Political Geography

Question One: In the course book Mark Blacksell describes political geography as the “study of…varied resource conflicts and the way in which they are resolved.” Given that international relations is broadly understood as the study of the causes of war and the prospects for peace, how does the study of political geography help us understand international relations better? Question Two: The concept of territory is understood easily by most, yet understanding the importance of territory is critical to grasping the concepts of state and nation. If you were asked by a student new to this field, how would you explain the importance of territory to humans? Question Three: Nationalism is often cited as a cause of war, especially since the end of the Cold War; at its core it is about making differences between peoples and states vital enough to fight over. What are some of the differences between African states created by the major colonial powers that affect how they now relate to other states on that continent (think in terms of culture, resources and politics)?