GEOG 329 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Cultural Homogenization, Balkanization, Balkans
Document Summary
Territorial organization of the state - centralism and federalism. Unitary and federal states --> they look at two types of constitutions that organize the working of the state. Centrifugal forces: things that pull things apart i. e. physical geography of territory, political history, distribution of populations, cultures, economies. Unitary state: control of local authorities by the central government --> the same central government rules apply within the state. Advantages: there is political and social cohesiveness + equality (all the taxes are distributed fairly, same income) Disadvantages: cultural homogenization (lack of usage, e. g. catalonia that did not permit the language being used outside but only at home) Federal state: local political units retain the management of their internal affairs (e. g. exclude defense, foreign affairs) Advantages: resolves problems of communications (i. e. distance), reflect the local identities/cultures/economic interests, also accommodates expanding territories (they keep adding new states)
