Lecture Notes: Political Power and Territoriality

Introduction

• Previous Topic: Impact of colonialism and imperialism.
• Today's Focus: How states express political power and territoriality.
• Key Concept: Territoriality involves delimiting and demarcating boundaries, communicating ownership over an area.

Territoriality

• Expressed through:
  • Non-verbal communication
  • Control of boundaries
  • Military action
  • Promotion of political/economic systems
  • Control of regional activities
• Analogous example: Feeling of ownership over personal spaces like a seat or room.

Neocolonialism

• Definition: Use of political, cultural, or economic power to control other countries or territories.
• Actors: Not just countries but also multinational corporations (MNCs) like Apple, Disney, Tesla, McDonald's.
• MNC Strategies:
  • Locate production in developing countries.
  • Take advantage of cheaper taxes, loose regulations, cheaper labor.
  • Create global supply chains and reduce costs.

State Practices in Neocolonialism

• Gaining influence via loans that cannot be repaid.
• Promoting culture to influence markets and languages.
• Adoption of universalizing religions over local customs.
• Historical Context: Gained prominence post-decolonization.

Case Study: China in Africa

• China's Initiatives:
  • $60 billion in projects (2018).
  • $44 billion in financial bonds (2022).
  • Various infrastructure projects like dams and railways.
• Strategic Goals:
  • Gain political alliances and control.
  • Benefit from the economic growth as Africa urbanizes.
• Political Influence:
  • Countries recognizing Taiwan receive fewer projects.
  • Voting alignment in the UN affects project receipts.

Choke Points

• Definition: Geographic areas crucial for reaching destinations, holding political power.
• Example: Suez Canal.
  • Incident in May 2021, Ever Given blockage caused $9.6 billion/day trade loss.
• Other Examples: Panama Canal, Strait of Hormuz.

Shatter Belt

• Definition: Regions caught between larger external powers, prone to instability.
• Cold War Example: Korean Peninsula.
  • North and South Korea division.
  • Territorial influence conflict.
• Religious Conflict Examples:
  • India-Pakistan over Kashmir.
  • Israel-Palestine.
  • Sudan-South Sudan ethnic-religious tensions.

Conclusion

• Review Activity: Practice questions provided in the video.
• Resources: Consider subscribing for more content and review packets for additional help.
• Presented by: Mr. Sin.