Diversity Amid Globalization

Les Rowntree is a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, where he researches and writes about environmental issues. This career change comes after three decades of teaching both Geography and Environmental Studies at San Jose State University in California. As an environmental geographer, Dr. Rowntree’s interests focus on international environmental issues, biodiversity conservation, and human-caused global change. He sees world regional geography as a way to engage and inform students by given them the conceptual tools needed to critically assess global issues. Dr. Rowntree has done research in Iceland, Alaska, Morocco, Mexico, Australia, and Europe, as well as in his native California. Current writing projects include a book on the natural history of California’s coast, as well as textbooks in geography and environmental science. Martin Lewis is a Senior Lecturer in History at Stanford University. He has conducted extensive research on environmental geography in the Philippines and on the intellectual history of global geography. His publications included Wagering the Land: Ritual, Capital, and Environmental Degradation in the Cordillera of Northern Luzon, 1900-1986 (1992), and, with Karen Wigen, The Myth of Continents: A Critique of Metageography (1997). Dr. Lewis has traveled extensively in East, South, and Southeast Asia. His current research focuses on the geographical dimensions of globalization. Marie Price is an Associate Professor of Geography and International Affairs at George Washington University. A Latin American specialist, Marie has conducted research in Belize, Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, and Bolivia. She has also traveled widely throughout natural resources use, environmental conservation, and regional development. In 2006 she was a Visiting Scholar at the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., conducting research on immigration to the world’s major cities. Dr. Price brings to Globalization and Diversity a special interest in regions as dynamic spatial constructs that are shaped over time through both global and local forces. Her publications included articles in the Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Geographical Review, Journal of Historical Geography, CLAG Yearbook, Studies in Comparative International Development, the Brookings Institution Survey Series, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research and Focus. William Wyckoff is a geographer in the Department of Earth Sciences at Montana State University specializing in the cultural and historical geography of North America. He has written and co-edited several books on North American settlement geography, including The Developer’s Frontier: The Making of the Western New York Landscape (1998), The Mountainous West: Explorations in Historical Geography (1995) (with Larry M. Dilsaver), Creating Colorado: The Making of a Western American Landscape (2006). In 2003 he received Montana State’s Cox Family Fund for Excellence Faculty Award for Teaching and Scholarship. A World Regional Geography instructor for 26 years, Dr. Wyckoff emphasizes in the classroom the connections between the everyday lives of his students and the larger global geographies that surround them and increasingly shape their future.

Brief Contents 1     Diversity Amid Globalization 

2    The Changing Global Environment

3     North America

4     Latin America

5    The Caribbean

6    Sub-Saharan Africa

7     Southwest Asia and North Africa

8     Europe

9    The Russian Domain

10    Central Asia

11    East Asia

12     South Asia

13     Southeast Asia 

14     Australia and Oceania

 

Detailed Table of Contents



 1     Diversity Amid Globalization 

Diversity Amid Globalization: A Geography for the Twenty-first Century 

     Converging Currents of Globalization 

     Advocates and Critics of Globalization 

     Diversity in a Globalizing World 

Geography Matters: Environments, Regions, Landscapes 

     Human–Environment Interaction 

     Areal Differentiation and Integration 

     Regions 

     Space into Place: The Cultural Landscape 

     Scales: Global to Local 

     Themes and Issues in World Regional Geography 

Population and Settlement: People on the Land 

     Population Growth and Change 

     The Demographic Transition 

     Migration Patterns 

     Settlement Geography 

Cultural Coherence and Diversity: The Geography of Tradition and Change 

     Culture in a Globalizing World 

     When Cultures Collide 

     Language and Culture in Global Context 

     A Geography of World Religions 

Geopolitical Framework: Fragmentation and Unity 

     Global Terrorism 

     Nation-states 

     Centrifugal and Centripetal Forces 

     Boundaries and Frontiers 

     Colonialism and Decolonialization 

     International and Supranational Organizations 

Economic and Social Development: The Geography of Wealth and Poverty 

     More- and Less-Developed Countries 

     Indicators of Economic Development 

     Indicators of Social Development 

     The Vision of Sustainable Development 

Setting the Boundaries: The Metageography of World Regions 

Geographic Tools: From Satellites to Shovels

Global to Local: Is This Nebraska or India? The Globalization of Back-Office Jobs

Cityscapes: Exploring the World’s Urban Places

 

2    The Changing Global Environment  Geology and Human Settlement: A Restless Earth 

     Plate Tectonics 

     Geologic Hazards: Earthquakes and Volcanoes 

Global Climates: An Uncertain Forecast 

     Climatic Controls 

     World Climate Regions 

     Global Warming 

Water on Earth: A Scarce and Polluted Resource 

     The Global Water Budget 

     Flooding 

Human Impacts on Plants and Animals: The Globalization of Nature 

     Biomes and Bioregions 

     Tropical Forests and Savannas 

     Deforestation in the Tropics 

     Deserts and Grasslands 

     Temperate Forests 

Food Resources: Environment, Diversity, Globalization  

     Industrial and Traditional Agriculture 

     The Green Revolution 

     Problems and Projections

Global to Local: Globalization, Trade Agreements, and the Environment 

Preserving Nature Through International Agreements: The Case of Antarctica 

Geographical Tools: Reconstructing Past Environments to Understand Global Change 

Local Voices: Via Campesina and Food Sovereignty 

 

3     North America  Environmental Geography: A Threatened Land of Plenty 

     The Costs of Human Modification 

     The Price of Affluence 

     A Diverse Physical Setting 

     Patterns of Climate and Vegetation 

     Natural Processes and Natural Hazards 

Population and Settlement: Refashioning a Continental Landscape 

     Modern Spatial and Demographic Patterns 

     Occupying the Land 

     North Americans on the Move 

     Settlement Geographies: The Decentralized Metropolis 

     Settlement Geographies: Rural North America 

Cultural Coherence and Diversity: Shifting Patterns of Pluralism 

     The Roots of a Cultural Identity 

     Peopling North America 

     Culture and Place in North America 

     Patterns of North American Religion 

     The Globalization of American Culture 

Geopolitical Framework: Patterns of Dominance and Division 

     Creating Political Space 

     Continental Neighbors 

     The Legacy of Federalism 

     A Global Reach

Economic and Social Development: Geographies of Abundance and Affluence 

     An Abundant Resource Base 

     Creating a Continental Economy 

      North America and the Global Economy 

     Persisting Social Issues 

Setting the Boundaries 

Local Voices: Romare Bearden and the Changing Black Experience

Geographic Tools: Housing Affordability and the U.S. Census

Cityscapes: Miami

Geography in the Making: The Growing Global Presence of the U.S. Military

Global to Local: The Pacific Northwest and the Global Economy

 

4     Latin America  Environmental Geography: Neotropical Diversity 

     Environmental Issues Facing Latin America 

     Western Mountains and Eastern Shields 

     River Basins and Lowlands 

     Climate 

Population and Settlement: The Dominance of Cities 

     The Latin American City 

     Patterns of Rural Settlement 

     Population Growth and Movements 

Patterns of Cultural Coherence and Diversity: Repopulating a Continent 

     Demographic Collapse 

     Patterns of Ethnicity and Culture 

     The Global Reach of Latino Culture 

Geopolitical Framework:Redrawing the Map 

     Iberian Conquest and Territorial Division 

     Regional Organizations 

Economic and Social Development: Dependent Economic Growth 

     Development Strategies 

     Primary Export Dependency 

      Latin America in the GlobalEconomy 

     Social Development 

Setting the Boundaries 

Local to Global: Can Eco-Friendly Coffee Promote Biodiversity?

Local Voices: Life in Rio de Janeiro’s “City of God”

Geographic Tools: Participatory Mapping

Geography in the Making: The Competing Geographies of Free Trade

Cityscapes: Life in the Streets of Ciudad Juárez

 

5    The Caribbean  Environmental Geography: Paradise Undone 

     Environmental Issues 

     The Sea, Islands, and Rimland 

     Climate and Vegetation 

Population and Settlement: Densely Settled Islands and Rimland Frontiers 

     Demographic Trends 

     The Rural–Urban Continuum 

Cultural Coherence and Diversity: A Neo-Africa in the Americas 

     The Cultural Imprint of Colonialism 

     Creating a Neo-Africa 

     Creolization and Caribbean Identity 

Geopolitical Framework: Colonialism, Neo-Colonialism, and Independence 

     Life in the “American Backyard” 

     Independence and Integration 

Economic and Social Development: From Cane Fields to Cruise Ships 

     From Fields to Factories and Resorts 

      Social Development 

Setting the Boundaries 

Geographic Tools: Tracking Hurricanes

Cityscapes: In the Streets of Havana

Global to Local: The Caribbean Carnival Around the World

Geography in the Making: Maroons Under Assault

Local Voices: Fernando Mateo’s Shuttle to Santo Domingo

 

6    Sub-Saharan Africa  Environmental Geography: The Plateau Continent 

     Africa’s Environmental Issues 

      Plateaus and Basins 

     Climate and Vegetation 

Population and Settlement: Young and Restless 

     Population Trends and Demographic Debates 

     Patterns of Settlement and Land Use 

     Urban Life 

Cultural Coherence and Diversity: Unity Through Adversity 

     Language Patterns 

     Religion 

     Globalization and African Culture 

Geopolitical Framework: Legacies of Colonialism and Conflict 

     Indigenous Kingdoms and European Encounters 

     European Colonization 

     Decolonization and Independence 

     Enduring Political Conflict 

Economic and Social Development: The Struggle to Rebuild 

     Roots of African Poverty 

     Links to the World Economy 

     Economic Differentiation Within Africa 

     Measuring Social Development

     Women and Development 

Setting the Boundaries 

Local Voices: The Sound of Africa

Geographic Tools: Mapping Risky Behavior  to Fight HIV/AIDS

Cityscapes: Accra in the Global Economy

Geography in the Making: Darfur Undone

Global to Local: The Used Clothing Trade

 

7     Southwest Asia and North Africa  Environmental Geography: Life in a Fragile World

     Legacies of a Vulnerable Landscape 

     Regional Landforms

      Patterns of Climate 

Population and Settlement: Changing Rural and Urban Worlds 

     The Geography of Population 

     Water and Life: Rural Settlement Patterns 

     Many-Layered Landscapes: The Urban Imprint

     A Region on the Move 

     Shifting Demographic Patterns 

Cultural Coherence and Diversity: Signatures of Complexity 

     Patterns of Religion 

     Geographies of Language 

     Regional Cultures in Global Context 

Geopolitical Framework: Never-ending Tensions 

     The Colonial Legacy 

     Modern Geopolitical Issues 

     An Uncertain Political Future 

Economic and Social Development: Lands of Wealth and Poverty 

     The Geography of Fossil Fuels 

     Regional Economic Patterns 

     Issues of Social Development 

     Global Economic Relationships 

Setting the Boundaries 

Geographic Tools: Assessing Earthquake Hazards in Turkey

Cityscapes: Fez, Morocco

Local Voices: The Egypt of Naguib Mahfouz

Global to Local: The Marlboro Man Arrives in Istanbul

Geography in the Making: The New Israeli Security Barrier

 

8     Europe  Environmental Geography: Human Transformation of a Diverse Landscape 

     Environmental Issues, Local and Global, East and West 

     Landform and Landscape Regions 

     Europe’s Climates 

     Seas, Rivers, Ports, and Coastline 

Settlement and Population: Slow Growth and Rapid Migration 

     Natural Growth: Beyond the Demographic Transition 

     Migration to and Within Europe 

     The Geography of “Fortress Europe” 

     The Landscapes of Urban Europe 

Cultural Coherence and Diversity: A Mosaic of Differences

     Geographies of Language 

     Geographies of Religion, Past and Present 

     European Culture in a Global Context 

Geopolitical Framework: A Dynamic Map 

     Redrawing the Map of Europe Through War 

     A Divided Europe, East and West 

     The Balkans: Europe’s Geopolitical Nightmare  354

Economic and Social Development: Integration and Transition 

     Europe’s Industrial Revolution 

     Rebuilding Postwar Europe: Economic Integration in the West  

     Economic Integration, Disintegration, and Transition in Eastern Europe 

Setting the Boundaries 

Geographic Tools: Landscape Restoration in England

Cityscapes: Berlin Reinvents Itself for the Twenty-first Century

Local Voices: Basque Separatism

Geography in the Making: Terrorism in Europe

Global to Local: Bananas, Beef, and U.S.–EU Trade Wars

 

9    The Russian Domain  Environmental Geography: A Vast and Challenging Land 

     A Devastated Environment 

     A Diverse Physical Setting

Population and Settlement: An Urban Domain 

     Population Distribution 

     Regional Migration Patterns 

     Inside the Russian City 

     The Demographic Crisis 

Cultural Coherence and Diversity: The Legacy of Slavic Dominance 

     The Heritage of the Russian Empire 

     Geographies of Language 

     Geographies of Religion 

     Russian Culture in Global Context 

Geopolitical Framework: Remnants of a Global Superpower 

     Geopolitical Structure of the Former Soviet Union 

     Current Geopolitical Setting 

     The Shifting Global Setting 

Economic and Social Development: An Era of Ongoing Adjustment 

     The Legacy of the Soviet Economy 

     The Post-Soviet Economy 

     Growing Economic Globalization 

Setting the Boundaries 

Geographic Tools: Mapping Russian Forests

Cityscapes: St. Petersburg

Local Voices: Exploring Russian Cultural Identity

Geography in the Making: The Growing Isolation of Russian Kaliningrad

Global to Local: The Tale of Two Siberias

 

10     Central Asia Environmental Geography: Steppes, Deserts, and Threatened Lakes of the Eurasian Heartland 

     Destruction of the Aral Sea

     Other Environmental Issues 

     Central Asia’s Physical Regions 

Population and Settlement: Densely Settled Oases Amid Vacant Lands 

     Highland Population and Subsistence Patterns 

     Lowland Population and Subsistence Patterns 

     Population Issues 

     Urbanization in Central Asia 

Cultural Coherence and Diversity: A Meeting Ground of Disparate Traditions 

     Historical Overview: An Indo-European Hearth? 

     Contemporary Linguistic and Ethnic Geography

     Geography of Religion

     Central Asian Culture in Traditional and Global Contexts 

Geopolitical Framework: Political Reawakening in a Power Void 

     Partitioning of the Steppes

     Central Asia Under Communist Rule  439

     Current Geopolitical Tension 

     International Dimensions of Central Asian Tension 

Economic and Social Development: Abundant Resources, Devastated Economies 

     Economic Development in Central Asia 

     Social Development in Central Asia 

Setting the Boundaries 

Geographic  Tools: Remote Sensing, GIS, and the Tragedy of the Aral Sea

Cityscapes: Life on the Streets of Samarkand

Global to Local: Louisiana Oil Culture in Central Asia

Geography in the Making: Preparing for Afghanistan’s Presidential Election

Local Voices: An Uzbek Militant Renounces Violence

 

11   East Asia Environmental Geography: Resource Pressures in a Crowded Land 

     Flooding, Dam-Building, and Related Issues in China 

     Other East Asian Environmental Problems 

     East Asia’s Physical Geography 

Population and Settlement: A Region of Crowded Basins 

     Japanese Settlement and Agricultural Patterns 

     Settlement and Agricultural Patterns in China, Taiwan, and Korea 

     East Asian Agriculture and Resource Procurement in Global Context

     Urbanization in East Asia 

Cultural Coherence and Diversity: A Confucian Realm? 

     Unifying Cultural Characteristics 

     Religious Unity and Diversity in East Asia 

     Linguistic and Ethnic Diversity in East Asia 

     East Asian Cultures in Global Context 

The Geopolitical Framework and Its Evolution: The Imperial Legacies of China and Japan 

     The Evolution of China

     The Rise of Japan

     Postwar Geopolitics 

     The Global Dimension of East Asian Geopolitics 

Economic and Social Development: An Emerging Core of the Global Economy 

     Japan’s Economy and Society 

     The Newly Industrialized Countries 

     Chinese Development 

     Social Conditions in China 

Setting the Boundaries 

Cityscapes: Life on the Streets of Tokyo

Global to Local: Golden Arches East

Geographic Tools: The East Asian Gazetteer and the Reconstruction of Historical Geography

Geography in the Making: The North Korea Crisis

Local Voices: China’s Rural Poor and the Lure of the City

 

12     South Asia Environmental Geography: Diverse Landscapes, from Tropical Islands to Mountain Rim

     The Film Star and the Poacher King 

     Environmental Issues of South Asia

     The Four Subregions of South Asia 

     South Asia’s Monsoon Climates 

Population and Settlement: The Demographic Dilemma 

     The Geography of Family Planning 

     Migration and the Settlement Landscape 

     Agricultural Regions and Activities 

     Urban South Asia 

Cultural Coherence and Diversity: A Common Heritage Rent by Religious Rivalries 

     Origins of South Asian Civilizations 

     The Caste System

     Contemporary Geographies of Religion 

     Geographies of Language 

     South Asians in a Global Cultural Context 

Geopolitical Framework: A Deeply Divided Region 

     South Asia Before and After Independence in 1947 

     Ethnic Conflicts in South Asia 

     International and Global Geopolitics 

Economy and Social Development: Burdened by Poverty 

     South Asian Poverty 

     Geographies of Economic Development 

     Globalization and India’s Economic Future 

     Social Development

Setting the Boundaries 

Geographic Tools: Survey Work on Contraceptive Use in West Bengal

Cityscapes: Life on the Streets of Mumbai (Bombay)

Local Voices: Appreciating and Resenting Globalization

Geography in the Making: War in Waziristan

Global to Local: Discreet Globalization in Channai

 

13     Southeast Asia  Environmental Geography: A Once-Forested Region 

     The Tragedy of the Karen 

     The Deforestation of Southeast Asia 

     Fires, Smoke, and Air Pollution 

     Patterns of Physical Geography 

Population and Settlement: Subsistence, Migration, Cities 

     Settlement and Agriculture 

     Recent Demographic Change 

     Urban Settlement 

Cultural Coherence and Diversity: A Meeting Ground of World Cultures 

     The Introduction and Spread of Major Cultural Traditions 

     Geography of Language and Ethnicity 

     Southeast Asian Culture in Global Context 

Geopolitical Framework: War, Ethnic Strife, and Regional Cooperation 

     Before European Colonialism 

     The Colonial Era 

     The Vietnam War and Its Aftermath 

     Geopolitical Tension in Contemporary Southeast Asia 

     International Dimensions of Southeast Asian Geopolitics 

Economic and Social Development: The Roller-Coaster Ride of Globalized Development 

     Economic Leaders and Laggards 

     Globalization and the Southeast Asian Economy 

     Issues of Social Development 

Setting the Boundaries 

Geographic Tools: Statistical Comparisons and the Assessment of Philippine Deforestation

Cityscapes: Metro Manila, Primate City of the Philippines

Local Voices: Linguistic Politics in East Timor

Geography in the Making: Political Upheavals in Burma (Myanmar)

Global to Local: Village Poverty and the Global Maid Business in Indonesia

 

14     Australia and Oceania  Environmental Geography: A Varied Natural and Human Habitat 

     Environments at Risk 

     Australian Environments 

     New Zealand’s Varied Landscape 

     The Oceanic Realm

Population and Settlement: A Diverse Cultural Landscape 

     Contemporary Population Patterns 

     Legacies of Human Occupancy 

     Modern Settlement Landscapes

     Diverse Demographic Paths 

Cultural Coherence and Diversity: A Global Crossroads 

     Multicultural Australia 

     Patterns in New Zealand 

     Mosaic of Pacific Cultures 

Geopolitical Framework: A Land of Fluid Boundaries 

     Creating Geopolitical Space

     Persisting Geopolitical Tensions 

     A Regional and Global Identity? 

Economic and Social Development: A Hard Path to Paradise 

     Uncertain Avenues to Affluence 

     The Global Economic Setting 

     Enduring Social Challenges 

Setting the Boundaries 

Global to Local: Multinational Mining, Indigenous People, and Environment Damage in Papua New Guinea

Geographic Tools: Fire Ecology and Management in Australia

Cityscapes: Apia, Capital of Samoa

Local Voices: Tuvalu Talks About Global Warming

Geography in the Making: The Political Overtones of Australia–China Trade

 

Glossary 

Index