World Regional Geography GEG 101 ONLINE! Assignment 3: Geography of Cultural Conflicts

BACKGROUND

 The SPATIAL PERSPECTIVE of geography (Where?, Why there? and Why do we care?) and our four class themes (physical, cultural, economic, and historical geography) are useful to better understand the underlying causes of cultural conflicts around the world. In this assignment you will select a recent or current conflict and use (1) maps, (2) our vocabulary, and (3) the class themes to describe WHERE the conflict is occurring and, more importantly, WHY it is occurring there.

READ AND STUDY

• Read the lecture on Cultural Geography
• Read the lecture on Cultural Conflicts
• Read the lecture on Cultural Diversity
• Review this vocabulary:
  • culture
  • cultural landscape
  • nation
  • State
  • nation-state
  • multinational state
  • cold war
  • irredentism
  • balkanization
  • devolution
  • acculturation
  • transculturation
  • centripetal force
  • centrifugal force
  • coup d'etat

INSTRUCTIONS

This is a very structured paper. The idea is to encourage (force?) you to think like a geographer. You must closely follow the style sheet

• Select a conflict either from the websites below or, if you select a different conflict, have it approved by the instructor
  • http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/programmes/this_world/one_day_of_war/clickable_map/html/introduction.stm
  • http://www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/gmaps/world-conflicts/
  • http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/index.html ( Good information, but a little out-of-date - you will need to get up-to-date information. A good place to do this is by doing a search at http://www.bbc.com . The BBC "Timeline" articles are very useful.)

    

• Research the conflict using our textbook, online lectures, the internet, or another source.
  • Possible online sources:
    • The three sites above
    • Do a search at http://www.bbc.com . The BBC "Timeline" articles are very useful.)
    • The World Factbook
    • Online Lectures
    • If you find a good site you may want to share it with the rest of us on our Discussion Forum.

     

• Find or make maps that help explain some of the underlying CAUSES of the conflict. Remember that Geography studies WHERE and WHY THERE. You need to find maps that explain the WHY THERE question of geography.
  • Where to get the maps:
    • MAKE YOUR OWN using outline maps from our textbook website and a good source like an atlas
    • color copy a map from an atlas
    • check your instructor's online maps at: http://www.harpercollege.edu/mhealy/geogres/maps/
    • Country outline maps at: http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
    • Search online for maps

     

  • NOTE: you may not find the "perfect" map, but you may make your own, or modify a map by writing or drawing on it.

   

• Print the GRADING SHEET and hand it in with your paper

• Write a SHORT, 2-3 page, paper discussing the conflict following the STYLE SHEET.
  Include the following:
  • WHERE is the conflict occurring? (include a map)
  • WHO IS FIGHTING WHOM?
  • WHY the conflict is occurring? What are the underlying physical, cultural, economic, and/or historical causes of the conflict. Most of the causes will probably be CULTURAL.
  • Use MAPS to help explain the underlying physical, cultural, economic, and/or historical causes of the conflict.
    • NOTE: You must refer to your maps in your paper. For example, You may say something like "The conflict is taking place in the western part of this country (see map 1)". or " the conflict is between the Muslims who live in the east and the Hindus who live in the west (SEE MAP 2)".
    • TELL the reader when to look at the map
    • DISCUSS all maps in the paper
  • Use the VOCABULARY above, and additional vocabulary from our textbook, in your paper. Be sure to read about the conflict in your textbook and use any vocabulary that the authors use. NOTE: The vocabulary must be listed at the top of your paper and highlighted within your paper. Be sure that you know the correct definition. You may want to see the glossary in your textbook.
  • the GRADING SHEET must be included with your paper.

   

MAIL THE FOLLOWING TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR

• Your short 2-3 page paper with maps and the grading sheet
• STAPLE everything together. 
• See instructions

And:

• a 9"x12" manilla envelope, self-addressed on a harper address label (address labels will be distributed at the on-campus orientation) See instructions and the schedule

Mark L. Healy
Harper: 847-925-6352
Home: 815-728-1571
mhealy@harpercollege.edu