Recent Developments in Political Geography, II

With the field of political geography defined on the lines indicated in the preceding instalment of this article, its content may be outlined in terms of the study of a single state area. Naturally, such studies of different states may lead to the comparative study of state areas, just as regional studies may lead to a comparative science of regions. The outline which follows represents perhaps a minimum, including only those topics which I think are unquestionably to be included. I. Descriptive analysis of the state A. Description or analysis of the state as a whole 1. Size 2. Form and shape 3. Location in relation to other state areas 4. Boundaries B. Analysis of the internal structure of the area 1. Natural landscape areas, or provinces 2. Cultural landscape areas, or provinces 3. Areal distribution of significant population groups 4. Location of the administrative center (capital) 5. Geographic relations of the different areas thus analyzed, to each other and to the capital