Geopolitical Locations and Economic Unions: US, Canada, Japan, EU, CIS

United States and Canada: Geographical Positions

The United States and Canada are located in North America. In Alaska, both border the Arctic Ocean to the north. To the south, Canada is bordered by the U.S., and the U.S. is bordered by Mexico. To the east, the U.S. borders the Atlantic Ocean, and to the west, it borders the Pacific Ocean.

Japan: Location

Japan is located east of the Asian continent, between the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean.

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS): Location

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean. To the south, it borders South Korea, Mongolia, China, Afghanistan, and Turkey. To the east, it is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, and to the west, by European countries.

European Union (EU): Location

The European Union (EU) is bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the south by the Mediterranean Sea, on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the east by the Asian continent.

European Union: Economic Integration

The formation of the European Union represents a phenomenon of major political significance. Following World War II, there was a push for closer economic cooperation among several European countries. This was done in order to protect the European economy in relation to the rest of the world and to achieve a size comparable to the United States.

International Economic Model

After World War II, the population and countries of Europe faced significant economic difficulties, with much of their infrastructure destroyed. They were assisted by a program called the Marshall Plan, which contributed to their economic recovery.

Key Features of Integration

• Elimination of customs duties among member nations.
• Adaptation of agricultural, industrial, and commercial policies.
• Unified communications and transport.
• Adoption of a single currency.

Japan: Economic and Technological Development

Japan's highly productive technological process and export value exceed that of its imports, resulting in a positive trade balance.

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was a union of 15 republics, commonly referred to as the Soviet Union. The countries of the Soviet Union included Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, and East Germany. The USSR existed from 1922 to 1991.

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS): Details

Location

The CIS covers an area of 22.402 million square kilometers, encompassing territories in North Asia. It is bordered by:

• North: Arctic Ocean
• South: Mongolia, India, China, North Korea, Afghanistan, and Turkey
• East: Pacific Ocean
• West: European countries such as Poland, Hungary, Romania, Finland, Norway, and the former Czechoslovakia

Characteristics

The Commonwealth of Independent States covers 22,402,000 square kilometers, of which 17,045,400 square kilometers correspond to the Russian Federation. With a population of 148.506 million inhabitants, Russia is the largest state in the world.