Mohammad Reza Hafeznia; Meysam Mirzaei Tabar
Abstract
Extended Abstract Introduction Conflict represents a dispute or war between two or more actors on a local, national, regional or global scale. Geographical factors and values play a fundamental role in conflicts. Actually, conflicts occur due to a combination of geographical, political, and power-related ...
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Extended Abstract Introduction Conflict represents a dispute or war between two or more actors on a local, national, regional or global scale. Geographical factors and values play a fundamental role in conflicts. Actually, conflicts occur due to a combination of geographical, political, and power-related parameters, which can be explained within the framework of geopolitics. Africa has long been involved in a variety of conflicts most of which relate to the 0-15-degreeNorthernlatitude of the continent. From 29 countries in the region, 15 are involved in 11 boundary and territorial conflicts. The present study seeks to find an answer for the question that what the geopolitical roots of boundary and territorial conflicts in the 0 – 15-degree north belt of Africa are? Materials & Methods The current study is considered to be a ‘Basic theoretical Research’ in terms of goals, and a “descriptive” study in terms of nature and method. In terms of attitude, it is classified as a “descriptive-analytic” research. Data collection is performed by documentary method using library resources. Qualitative method of data analysis is applied. Results & Discussion In 0 – 15-degree north belt of Africa, the following variables are discussedas rootsof boundary and territorial conflicts: “Territorial conflicts among different ethnical groups and tribes in border areas of different countries” are considered to be among the effective causes of conflicts in 5 countries and 4 cases including Somalia and Kenya; Kenya and Ethiopia; Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda; and the northern half of Kenya bordering Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda. “Territoriality and territorial expansionism of statesand their endeavor to conquer space and control its resources” are considered to be causes of conflicts in 12 countries and 6 casesincluding Ethiopia and Eritrea; Sudan and South Sudan; Cameroon and Nigeria; Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire; Equatorial Guinea with Gabon; and Uganda and area around the Albert lakein theDemocratic Republic of Congo. “Dispute over a strategic border area between countries” has been an effective variablein 8 countries and 4 casesincluding between Ethiopia and Eritrea over Assab port; Ethiopia with Egypt and Sudan over Nile; Cameroon and Nigerian over the Bakassi Peninsula; and Eritrean and Yemen over Hanish-Zukar archipelago. “Actions of colonial powers which result in determining and mapping territorial boundaries of countries” are considered to be among roots of conflicts in 18 countries and 10 casesincluding conflicts between Ethiopia and Eritrea; Ethiopia with Egypt and Sudan over Nile; Eritrea and Djibouti; Sudan and South Sudan; Cameroon and Nigerian over the Bakassi Peninsula; Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire; Equatorial Guinea and Gabon; ethnic and tribal conflicts in boundary regions of Somalia and Kenya; Eritrean and Yemen over Hanish-Zukar archipelago; and Uganda and area around the Albert lake in the Democratic Republic of Congo. “Settling of a minority group from the neighboring country in a disputed border region” has been among the causes of conflicts in 4 countries and 2 cases including conflicts between Cameroon and Nigerian, and Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. “Historical mentality and Nationalism” have been among effective variables in conflicts of 6 countries and 3 cases including conflicts between Ethiopia and Eritrea; Sudan and South Sudan; and Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. “Weak performance in dividing and exact demarking ofboundary” has been among influential causes of conflicts in 6 countries and 3 cases including conflicts between Ethiopia and Eritrea; Sudan and South Sudan; and Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. “Climate condition and climate change” has been among the causes of conflicts in 5 countries and 2 cases including conflict of Ethiopia with Egypt and Sudan over Nile; and ethnic and tribal conflicts in boundary regions of Somalia and Kenya. “Remote areas and Marginalization” have been among the causes of conflicts in 5 countries and 2 cases including ethnic and tribal conflicts in border regions of Somalia and Kenya; and the northern half of Kenya bordering Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda. Conclusion Geopolitical roots of boundary and territorial conflicts in the 0 – 15-degree north belt of Africafrom the end of the Cold War in 1991 to 2014 have been ranked based on their influence as follows: 1. Actions of colonial powers which results in determining and mapping territorial boundaries of countries; 2. Territoriality and territorial expansionism of statesand their endeavor to conquer space and control its resources; 3. Dispute over a strategic border area between countries; 4. Territorial conflicts among different ethnical groups and tribes in boundary regions of different countries; 5. Historical mentality and Nationalism; 6. Weak performance in dividing and exact demarking of boundary; 7. Climate condition and climate change; 8. Remote areas and Marginalization; 9. Settling of a minority group from the neighboring country in a disputed border region These roots are geopolitical in nature and the role of geopolitics, along with a combination of mutual relationshipsamong politics, geography and power is observedin each one of them. Due to the inclusiveness of the present study in introducing geopolitical causes of boundary and territorial conflicts, which have the potential of creating this type of conflicts in other regions of the world, the results of the present research are generalizable. Therefore, the results are generalizable to boundary and territorial conflicts in other parts of the worldwithin the framework of “the geopolitical theory of boundary and territorial conflicts”.
Mohammad Rauf Heydarifar; Naser Rezaie
Volume 23, Issue 89 , May 2014, , Pages 32-42
Abstract
Trend of security issues in Iran’s western borders, including Kermanshah province shows some threats and problems caused by borders’ intrinsic attributes. The present study seeks to present an appropriate study of the geographic-political situation of the province’s borders, help to ...
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Trend of security issues in Iran’s western borders, including Kermanshah province shows some threats and problems caused by borders’ intrinsic attributes. The present study seeks to present an appropriate study of the geographic-political situation of the province’s borders, help to manage present threats and opportunities by a more comprehensive understanding of borders features and facilities, and suggests appropriate solutions to face and neutralize these threats. The study affects our understanding of the province’s borders, helps in gaining a strategic position for the province, and influence Iran-Iraq relations. We hope that this research opens an appropriate and effective way to develop borders and increase our knowledge of Kermanshah province from a geopolitical standpoint (which has not been addressed comprehensively).
Mohammad Rauf Heydarifar
Volume 21, SEPEHR , February 2013, , Pages 77-89
Abstract
Globalization is happening and an ambiguous future is approaching. There are controversial perspectives regarding the influence of this process on geographic space. Some try to prove the importance of geography and its influence and sustainability in social life, while others do not predict a bright ...
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Globalization is happening and an ambiguous future is approaching. There are controversial perspectives regarding the influence of this process on geographic space. Some try to prove the importance of geography and its influence and sustainability in social life, while others do not predict a bright future for geography and the concept of territory. Movements unbound to a space, non-territorial entities, organizations and companies bespeak of a new kind of social relation. An emerging phenomena is evolving which will eliminate concepts like space, boundary, territory, district, area, diversity and difference and implies the death or end of geography. Therefore, fundamental investigation in the nature and reality of geography is one of the main critical responsibility of geographers, to which this article seeks to contribute. Neorealism and future studies approach are applied.
Mohammad Ra'uf Heydarifar; Hamid Reza Jalilian
Volume 20, Issue 80 , February 2012, , Pages 88-96
Abstract
The border is the main factor in defining the country and is one of the cornerstones of the science of political geography, but following many discussions about open borders in the European Union, today we witness border elimination issues within the framework of country elimination. Though globalists ...
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The border is the main factor in defining the country and is one of the cornerstones of the science of political geography, but following many discussions about open borders in the European Union, today we witness border elimination issues within the framework of country elimination. Though globalists - which form a wide range - herald the existence of a steady process of border elimination in the future, but we can simultaneously witness the strengthening of the borders in some parts of the world. In this regard, this article describes the reconciliation and geo-economic and geopolitical linkages on the northern borders of the United States with regard to the process of globalization based on a neorealist approach. This means that, with economic liberalization within NAFTA, security needs to address the various threats at the border have become more and more important. The satisfactory solution to this has been a technological one that has brought the geo-nuclear and geopolitical linkage and reconciliation along the border.
Rasul Rabbani; Alireza Ghaffari
Volume 20, Issue 79 , November 2011, , Pages 88-93
Abstract
The Persian Gulf is an area in the Middle East that is geopolitically important and attracted by world powers due to its unique features throughout history. In this article, the author seeks to investigate the explanation of the conditions, characteristics, issues and problems of the Gulf states as well ...
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The Persian Gulf is an area in the Middle East that is geopolitically important and attracted by world powers due to its unique features throughout history. In this article, the author seeks to investigate the explanation of the conditions, characteristics, issues and problems of the Gulf states as well as the causes of failure in the Persian Gulf states to establish a relationship between them at high levelsو and tries to provide an appropriate solution to prevent possible crises. This region has always been paid great attention by international powers due to the availability of special oil reserves and a special strategic location, due to which the powers in adopting their foreign policy inevitably have to take into account the effective components of the countries of the region and its potential conditions.
Accordingly, one of the issues that is important and somehow plays a key role in determining the foreign policy of the countries of the region is the Crisis. For this purpose, one of the issues that needs to be addressed in this regard, is to provide appropriate strategies and to adopt an active strategy to manage and overcome existing crises (Management Crisis) with regard to the need to create, maintain and consolidate the mutual or multilateral regional relations and the necessity of determining the strategy for political, economic and cultural cohesion of the neighboring countries in order to fulfil the security of the Persian Gulf region.
