Geopolitics and Population Dynamics: An Overview
Geopolitics and Living Space
The Third Reich’s expansionist ideology sought new territories, primarily in Eastern Europe, at the expense of Slavic peoples. This geopolitical strategy led to the development of a new political science focused on the state.
Climate Zones and Vegetation
Tundra and Taiga
The tundra and taiga, or boreal forest, are characterized by forest formations. In Canada, “taiga” refers to the area closest to the Arctic tree line, while “boreal forest” designates the area south of this ecosystem.
Xeric Zone
Xeric zones experience a significant water deficit due to both low rainfall and high evapotranspiration. Drought-tolerant plants dominate, forming steppes of varying density, sometimes leading to complete wilderness. Steppes are typically located in continental interiors with intermediate rainfall levels between deserts and forests. They feature large seasonal temperature variations, few trees, grassy vegetation, and occasional bushes in more arid areas.
Temperate Zone
The temperate zone is characterized by moderate weather, making it the most habitable. It generally lies between 30° and 60° latitude, representing 20% of Earth’s land area, mostly in the Northern Hemisphere.
Selva
The selva is a warm and rainy area. Moist soil supports the growth of valuable trees like cedar and mahogany, making it a target for logging. Vines and parasitic plants are common, with vines seeking support from taller trees and parasites obtaining sustenance from other plants.
Savannah
The savannah is a tropical biome with summer rains. Vast grassy plains turn yellow in the dry season. Diverse fauna includes insects, reptiles, and arachnids. Clayey, impermeable soil characterizes the savannah. Alternating wet and dry seasons, with a very dry dry season that promotes wildfires, are typical. Heat accelerates grass growth, slows tree growth, speeds up soil mineralization, and favors plants adapted to these conditions.
Tropical Zone
The humid tropical zone experiences high heat and humidity. The average temperature is around 18°C year-round, with a range of no more than 10°C. Abundant vegetation thrives in these conditions. This zone represents 20% of Earth’s land surface and is located near the equator, between 16° and 17° latitude north and south. It can extend further into continents under favorable conditions, such as monsoons.
Population Dynamics
Absolute and Density
Absolute population is the total number of people in a given area. Population density is the ratio of inhabitants to living space and available resources. It’s calculated by dividing the absolute population by the area (in square kilometers).
Structure and Evolution
Population structure encompasses biological and social characteristics like age, sex, marital status, birthplace, nationality, language, education, economic status, and fertility. Population evolution involves dynamic variables like births, deaths, migration, and related rates, proportions, and ratios. Earth’s carrying capacity limits population growth.
Potentially Active Population and Unemployment
The potentially active population comprises those of working age (15-65). Registered unemployment, recorded by institutions like INAEM (for Aragon, Spain), reflects the total actively seeking employment. Measuring unemployment involves two main approaches: the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and administrative records of job applications. Registered unemployment figures, being more comprehensive, capture all job seekers, including those not contributing to social security.
Economic Sectors
The primary sector involves processing natural resources into unprocessed primary products. The secondary sector processes food and raw materials through manufacturing. The tertiary sector provides services to meet population needs.
Urban Development
Preindustrial to Postindustrial Cities
Preindustrial cities saw modest concentration until the Industrial Revolution. They were often located at centers or crossroads. Postindustrial cities are characterized by sprawling growth, exceeding boundaries and creating metropolitan areas and conurbations.
Central Business District (CBD)
The CBD is the city’s business center, typically located downtown. It has few residents, high traffic during work hours, and expensive land, limiting the types of activities that can thrive there.
Urban Production Units
: it is a different space of the city that extends beyond the urban continuum, mixing land uses and lifestyles of the city with crop plants, but not permanent houses as second homes.