Understanding our Around the World Understanding our Around the World DestinationsDestinations

Dr. David J. Keeling – Department of Geography and Geology

Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KYThe American Geographical Society

Analysis (physical and cultural landscapes)

Interpretation (what are the issues?)

Theories, models, and best practices (scientific method)

Policy influence (how can we help?)

LOCATIONSLOCATIONS

PLACESPLACES

INTERACTIOINTERACTIONSNS

CONNECTIOCONNECTIONSNS

REGIONSREGIONS

Underlying forces that influence current international relationships:

– population growth and distribution

– natural resource exploitation, depletion, and degradation (disparity in “wealth of nations”)

– competition among ethnic groups – frustration and violence

– territorial nationalism – transnational terrorism– globalization vs. localization– democratization - effective

governance

Population Change

Geopolitics

Economic Globalization

Technological Shifts

Knowledge Development

Conflict Resolution

Resource Management

Source: Center for Strategic & International Studies http://csis.org

WHY GEOGRAPHY WHY GEOGRAPHY MATTERS!MATTERS!

• Long-term Forces of Change• Short-term Responses (earthquakes and volcanic eruptions)

UNDERSTANDING POPULATION CHANGEUNDERSTANDING POPULATION CHANGE

SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN POPULATION, TERRITORY, RESOURCESPOPULATION, TERRITORY, RESOURCES

HOW DO POPULATION SHIFTS IMPACT HOW DO POPULATION SHIFTS IMPACT POLITICAL PATTERNS?POLITICAL PATTERNS?

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2008/

SPACE-TIMESPACE-TIME

Election results Election results by countyby county

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2008/

TERRITORY = RESOURCES = TERRITORY = RESOURCES = POWER = TERRITORYPOWER = TERRITORY

Types of territorialityTypes of territorialityState

(patriotism)

Ethnic(nationalism)

Religious(theocratism)

Racial(apartheid)

GEOPOLITICSGEOPOLITICS

ETHNIC CONFLICTS OVER TERRITORY AND RESOURCES

Regional Stability: Oil, Islam, and

Capitalism

BOUNDARY CONFLICTSBOUNDARY CONFLICTS

POTENTIAL RESOURCE CHALLENGESPOTENTIAL RESOURCE CHALLENGES

WATER AVAILABILITYWATER AVAILABILITY

BEFORE AFTER

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ISSUESENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ISSUES

THE POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGETHE POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

• Some 30% of our economy is tied to the environment.Some 30% of our economy is tied to the environment.• Scientific understanding and ongoing knowledge of Earth Scientific understanding and ongoing knowledge of Earth systems are key for well informed economic decision.systems are key for well informed economic decision.• Sustained and timely Earth observations are critical inSustained and timely Earth observations are critical in understanding the Earth and to support early warningunderstanding the Earth and to support early warning and more rapid decision making.and more rapid decision making.• A global approach to Earth observation is required.A global approach to Earth observation is required.• All countries can benefit from the Global Earth All countries can benefit from the Global Earth

Observation System of Systems Observation System of Systems - GEOSS- GEOSS

Earth Observation ImperativeEarth Observation Imperative

North American North American Drought Drought MonitorMonitor

UNDERSTANDING UNDERSTANDING CLIMATECLIMATE

Lots of rhetoric, very little infrastructure!

SOUTH AMERICASOUTH AMERICA

DUBAI – GLOBAL TRANSPORT HUB?

INTEGRATING OLD SPACES WITH INTEGRATING OLD SPACES WITH NEW INFRASTRUCTURE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE

Regional Development Policies

Iconography – cultural Iconography – cultural symbolismsymbolism

ANGKOR ANGKOR WATWAT

TAJ MAHAL

MATURE CULTURAL LANDSCAPES