Saturday, August 17, 2019
Political Geography Essay
Abstract            Numerous aspects of political geographic research inevitably impact our lives. This impact can either be perceived in our daily activities, or can play crucial role for the development of global international relations. Extensive knowledge of Political Geography is required for the sound development of various domestic policies, starting with transport and communications, and up to the issues of sea and oceans politics. Political Geography            The most interesting aspect of Political Geography learned in this course            Answering the question â€Å"what is the most interesting aspect of Political Geography learned in this course†, the following parameters should be considered: the most interesting aspect of Political Geography and its impact onto the real-life political processes.            The issues of economic development and their close relation to the issues within the area of foreign relations seem to be the most important and interesting aspects of Political Geography. As far as these two aspects constantly interact, they should also be considered together. Glassner and Fahrer (2003) viewed the process of economic development through the prism of historical studies: the end of colonial era was marked by the growing need to invest all available economic resources into the development of the newly born states. â€Å"The colonial countries invested in their colonies whatever they felt was necessary to control and administer the territory†(p. 242). As a result, the ex-colonies had to find the same available resources in order to promote their further economic development. This is where Political Geography came into action: the development of foreign relations had to be based on thorough research of potential political (and especially, economic) partners. For example, the ex-colony Tuvalu has entered the United Nations only after 22 years of its independence: this time period was required to weigh economic pros and cons of foreign relations (Glassner & Fahrer, p. 244). The new countries not only had to clearly delineate their physical borders, but to determine what economic resources they could offer their partners in exchange for other resources or intangible economic benefits. â€Å"A new country has not only domestic problems to wrestle with, but foreign ones as well†(p. 244). As a result, the country cannot successfully build its relations with foreign economic partners without properly evaluating its position, and the position of other countries in the world geographical structure. Proper evaluation of this position is impossible without extensive knowledge of Political Geography.            As we consider economic development to be the most important aspect of Political Geography, it is difficult to deny that economic development cannot be successful and predictable without profound knowledge of Political Geography.            U.S. oceans policies            The U.S. oceans policies should be developed with the account of the cultural, economic, and political parameters. The crucial aspects of oceans policies will relate to the economic zones, political delineation of shelf areas, and cultural awareness in the area of international seabed territories.            â€Å"Prior to 1945, the continental shelf was a geological feature known only to geologists†(p. 454). However, political and economic conditions must emphasize the importance of continental shelf in the state oceans policy. The shelf has become the political tool of controlling economic resources of the coastal states; as a result, the coastal shelf issues should be considered through both economic and political prisms. As long as the primary purpose of the state is to control its territorial integrity, the boundaries of the coastal shelf are not an exception (Agnew 2002, p. 80). This is why the political emphasis in the new ocean policy should be made upon the importance of coastal shelf for the economic and political stability of the country. Another economic aspect of ocean policies is in developing the criteria of effectiveness for exclusive economic zones. â€Å"Each coastal state now is entitled to a zone, seaward of the territorial sea and adjacent to it, within which it has sovereign rights†(p. 453). New oceans policies should pursue the effective exploration of the discussed zones with the account of possible environmental problems and potential environmental damage. Cultural awareness of mass population about the environmental issues within the oceans policies should be promoted as a part of the overall national oceans strategy.            The new oceans policy should emphasize the important cultural and environmental, as well as political and economic aspects. It is important that the new policy not only emphasizes previous achievements, but effectively utilizes them to develop new policy directions.            What aspect of Political Geography is the most important to our daily life?            Political Geography inevitably impacts our daily life. In this aspect, we have to define what elements of Political Geography we find crucial for our daily activity, and how they influence us.            No one doubts that transportation and communication are the two essential elements of our daily lives; yet, not everyone knows that transportation and communication are the two aspects of Political Geography. â€Å"Movement, one of the five themes of geography, is critically important to all life on Earth and especially so to people†(p. 511). The discussed elements not only impact our daily lives, but provide the continuity of political, economic, and social processes at the global level. Transport and communications are traditionally perceived as some distant large-scale issues. However, when it comes to the need to travel, especially at a long distance, transportation issues directly impact our daily performance. Any political and geographical problems (weather, political conflicts between the states, military operations, and smaller issues with traffic jams) break our schedules, and throw us into the whirl of issues which should be resolved immediately and all together. Air transport appears to be the most politicized of all (p. 520). Ultimately, this is the air transport which is mostly impacted by political and geographical aspects, and which often does not suggest any traveling alternatives (especially in terms of overseas journeys). We often do not realize the significance of communication and transport until we face certain communication problems. Political Geography sheds the light onto the basic policies in the area of communication and transport, of which we should be aware in our daily activity (Blacksell, 2005). Even if our professions are not directly connected with transport and communications, these are the two elements of our life with which we come in touch daily. References Agnew, J. (2002). Making Political Geography. McGraw-Hill. Blacksell, M. (2005). Political geography. Routledge. Glassner, M. & Fahrer, C. (2003). Political Geography. Wiley, 3rd edition.    Â
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