Population Geography, Culture & Geopolitics: Key Concepts

Population Geography, Culture, and Geopolitics

Location and Directions

Location: 43 King St West
Directions: Go west of McDonald and north of George Brown.
Distance: 1.3 km north; about a 5-minute walk.

2. Objective vs Subjective

Objective: Established facts.
Subjective: Meaning of a symbol (personal attachment).

3. Culture: Definition

A set of beliefs, values, and customs acquired and shared by a group of people living in a particular area and time, often expressed on the land.

4. Population Geography (Textbook)

Study of population and how population is distributed across an area.

5. Types of Population Structures

• Expansive: Large percentages of the population are in younger age groups; growth is rapid.
• Stationary: Nearly equal percentages across most age groups; growth is neutral or stable.
• Declining: Lower percentages of younger people; population growth is negative.

6. Demographic Characteristics

Consider differences such as males vs. females, age structure, high death rate vs. low death rate (width of cohorts). These indicate demographic differences: symmetry (balance) versus asymmetry (irregularity), etc.

7. What Is the Malthusian Growth Theory?

Thomas Malthus argued that:

• Population increases at a geometric rate.
• Food supply increases at an arithmetic rate.
• Exponential population growth creates conflict and pressure in society.

To control population, Malthus suggested:

• Preventative measures to control birth rates.
• Positive checks (natural limits) such as disease, famine, or disasters that reduce population.

8. What Triggered the Migration of Homo sapiens from Africa?

Key factors that triggered the flight of Homo sapiens from Africa 60,000–70,000 years ago include:

• Climate change patterns.
• Following food resources (hunter-gatherer mobility).

9. Explain the World-System Theory

World-System Theory (often associated with Wallerstein) analyzes the global economic system as a complex set of relationships between core, semi-peripheral, and peripheral countries. The note here says: Freedom model (context-dependent; likely referring to how global systems constrain or enable economic and political freedoms across regions).

10. Multiculturalism and Canadian Origins

Multiculturalism: Acceptance of other cultures, equality, and mutual respect for minorities; it encourages racial and ethnic harmony.

Origins of Canadian Multiculturalism: Policies and social values promoting inclusion, legal recognition, and encouragement of cultural diversity (note: the original text states acceptance, equality, and mutual respect as the foundations).

11. Geopolitics: Definition

Geopolitics: The study of the effects of geography (territory, resources, location) on international politics and power relations — how nations, land, or empires influence global power.

12. Two Key Theories Influencing the Origins of Geopolitics

Two influential theories:

• The Organic State Theory: Views the state as a living organism with stages of growth; states require resources and territory to survive and expand.
• Heartland Theory: The idea that whoever controls the 'Heartland' (central Eurasia) commands the "World Island" (Eurasia and Africa); whoever rules the World Island can command the world.

13. Domino Theory and Its Relevance to the Cold War

Domino Theory: The belief that when one country falls to communism, neighboring countries are likely to follow and adopt communist political and economic systems.

Cold War: The prolonged geopolitical, ideological, and strategic conflict between the Western bloc (led by the United States) and the communist bloc (led by the Soviet Union). The Domino Theory was used to justify interventions and containment policies to prevent the spread of communism.