Geography for the 21st Century

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Geography for the 21st Century
Understanding our Around the World Destinations
Dr. David J. Keeling Department of Geography
and Geology Western Kentucky University, Bowling
Green, KY The American Geographical Society
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A GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVE ON PEOPLES AND PLACES

• Analysis (physical and cultural landscapes)
• Interpretation (what are the issues?)
• Theories, models, and best practices
• (scientific method)
• Policy influence (how can we help?)

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READING THE GLOBAL LANDSCAPEINTERPRETING WITH A
GEOGRAPHERS EYE
LOCATIONS PLACES INTERACTIONS CONNECTIONS REGIONS
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Geography is essential for understanding
current international events..

• Underlying forces that influence current
  international relationships
• population growth and distribution
• natural resource exploitation, depletion, and
  degradation (disparity in wealth of nations)

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Geography is essential for understanding
current international events..

• competition among ethnic groups frustration
  and violence
• territorial nationalism
• transnational terrorism
• globalization vs. localization
• democratization - effective governance

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The Seven Revolutions
WHY GEOGRAPHY MATTERS!

• Population Change
• Geopolitics
• Economic Globalization
• Technological Shifts
• Knowledge Development
• Conflict Resolution
• Resource Management

Source Center for Strategic International
Studies http//csis.org
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PLATE TECTONICS AS FRAMEWORK

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

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UNDERSTANDING POPULATION CHANGE
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SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN POPULATION,
TERRITORY, RESOURCES
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HOW DO POPULATION SHIFTS IMPACT POLITICAL
PATTERNS?
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SPACE-TIMEElection results by population
http//www-personal.umich.edu/mejn/election/2008/
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SPACE-TIME Election results by county
http//www-personal.umich.edu/mejn/election/2008/
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TERRITORY RESOURCES POWER TERRITORY
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Types of territoriality
State (patriotism) Ethnic (nationalism) Religiou
s (theocratism) Racial (apartheid)
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GEOPOLITICS
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ETHNIC CONFLICTS OVER TERRITORY AND RESOURCES
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Regional Stability Oil, Islam, and Capitalism
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BOUNDARY CONFLICTS
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POTENTIAL RESOURCE CHALLENGES
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WATER AVAILABILITY
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INDONESIAN TSUNAMI 2004
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ISSUES
BEFORE
AFTER
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THE POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
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Earth Observation Imperative

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

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UNDERSTANDING CLIMATE
North American Drought Monitor
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U.S HIGH-SPEED INITIATIVES?
Lots of rhetoric, very little infrastructure!
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SOUTH AMERICA
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MEGA-PROJECTS CREATING NEW LINKAGES
DUBAI GLOBAL TRANSPORT HUB?
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INTEGRATING OLD SPACES WITH NEW INFRASTRUCTURE
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EUROPEANUNION
Regional Development Policies
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Iconography cultural symbolism
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ANGKOR WAT
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TAJ MAHAL
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MATURE CULTURAL LANDSCAPES
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THANK YOU!