Afshin Karami
Abstract
Efforts to contain epidemics and find a long-term solution through vaccines have collided with a range of political issues related to health systems, politics, human rights, governance, mobility and borders. Therefore, the emergence of epidemics has provided an opportunity for political geography to ...
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Efforts to contain epidemics and find a long-term solution through vaccines have collided with a range of political issues related to health systems, politics, human rights, governance, mobility and borders. Therefore, the emergence of epidemics has provided an opportunity for political geography to follow the geopolitical foundations of health and health systems with a more serious look. Epidemic management is a spatial issue for two reasons: First, disease treatment is always a socio-spatial issue because the authorities either seek to impose quarantine measures or limit disease carriers. Second, the disease is revealed by a set of actors and human and non-human forces that deal with space and place. Therefore, diseases have become part of the geopolitical realm because they reveal the desirability, feasibility, and durability of national, regional, and global governance structures. The concept of quarantine as a type of activity that leads to the division and limitation of geographical space can be one of the most controversial topics in geopolitics. But until now, due to the predominance of the humanist perspective in border studies, it has not been able to attract the attention of researchers in the field of geopolitics. This research is written with the aim of investigating the challenges and geopolitical consequences of border quarantine during epidemics and with a descriptive-analytical method. This study specifically focuses on the corona virus epidemic and the geopolitical and border consequences of quarantine during this epidemic. But at the same time, he is not oblivious to other epidemics and their possible effects and mentions them repeatedly. The results show that the mainstream of border and geopolitical studies should also include insights related to the effects of borders on the distinct challenges that non-human beings may create at the borders.
Abolfazl Kavandi kateb; Mohammad Reza Hafeznia; Hatam Qaderi; Qolamhossein Qolamhosseinzadeh
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Introduction
The political management of space is the study of the methods of administration, control, observation and track in geographic space. The political administration of geographic space in different scales is intended to realize the goals from the strategic point of view, ...
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Extended Abstract
Introduction
The political management of space is the study of the methods of administration, control, observation and track in geographic space. The political administration of geographic space in different scales is intended to realize the goals from the strategic point of view, considering the physical, demographic and economic limitations. The political management of the space has been focused in this paper at the national level. The state is the most important political organization representing the people with the broadest goals and duties, and it is responsible for the accurate performance of national policies. In fact, the state is formed to serve the people and administrate the space; it is responsible for supplying the needs of people. Thus, the high performance of the state in all sections is considered and has been focused in all political theories. The duties and principles of the political management of space at the national level have brought theoretical and practical achievements, and different theories are formed in this relation as such.
The political management of space at the national level has both fixed and variable patterns. In the fixed pattern, the states' fundamental goals include independency, territorial integrity, the optimal political management of the state, foreign policy, national interests, the state and citizens identity; the increase in the national power; state security, the role of observation, the political management of space, the creation of state communicational network, organization, planning, development, the establishment of geographic and social justice, the optimal management of the environment, and the creation of public welfare that are common among different states. In the variable pattern, the political management of the space, dependent on the state political system, different patterns such as centralized, federal and etc. are effective in the state administration. Nine factors are effective in the political management of the space, including political system and decision making organs, dominant political thought and ideology, social, economic, administrative and cultural systems, geographic and geopolitical characteristics, and the international system. Regarding the above factors, different patterns of the political management of space are formed in different states within different periods.
The research is intended to investigate and compare the indexes and duties of the political management of national space from the view point of different theories to propose a new model. Most of the humanities majors have focused on issues such as how to construct a state, manage it optimally, and survive it in a global anarchic situation. In spite of scientific developments and the propose of new definitions of indexes and common patterns to manage the state optimally and development of the state, there are different patterns of governing. But the states share the same interests in this relation. Although many of the goals are common among the states, some of them are prioritized by the states and are seen as vital goals, while some of them are neglected due to the state's situations.
Methodology
The research method is descriptive-analytic and the indexes and the functional duties of political system are framed in six main indexes. These indexes include vital, political, economic, cultural, social, and geographic goals. Each of these main indexes has some subsets; therefore, 41 indexes are proposed in a model called circular model. Although the states have different goals and duties, all of them can be placed and developed in this model. The indexes are extracted after considering and criticizing different theories of political management of the national and functional space of the state.
Conclusion
The circular model proposes the priorities, strategies, and goals of the political management of state. In the first circle, vital goals are placed, which are characterized considering the current and perpetual priorities and the needs of the society. Then, the circles from (a) to (∞) are depicted based on the priorities. To consider s systematic point of view regarding the priorities, being radial is another characteristic of the model which can cover all the priorities and goals of the state and society, because priorities would be different and cover all the facets. The goals and priorities located in inner circles are more important than others. Priorities of place can be changed due to the time and place requirements, and they are relocated from center to infinity or infinity to the center. The level of success for the state depends on realizing all the fundamental goals optimally. In fact, the success of each state shows its power and development.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf; Mohammad Hadi Pooyandeh; Mosayeb Gharebigi
Abstract
Extended abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
The term “state” owing to its simultaneous presence in two epistemological and scientific fields named political science and political geography has assumed multiple meanings, applications, natures and synonyms, in a way that it has stirred a kind of chaos and ...
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Extended abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
The term “state” owing to its simultaneous presence in two epistemological and scientific fields named political science and political geography has assumed multiple meanings, applications, natures and synonyms, in a way that it has stirred a kind of chaos and lack of consensus, especially among political geographers. According to various texts, “state” is an abstract entity, intertwined with a selection of notions, values, and thoughts concerning human and spatial issues. Accordingly, the present research tries to analyze the spatial-philosophical aspects of the word “ state” and answer the question as to the reasons why this word has gained varied and sometimes contradictory synonyms and meanings (especially in the fields of political science and political geography in Iran).
2. METHOD
In terms of collecting the data, the present research is a qualitative one, and in terms of its nature is regarded as a foundational research. With respect to the method of processing and interpreting the data, Meta-analysis has been used. Meta-analysis is a collection of methods used to resolve the contradictions created by researches conducted concerning a single topic. Meta-analysis converts the findings of various researches to a joint scale, investigates the relation among research specifics and the findings and finally, proposes an overarching suggestion for converging the studies. The present research, in line with its objective which concerns the investigation of divergences and conceptual, theoretical and semantic contradictions of the term “state” among political geography’s thinkers and theoreticians and its attempt to bring viewpoints, in an overarching manner, together can be categorized as a meta-analysis.
3. DISCUSSION
Every concept in geography, considering the comprehensive and holistic epistemological nature of this science, gains a “comprehensive and universal “feature, where no other rational trajectory neither can nor should be traversed, before unwinding the interwoven elements and components of this twisted skein. Nonetheless, it seems that any attempt to resolve such a conflict would be irrational. The only rational thing remains paying attention to the “spatial, comprehensive, holistic and multiplicity” basis in geographical concepts which stem from its epistemology. It seems that incorporation of spatial, geographical structures and factors such as “ land”, “ country”, “ nation”, “ regime” and “ governance” have paved the way for its plurality of sense and profusion of meaning, to the degree that meanings and concepts of “state” are closer to reality that in addition to structure-agency views, incorporate “spatial” and “holistic geographic” views.
So on the basis of the epistemological feature of geography (to which political geography belongs) the conceptual expansion and long range of inclusiveness in political geography is neither too surprising nor paradoxical. The word “state” contains simultaneous and multifold other meanings such as “ land”, “ government” , “ governance” and “ people” and unless these elements are included and combined in creating a whole, we cannot use the word “state” for it. Thus, only when the biologic and cultural feature specific to humans, i.e. territoriality, adopts a national (concerning a population with a given and fixed identity) and political (a country, when all the elements of the administration, governance, execution and management or government are organized) quality can it represent a word called “state” in the political geography.
4. CONCLUSION
State is an abstract concept, intertwined with a collection of concepts, values, and thoughts regarding human and spatial issues and owing to its simultaneous presence in two disparate epistemological and scientific fields called political science and political geography it has assumed multiple meanings, applications, natures and synonyms. The word state, in its general sense, has a meaning of “condition” and “situation”. This concept, in order to materialize in the fields under discussion, has no other way than to be manifested in its material components. Among the components of “state”, the concepts of nation, regime, and country has been used, many times, interchangeably thus causing multiple meanings for the concept of “state” such as country, regime, administrative, executive branch and etc. The findings of this research indicate that each of these concepts (country, regime and nation), in different situations where the concept of “state” can be situated, can carry its semantic features. For instance, when there is a geographical and territorial understanding of “state” , it comes very close to the concept of “country” and when its administrative-executive aspect is intended, it referrers to the government .So, the profusion of the meanings of “state” is not in contradiction with its main sense. To put it simply, “state” in some situations is synonymous with country and in others with government or political society. This does not damage its abstract and main meaning, since without these components, “state” has no meaning and in order to become materialized and manifest in various situations, it is dependent upon its constituent elements.
