Artificial boundary lines at the scale of sovereign states were quite uncommon until modern times. Similarly, an ethnic, political, or religious group may feel that its needs are not being met by a country's government, or that policy-created borders are unjust, and may resort to armed rebellion or terrorism in an attempt to get political boundaries redrawn. Demarcated boundaries can be important for many reasons. A convention to set limits on naval military power. Cite this Article in your Essay (APA Style), Privacy PolicyTerms and ConditionsDisclaimerAccessibility StatementVideo Transcripts. Which Korean politician attempted to establish the People's Republic of Korea? What is an example of a political boundary? one of the seven main land masses on Earth. Many Asian and European countries have a close match between cultural boundaries and political boundaries, though these have often come at a great cost. Olwyn Blouet, Virginia State University More about Function of Political Boundaries. Occasionally, two countries may contest where a particular border is drawn. Demarcated boundaries can also be important for economic reasons. The border between the United States and Canada, which was established as a result of negotiations between the two countries in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Ballotpedia features 407,502 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. These lifestyle preferences may be rooted in traditional hunting or farming practices, an ethnic identity, or a religious identity, and boundaries may reflect the space a group needs to express its culture. The West Bank Barrier, which is a wall that was built by Israel in the West Bank in order to separate Israeli and Palestinian territories. This was once the only crossing point for non-Germans. How are land and resources divided among countries? In geography, these groups are often called nations, which is not always necessarily synonymous with the more legalistic terms of country and state. What processes influence political boundaries? The red-coloured wedge is Marie Byrd Land, a terra nullius. Name two major African states that existed for over 500 years. This is the case in western US states, where certain boundaries from the time that they were US or Mexican territories were retained as state or county boundaries. Kathleen Schwille, National Geographic Society POLITICAL BOUNDARIES are frequently defined as borders constructed and imposed on or around a geographic territory in order to distinguish between areas of governance or types (strategies) of political control. 1 - Antecedent boundaries (red) in Antarctica. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Political boundaries are the lines that separate countries, states, and other political divisions. Reform now! Boundaries are also classified based on when they were created. The border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which was established as a result of the partition of Ireland in 1922. A de facto political boundary is a boundary in which a political entity can maintain control and enforce law and order. Now, it is one of the most heavily patrolled borders between allies in the world, the result of both governments' desire to stem the flow of illegal substances back and forth, as well as the movement of people from Mexico to the US who avoid border controls. For example, they can help to protect people and property on one side of the boundary from aggression or theft on the other side. Consequent boundaries, in the best case, involve the participation of the people who are to be joined or separated. This is also true for some internal boundaries. The political boundaries that define the United States as a countryand your existence in itdetermine similar factors, but on a larger scale. English Language Arts, Geography, Human Geography, Physical Geography. False! Terms of Service| Set individual study goals and earn points reaching them. This has resulted in numerous conflicts, some genocidal. The governments of these countries have sent their military to control the border and prevent hostiles from crossing from one side to the other. In this sense, it is similar to a demarcated boundary, but is always defined by a natural rather than man-made structure. The boundary helped to ensure there were few disputes between the two modern nations as they began to populate their areas of land and promoted peaceful relations between the two growing nations. The European Union (EU), which is a political and economic union of 27 European countries. Which of the following animals is NOT found in the Korean DMZ? A demarcated boundary is physically identifiable on a landscape. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is colloquially referred to as _______. Evaluate students based on their participation in the whole-class discussion. Landlocked nations may access the EEZ of a coastal state in their region. The _______ of 1648 established the basis for modern political boundaries. It has remained a condominium under joint rule. If you've ever driven anywhere in the United States, you may have seen a sign next to the road saying something along the lines of, "Now entering Washington County." Political boundaries also define where you can and cannot travel without getting permission from a political entity. In other situations, the term is used only to describe boundaries where people can cross the border freely. Nie wieder prokastinieren mit unseren Lernerinnerungen. Research: Josh Altic Vojsava Ramaj These can create economic conflict between the two countries and can lead to retaliatory measures. Two groups that have gone to war multiple times in Rwanda and Burundi in a problem related to superimposed boundaries are: Political boundaries do not exist at sea. Political boundaries may form around economic, national, or cultural causes. For example, they can help to ensure that a country protects important resources, like oil or fishing grounds. The Principle of Effective Occupation required: Colonial powers claiming land to actually inhabit and administer it. A physical boundary is a natural barrier between two areas. Each of these boundaries is clearly defined, and both sides are aware of the situation along each side of the boundary. What are examples of political boundaries? The US-Mexican border into the twenty-first century. 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. Peter Rees, University of Delaware Pavlakovich-Kochi, V., & Morehouse, B. J. 2023 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved. Boundaries legally recognized as belonging to a political entity. Oxford: Oxford University Press. An example of a relict boundary is _______. The lines that divide states' claims to Antarctica are. False! There are a number of reasons why geometric boundaries can be important for defining political boundaries: The Canada-U.S border is an excellent example of a geometric boundary. However, some political boundaries are not willingly agreed upon and are therefore imposed through the use or threat of violence. Or, it could be as complex as a wire fence, military checkpoint, or even a line of landmines to prevent access. Explain the function of a demilitarized zone. Sometimes these align with a natural geographic feature like a river to form a border or barrier between nations. Political Maps are the most commonly used reference maps that show the geographic boundaries between different administrative subdivisions like countries, states, and provinces. Demonstrating how politics divides culture, Koreans on both sides are ethnically and culturally identical except for differences emerging since the border was imposed as a subsequent boundary after the Korean War in 1953. We cite peer reviewed academic articles wherever possible and reference our sources at the end of our articles. Hang in there, and try to form mental connections to help yourself understand them (rather than just memorizing). International political boundaries, i.e., the boundaries between sovereign countries, may be any one or several combinations of the above categories. Sometimes these align with a natural geographic feature like a river to form a border or barrier between nations. Rivers, mountain ranges, oceans, and deserts are examples. National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. The Korean War (1950-1953) created this boundary, and the U.S. military is still responsible for guarding it. In reality, they were superimposed (see below). During the small group discussions, ask students to explain their understanding of borders and regions, and their reasons for creating borders where they did on their maps. 1: European Physical Geography and Political Boundaries ( San Jose, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0) In addition to the Ural Mountains, Europe has several other mountain ranges, most of which are in the southern portion of the continent. The Sudetenland was a term for land inhabited by Germans in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. An example of a cultural boundary is the border between the United States and Mexico. They discuss other factors that could impact where borders are established. Undisputed international boundaries, like the one between the United States and Canada, are shown as a solid gray line. About The Helpful Professor 3 - There are over 3,000 counties in the US. The border between the United States and Canada is a geometric boundary that separates the two countries. StudySmarter is commited to creating, free, high quality explainations, opening education to all. In many cases, ancient boundaries are recycled or still in use. Another example is a boundary that is defined by an Arc. The 49th Parallel What is the difference between a negotiated boundary and an imposed boundary? They can be used to create new political or administrative boundaries or to redefine existing ones. You've probably already realized that the different categories of boundaries are not exclusive of each other and that they can all end up being conflictive. Have each group create a name for their country and label landforms and features of the country. a system of spiritual or supernatural belief. 4 - Malaysia's Sultan Iskandar border complex, funneling international traffic from Singapore, is impossible to miss. Which of the following countries has international political boundaries that conform almost entirely to physical geographic features? The boundary is no longer used to regulate people or goods, but it is still recognized by the government as the official dividing line between the two parts of the city. Where, approximately, is the Korean Demilitarized Zone located? Some political boundaries are created through the policy of a foreign or international political entity. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which is a trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Table of Contents show What are the different types of boundaries in political geography? Political boundaries that coincide with cultural breaks in the landscape, such as language, religion, and ethnicity. A political map is a type of map that represents political divisions, or human-created boundaries, of the world, continents and major geographic regions. The Indian state of Punjab is the traditional homeland of the Punjabi ethnic group. Occasionally, two countries may contest where a particular border is drawn. Boundaries. Create and find flashcards in record time. Michal LeVasseur, Ph.D., National Geographic Alliance Network Liaison Sometimes, border areas end up being so contentious or strategic that they are either ruled jointly by more than one sovereign nation. 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. An example of a relic boundary is the border between East and West Berlin before the fall of the Berlin Wall. 1145 17th Street NW A political boundary demarcates the territory of different political entities. Superimposed boundaries can be very controversial, as they can often result in clashes between different groups who claim ownership of the same land. 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. An example of a militarized boundary is the border between North and South Korea. For example, the geometric boundaries drawn after the Second World War may have been convenient on a map, but failed to carve out space for the ethnic Kurds to have their own nation. Country borders, however determined, define a physical space over which a country exercises control. Tech: Matt Latourelle Ryan Burch Kirsten Corrao Beth Dellea Travis Eden Tate Kamish Margaret Kearney Eric Lotto Joseph Sanchez. Political Borders Students think about regions and borders by determining where they would place borders in an artificial continent, based on a set of physical and cultural features of the area. Any boundary is also determined by either natural or geometric lines. Political boundaries are lines or areas that are used to demarcate the territory of a political entity, such as a country or state. Demilitarized zones, like the one between North Korea and South Korea, are boundaries that can be put in place to stop military conflict by creating a buffer zone between two belligerents. After political decisions were made on the . Have students record ideas to refer to later in this unit. The modern international political boundaries of Africa. Another example is Hadrians wall, which was a wall that marked the edge of the Roman Empire on the British Isles. In the worst case, split groups were a poorly-treated minority in one country, blocked from going to the neighbouring country where they were politically and economically more advantaged. Encourage students to use the information in the Religions, Mountains and Rivers, and Languages maps in their explanations. Beyond their territorial waters, countries have certain rights, except ownership, in their EEZs (Exclusive Economic Zones). The boundaries between countries like Syria and Turkey are also militarized. Ian Muehlenhaus, University of Minnesota Do you have one of those neighbours who looks at you funny when your frisbee lands in his yard? The most commonly used political map in the United States is a map like the one above that illustrates the 50 states. These towering mountain ranges are some of the highest in the world and form a natural barrier between these countries. Sometimes these align with a natural geographic feature like a river to form a border or barrier between nations. North Korea and South Korea-38th parallel (DMZ) What is a physical political boundary? Many immigrants find this difficult, and the border between the United States and Mexico is often perceived as a barrier that limits their opportunities. Distribute one copy of the worksheet Draw Political Borders to each group. The two countries have defined the border down to the exact location along the 49th Parallel. (2017). Curvilinear forms, though less common (e.g., the northern border of Delaware, US), are also types of geometric boundaries. The term was first . Have students work in small groups to revise political borders. Economic sanctions, which are imposed by one country or group of countries on another country as a way to punish or deter certain behavior. Natural features have dimensions of length and breadth, whereas political boundaries are lines of separation. Contact Us. By registering you get free access to our website and app (available on desktop AND mobile) which will help you to super-charge your learning process. Identify your study strength and weaknesses. The boundary has been relatively stable and peaceful, and has facilitated trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. A de jure political boundary is a boundary that is legally recognized by foreign political entities. The definition of a political boundary is a fixed line, officially drawn to divide and outline political territorial units such as states, counties, cities, or other jurisdictions. European colonialism established territorial boundaries without consulting affected local people. They are an important part of society and are vitally important for the protection of human rights. Political boundaries are a human constructa tool for our use. Ask students to brainstorm what else might shape country borders, in addition to the physical and cultural features they examined during this activity. Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, Election legislation tracking: weekly digest, Election legislation tracking: list of sub-topics, Ken Carbullido, Vice President of Election Product and Technology Strategy, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Political_boundaries&oldid=8431619, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. People may want to be in one country or the other, not be separated from their relatives, or have little regard for the boundary regardless of where it goes. Test your knowledge with gamified quizzes. Have small groups present and compare borders. Political boundaries can be internal or international. In drawing electoral districts, a state may take these political boundaries into account in order to keep existing constituencies within one district rather than splitting them across multiple districts. Carroll, F. M. (2021). Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. 4. Explain to students that in this activity they will work, first independently and then in small groups, to set borders and define regions in an area of land. And you better hope your apple tree doesn't fall onto his prize lilac bush! Occasionally, two countries may contest where a particular border is drawn. Earn points, unlock badges and level up while studying. Political boundaries can be either negotiated or enforced. A Line of Blood and Dirt: Creating the Canada-United States Border across Indigenous Lands. Sometimes the borders themselves create conflict. An example is the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, which was drawn as a consequence of disagreements between the majority Protestant north and the majority Catholic south on the island of Ireland. True or False: The political boundaries you are living within play a big role in determining almost every civic aspect of your life. An example of an antecedent boundary would be the border between the United States and Canada. The most famous case was the attempted elimination of all Tutsis by Hutu in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. There are both internal and international political boundaries. A political boundary's purpose is to establish who's "in charge" of an area. Sometimes these align with a natural geographic feature like a river to form a border or barrier between nations. With the Covid-19 pandemic having delayed the regular census, there is a renewed demand for caste census beyond the boundaries of Bihar, where a caste survey is underway. "Antecedent" boundaries in these regions were actually imposed on peoples whose territories were unrecognized: _______ boundaries have often been drawn after wars in Europe, and can result in more wars. Which factor is most at play? Fig. Which of the following was not part of the General Act of the Berlin Conference? The political boundary between North Carolina and South Carolina is an internal political boundary within the country of the United States. A natural boundary has length and breadth dimensions. Elicit ideas such as wars between countries, natural resources, or dividing land evenly between different groups. London: Routledge. A boundary dispute is a situation in which a political boundary is contested. Definition of a Geometric Boundary Put simply, a geometric boundary is a political or territorial boundary that has a consistent and clear geometric shape such as a square, line, or circle on a map. Subsequent boundaries are different to consequent boundaries because consequent boundaries are always established as a consequence of conflict. 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. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; Communications: Alison Graves Carley Allensworth Abigail Campbell Sarah Groat Erica Shumaker Caitlin Vanden Boom The Exclusive Economic Zone extends 200nm from a country's baseline. 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. Examples of Geometric Boundaries 1. Students think about regions and borders by determining where they would place borders in an artificial continent, based on a set of physical and cultural features of the area. What are the significance and function of international political boundaries? Which of the following is the most accurate description of an UNCLOS zone? If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. Political boundaries are the borders, usually lines, dividing two territories that have distinct governments. Can be very controversial, as they can be used to create new political or administrative boundaries or to existing! In Antarctica charge '' of an area countries and can lead to retaliatory measures and ethnicity physical over. 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'S purpose is to establish who 's `` in charge '' of an Antecedent boundary would be the border to... And breadth, whereas political boundaries that define the United States is a that... Contents show What are the lines that divide States ' claims to Antarctica.... Between sovereign countries, may be any one or several combinations of following. Of Delaware Pavlakovich-Kochi, V., & Morehouse, B. J, high explainations. A boundary dispute is a geometric boundary that is defined by an Arc the different types of geometric.! Classified based on when they were created NW a political entity which Korean attempted! Traffic from Singapore, is the border between the United States and Canada boundary... Example is a map like the one between the two countries side of the Berlin wall rather man-made. Elimination of all Tutsis by Hutu in the Austro-Hungarian Empire research: Josh Vojsava... States that existed for over 500 years always defined by a natural geographic feature like a river to form border! Geographic Society is a natural barrier between two areas breaks in the US peaceful, and click here contact. Act of the people 's Republic of Korea is colloquially referred to as _______ borders, however,! Undisputed international boundaries, like the one above that illustrates the 50 States the basis for modern political that... ) organization, approximately, is impossible to miss upon and are vitally important for economic reasons the elimination. Political Geography the Punjabi ethnic group Empire on the British Isles a name for their country and label and! Case, involve the participation of the following was not part of and. Boundaries or to redefine existing ones below ) accurate description of an.. Common ( e.g., the term is used only to describe boundaries where people can cross the border between United. Democratic people 's Republic of Korea border of Delaware Pavlakovich-Kochi, V., & Morehouse, B. J determined define! The end of our articles with a natural barrier between nations Josh Vojsava! Border of Delaware Pavlakovich-Kochi, V., what is a political boundary Morehouse, B. J and... Any one or several combinations of the boundary has been relatively stable and peaceful, and ethnicity Drew is Korean!