Political Divisions
A country is the most basic division or jurisdiction on a global scale. Geographers also use the terms "state" and "nation" when referring to a country.
A state is an area unified under one government. The government establishes social, economic, and political control within its boundaries. A political state may have sovereignty or partial sovereignty. Having sovereignty means a government independently makes its own laws. For example, the United States is a federal union of partially sovereign states. Each U.S. state government makes its own laws as long as they do not conflict with federal laws.
Political Divisions
Why do borders exist? Who decided on the boundaries between nations? Political divisions get created based on a variety of factors. In this interactivity, you will learn how political divisions form. You will also examine how such divisions can cause conflict. Click the player to begin.
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Local and Regional Political Divisions
Political states are usually organized into smaller divisions or jurisdictions. These subdivisions vary, but often include provinces, districts, counties, cities, and neighborhoods. Typically, citizens want a government that can understand and solve local issues. When a government is part of the community, it can better address problems at the local level. Local and regional political divisions can also administer resources more efficiently. Some examples include:
- conservation districts to protect the environment, and manage local land and water resources;
- election districts to administer voting;
- planning districts to represent community interests;
- school districts to organize and administer education;
- waste disposal districts to remove trash and recycle; and
- zip code zones to facilitate mail services.
Local and regional political divisions tend to cooperate when responding to shared challenges. For instance, a natural disaster can unify a community to help those in need. Also, economic cooperation attracts new business and increases local living standards.
Cultural and ethnic similarities sometimes lead to cooperation. Examples of this occur in Chinatowns and other ethnic neighborhoods. Beyond this, cooperation results from a desire to deal with important community issues. This may include transportation, waste management, and education. For example, school districts and state governments sometimes create magnet schools. These schools provide equal access to specialized education. Magnet schools enroll students from across normal school district boundaries.
International Political Divisions
An alliance is usually established to enhance political, economic, and social ties among nations. These relationships form large political divisions, which can cover huge areas of the Earth's surface. In this interactivity, you will explore international political divisions. Click the player to begin.
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International Cooperation
U.N. Headquarters, New York, New York
When nations cooperate, they can sometimes solve global problems without war or conflicts. An example of this is the Antarctica Treaty of 1959. This international agreement designated Antarctica as a scientific preserve. It banned all military involvement on the continent.
When problems arise, political alliances like the United Nations help maintain peace. This organization has a branch called the United Nations peacekeepers. This specialized affiliate tries to stabilize areas recently torn by conflict.
Cultural alliances form from shared cultural characteristics. They help strengthen social, economic, and political relationships across borders. For instance, the Francophone world includes nations united by a common language and cultural heritage. The Commonwealth of Nations is similar. Its fifty-two member countries share a British heritage.
International cooperation has the potential to end political divisions. For example, people from all cultures can join humanitarian efforts by organizations like Red Cross and Red Crescent. Similarly, the Peace Corps promotes international understanding through volunteer work. Organizations like these unite people as humans, rather than divide them by nationality.
Political Divisions Review
Now that you have learned about different kinds of political divisions, review your knowledge in this interactivity. Click the player to get started.
