Gary L. Thompson, Associate Professor of GeographyPh.D., Michigan State, 1968
tel. 405/325-2139 or email gthomp@hoth.GCN.ou.edu
Gary L. Thompson, Associate Professor of Geography
Ph.D., Michigan State, 1968
tel. 405/325-2139 or email gthomp@hoth.GCN.ou.edu
Political geography, the territorial expression of politics, holds a fascination for most of us. The world's land and sea areas are inextrically tied to our hopes and well-being as individuals and groups. We explore matters of territorial behavior, organization, and power in Political Geography. Our goal is to gain a better understanding of the world's political map by examining issues and conflicts which explain the geographical patterns of political units at the level of the national state (country).
This course will examine political geography as an area of study, the geographical characteristics of national states, including their origins and territorial characteristics. We will consider the rise of ethnic conflict in the late twentieth century and associated low-intensity warfare. Africa, Europe, and Asia are our main areas of interest, though we may consider examples from North and South America.
My interest in Political Geography has run concurrently with an interest in economic geography, though the two are difficult to separate. For many years, Russia and East Europe were the focus of my interests, but more recently, I have found my interests also include the southern Plains and other areas of the United States.
For the fall semester, 1997, we shall investigate a number of topics in some depth. Class meetings will have both discussion and activities involving group projects, media presentations, or guest lectures. This home page will provide scheduling notes, supplementary materials, assignments and due dates, map quizzes, and study questions for the exams. You may react, send messages, or ask questions concerning the course via email at the address listed above.