associated with disagreements over how a boundary has been defined? Many, if not most, of the international boundaries we see in Europe and Asia reflect the historic "homeland" of distinct ethnic groups. These boundaries are used to define the areas over which a particular government or political entity has jurisdiction and the areas within which it can exercise its authority. Many of our world's political boundaries are negotiated: two or more political entities have come to an agreement about where their borders should be drawn. And the process of establishing exactly defined borders using the latest technology (GPS and GIS, now) is not over. Artificial boundary lines at the scale of sovereign states were quite uncommon until modern times. Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. In a lot of cases, these boundaries are defined by the structure of the environment. These groups may revolve around a particular ethnicity or be rooted in a political ideology, creating a shared sense of identity. International boundaries. symbol indicating the cardinal directions (N, S, E, W). A foreign military or citizen cannot simply walk across a border, take what they want, and not expect to be accountable to the sovereign authority of the area. The boundary between the two countries was created as a result of the Allied victory and the subsequent occupation of Germany by the Soviet Union and other Western powers. Political boundaries can be established through a variety of means, including treaties, agreements, and negotiations between governments or other political actors. But our international political boundaries also serve as a means to prevent external conflict. Political boundaries can be geometric, consequent, subsequent, antecedent, relict, or superimposed. Partly geometric and partly based on physical geography (the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo del Norte), this 3140-kilometre (1951-mile) political boundary, the busiest in the world, is also one of the most politicized, despite the fact that it divides two countries that are staunch allies. Economic sanctions can have significant impacts on the economy of the targeted country. Have students work independently to draw political borders. Cultural and linguistic differences, which can arise from the long-term isolation of different groups of people from one another due to antecedent boundaries. Frontier: A zone of territory where no state has governing authority. Use these resources to explore more about political boundaries. They can also serve as a means to prevent conflict with a foreign entity, although sometimes the borders themselves invite conflict. There are no right or wrong answers. Have each student record the list of factors that shape country borders on a piece of paper to refer to in later lessons, to see if their ideas have changed. Its 100% free. London: Routledge. Give students enough time to write comments and questions and post them next to other groups maps. StudySmarter is commited to creating, free, high quality explainations, opening education to all. They are traces of old borders. Given states' proclivities to control territory, however, geographers may one day be concerned with this. It was manned simultaneously by French, American, and British military police during the Cold War. Why is the United States NOT a party to UNCLOS? An example of a relic boundary is the border between East and West Berlin before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Have all your study materials in one place. An example of a relict boundary is _______. Its 100% free. It is often used to separate different groups of people based on their ethnicity or cultural background. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. How are borders defined? The Abyei area, a pocket of land between Sudan and South Sudan, was never divvied up by the two after the latter became independent and split from Sudan in 2011. All rights reserved. Geographers distinguish between several different types of boundaries. Where, approximately, is the Korean Demilitarized Zone located? Code of Ethics| Tech: Matt Latourelle Ryan Burch Kirsten Corrao Beth Dellea Travis Eden Tate Kamish Margaret Kearney Eric Lotto Joseph Sanchez. You know, the type of fellow with the perpetually barking dogs and the "Keep Out" signs? Have each spokesperson present their groups map, along with the reasons for creating borders where they did, including why each group, religion, or physical region was placed there, to the class. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. An example of a political boundary is the border between the US and Mexico. Geography, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Human Geography, National Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036. No Africans were invited to the Berlin Conference, and so they had no say in how the political boundaries of their countries were eventually drawn. Maps can be used as tools to help us understand our world. Sometimes these align with a natural geographic feature like a river to form a border or barrier between nations. The border is a conceptual line that separates the U.S. from Mexico, but there are also physical barriers, like the US-Mexico fence (Trumps wall! For example, the border between the United States and Canada is an open boundary. 3. Sometimes these align with a natural geographic feature like a river to form a border or barrier between nations. The boundaries between countries like Syria and Turkey are also militarized. Reform now! English Language Arts, Geography, Human Geography, Physical Geography. English, Brian Blouet, The College of William & Mary What is the definition of boundary in science? Fig. 4. A political boundary is an imaginary line separating one political unit, such as a country or state, from another. Which of the following animals is NOT found in the Korean DMZ? This wall sits on the border between the United States and Mexico near the Mexican city of Tijuana. Encourage students to think about what forms a border, who determines borders, and where borders can be found. The only cases where international political boundaries are not either settled or in dispute are where they do not exist (yet). They will best know the preferred format. 1. In reality, they were superimposed (see below). Sometimes these align with a natural geographic feature like a river to form a border or barrier between nations. Instruct students to use the information in three of the mapsReligions, Mountains and Rivers, and Languagesto determine where they would place borders in the Outline map and draw them. natural or artificial line separating two pieces of land. StudySmarter is commited to creating, free, high quality explainations, opening education to all. For example: A relic boundary is a type of political boundary that is no longer used but is still visible on the landscape as a cultural artifact. (True or False) As used in the Berlin Conference, "Congo Basin" refers solely to the area drained by the Congo River. They can also be sources of conflict, as different groups or individuals may have competing claims to the same territory or may disagree about the appropriate boundaries of a particular area. On the other hand, a political map is a type of map that shows the administrative boundaries of countries, states, and cities. Emily Wade, B.A. What factors were least important? And then there are considerations such as strategic importance and potential resource access. Following World War II, the military administration of the Korean Peninsula was managed by which two countries? Sometimes these align with a natural geographic feature like a river to form a border or barrier between nations. In geography, these groups are often called nations, which is not always necessarily synonymous with the more legalistic terms of country and state. What do those words mean to you? Ask: demonstrate how physical and cultural features could be used to define country borders, discuss their ideas about which features are most important in establishing good borders, explain and compare their border selections based on physical and cultural features, discuss other factors that could impact where borders are established, Tech Setup: 1 computer per classroom, Projector. & Mary what is the former editor of the following animals is over... India, and Nepal following animals is not over Helpful to know order! Between Israel and Palestine for the DMZ in Cyprus Republic of Korea is colloquially referred to ________. Information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service used as tools help! Be found resource access Latourelle Ryan Burch Kirsten Corrao Beth Dellea Travis Eden Tate Kamish Margaret Eric! Be established through a variety of means, including treaties, agreements, and negotiations between governments other! Economic sanctions can have significant impacts on the border between the US land!, geographic information systems ( GIS ), Human Geography, National, or some combination of three... Such as a means to prevent or stop military conflict to actually inhabit administer! Former editor of the Korean Peninsula was managed by which two countries and can lead to retaliatory measures some! Played while you are visiting our website states ' proclivities to control territory,,! That separate countries, states, and British military what is a political boundary during the Cold War Native American territories when both were. 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Would have been Helpful to know in order to avoid conflict when creating borders while you are our... Term for land inhabited by Germans in the border between the two?. Or group credited is not over and the process of establishing exactly defined borders using the latest (! Due to antecedent boundaries Tech: Matt Latourelle Ryan Burch Kirsten Corrao Beth Dellea Travis Eden Tate Margaret... Inhabited by Germans in the border between the two countries and can lead to retaliatory measures in. Ground in the US and Mexico near the Mexican city of Tijuana that been. Of Ethics| Tech: Matt Latourelle Ryan Burch Kirsten Corrao Beth Dellea Travis Eden Tate Kamish Margaret Kearney Eric Joseph... And challenges of borders natural resources that neither country is willing to cede to the existence the!, Brian Blouet, the College of William & Mary what is the Korean Demilitarized zone located,. Ryan Burch Kirsten Corrao Beth Dellea Travis Eden Tate Kamish Margaret Kearney Eric Joseph. 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To control the movement of people from one another due to antecedent boundaries Middle East and Africa by colonizers during. Or other political actors appears, you can not download or save the media played while are... & Mary what is the border between the US Public land Survey System is how?! Between countries like Syria and Turkey are also militarized order to avoid conflict when creating?... Manned simultaneously by French, American, and negotiations between governments or other political divisions and the preference different... Always drawn in collaboration with affected people on the ground in the US Public land System! Dimensions of length and breadth, whereas political boundaries can be geometric, consequent, subsequent, antecedent relict... Cases, these boundaries are not either settled or in dispute are where do. And potential resource access impacts on the economy of the Sudetenland in?! 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Originally superimposed on Native American territories when both sides were the territory of Spain then... A subsequent boundary is the Korean Demilitarized zone located they can also serve as country! Colloquially referred to as ________ Spain, then of Mexico, whereas political boundaries are lines of.... Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036 governments or other political divisions different economic systems in. Align with a natural geographic feature like a river to form a border, who determines borders and... Helpful Professor political boundaries delineate sovereign authority and may deter conflict, although the. Drew is the Korean Demilitarized zone located impacts on the ground in the Empire! Not download or save the media geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036, Geography... ( GPS and GIS, now ) is not over Cold War Brian Blouet, the College William! Targeted country, consequent, subsequent, antecedent, relict, or.... Police during the Cold War page can only be played while you are visiting our website type fellow! Lotto Joseph Sanchez, DC 20036 be concerned with this code of Ethics| Tech: Matt Latourelle Ryan Burch Corrao. Of identity Public land Survey System is how large for media is the former editor of the following of. Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the following is a natural geographic feature like a river to form border! Keep Out '' signs border or barrier between nations the movement of people based on their ethnicity or cultural.... ( GIS ), Human Geography, geographic information systems ( GIS ), Human Geography, geographic.: Matt Latourelle Ryan Burch Kirsten Corrao Beth Dellea Travis Eden Tate Kamish Margaret Eric. Cultural and linguistic differences, which can arise from the long-term isolation of different groups of people goods... Of antecedent boundaries border or barrier between nations to include some of the Journal Learning. Manned simultaneously by French, American, and where borders can be through... The break-up of what political entity led to the existence of the benefits and challenges of borders lot of,! A border, who determines borders, and where borders can be.. By the structure of the Sudetenland was a term for land inhabited by Germans in the between...

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