World Regional Geography: A Development Approach

by Clawson, David L.; Fisher, James; Aryeetey-Attoh, Samuel A; Theide, Roger; Williams, Jack F.; Johnson, Merrill L.; Johnson, Douglas L.; Airriess, Christopher A.; Jordan-Bychkov, Terry G.; Jordan, Bella Bychkova

• ISBN13: 9780131015326
• ISBN10: 013101532X
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-01-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

Organized around the theme of human development, this book is written by experts on each region of the world to create a comprehensive volume on world regional geography that presents a vital overview of the topic, providing a deep understanding of the character of the world's people. A rich art package assists the reader in gaining a personal feeling for the inner essence of each world region. This book covers the geographic, social, and economic issues for each world region, including the United States and Canada; Europe; Russia and the Eurasian States; Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands; Asia; the Middle East and North Africa; Africa south of the Sahara; and Latin America. This book can serve as an excellent tool for any reader who is interested in the world's regions and its people; it is an excellent reference work for geographers, cultural anthropologists, and others working in those fields.

Table of Contents

Basic Concepts And Ideas

Geography: Many Worlds to Explore

The Evolution of Geography

The Subdivisions of Geography

Geography and Other Disciplines

Careers in Geography

Geography and Development

Two Worlds

Summary: Patterns and Interactions

People and Resources

People

The Resource Concept

Summary: Population Prospects

Physical and Cultural Components of the Human Environment

Elements of the Physical Environment

Humanity and Culture

Social and Political Organization

Economic Activity

Economic Organization and Modernization

Summary: A Complex but Critical Relationship

More Developed and Less Developed Countries: An Overview

The Widening Gap

Measurements of Wealth

Characteristics of More Developed and Less Developed Regions

Theories of Development

Rostow's Stages

Summary: An Unequal World

United States And Canada

The United States and Canada: The Bases for Development

Physical Geography

Resources for Industrial Growth and Development

Early Settlement: European Culture Cores

Westward Expansion and Receding Settlement Frontiers

Demographic Characteristics

Summary: Resources for Anglo-American Development

The United States and Canada: Economic Growth and Transformation

Agriculture

Manufacturing in the United States and Canada

Industrialization and Urbanization

Summary: Continued Growth and Transformation

The United States and Canada: Problems in a Developed Realm

Income Disparity and Regional Problems

African Americans

Hispanic Americans

Other Minorities

Canadian Identity and Unity

Melting Pot, Stew Pot, or What? Summary: Canada and the United States in Retrospect

EUROPE

The European Habitat

Landforms

Climate Regions

Hydrogeography

Mineral Resources

Environmental Modifications

Environmental Crises

Summary

Europe: Culture, Society, Economy

Religious Regions

Language Patters

Population

Level of Living

Immigration

Europe's Cities

Primary and Secondary Industries

Industrial Rejuvenation

Service Industries

Agriculture

Summary

Europe: Political Geography

Separatism

Germany

France

Switzerland and Belgium

Yugoslavia: A Balkan Tragedy

The United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

The European Union

Summary

Russia And The Eurasian States Of The Former Soviet Union

Russia and the Eurasian States of the Former Soviet Union: Land and People

Natural Regions

Landform Regions

Population

Summary: A Vast Expanse

Russia and the Eurasian States of the Former Soviet Union: Economic Activity

The Soviet Approach

Planned Development

Soviet Economic Reforms

The Challenge of Development for the New Eurasian States

Economic Development Potential

Industrial Resources

Industrial Regions

Agriculture

Summary: An Unknown Future

Australia, New Zealand, And The Pacific Islands

Australian, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands: Isolation and Space

Australia

New Zealand

The Pacific Islands

Summary

Asia, East By South

Asia, East by South: A Physical and Human Overview

The Monsoon Climate: Wet and Dry Seasons

Population and Favored Environments

Unity and Diversity: Past and Present

Colonial and Modern Economics

Development Indicators

Summary: A Glimpse of the Developing World

Japan: An Economic Giant

Resources: Compensating for Scarcity

Human Resources: The Hybrid Culture

Japan's Modern Era (1868 to the Present)

Japan's First Transformation: Rise to Power

Japan's Second Transformation: Rising from the Ashes of War

The Consequences of Japan, Inc Japan's Third Transformation: Charting a New Course? Summary

China and Its Pacific Rim Neighbors

Environmental Diversity

Spatial Evolution of Chinese Culture

East Meets West

Transformation Under Communism

Transformation of Agricultural Production

Industry and Regional Economic Growth

Urbanization and Migration

Population Contours

Environmental Sustainability

Challenges to China's Future

China's Pacific Rim Neighbors

Summary: Forging a New Development Era

Southeast Asia: Unity in Diversity

Areal Organization and Environmental Patterns

Pre-European Culture and Economy

Colonialism and Development

Modern Economic Growth and Stagnation

Summary: Economic Transformation

South Asia: The Past in the Present

Environmental Contrasts

The Precolonial Heritage

Colonial Transformation

Independence and Nation-State Building

Population Contours of India

Agricultural Development in India

India's Industrial Economy

Urban India

Pakistan

Afghanistan

Nepal

Bangladesh

Sri Lanka

Summary: Development Prospects

The Middle East And North Africa

The Middle East and North Africa: Physical and Cultural Environments

Physical Geography of the Region

Land-Use Patterns

Historical Overview

Summary: A Region of Subtle Diversity

The Mediterranean Crescent

Large States, Integrated Economies

Small States, Unique Economies

Summary: Conflict in the Crescent

The Gulf States

Regional Characteristics

Development and the Petroleum Economy

The Impact of Oil

Petroleum Powerhouses: Isolation and Globalization

Summary: Oil, Development, and Traditional Values

Africa South Of The Sahara

Africa South of the Sahara: Legacy of Continuity and Change

Environmental Diversity

Precolonial Africa

European Colonialism

Contemporary Sub-Saharan Africa

Development Trends in Sub-Saharan Africa

Summary

West, Central, and East Africa: Diversity in Development

The Physical Environment

West Africa

Central Africa

East Africa

Summary: Diversity in Regional Development

Southern Africa: Development in Transition

Physical-Environmental Characteristics of the Region

Countries of Southern Africa

South Africa: Country in Transition

Summary: Socioeconomic and Political Transformations

LATIN AMERICA

Latin America: Physical Diversity and Cultural Heritage

Physical Diversity

Iberian Heritage

The Colonial Period

The Era of Independence

Modern Latin America

Summary: A Region in Need of Change

Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean: Lands of Contrasts

Mexico: A Nation in Search of Stability

Central America: Region of Fragile Democracies and Widespread Poverty

The Caribbean: Region of Cultural Diversity and Limited Physical Endowments

Summary: The Struggle for National Identity

South America: Regions of Uneven Development

Andean South America: Lands of Physical and Social Fragmentation

Southern South America: Lands of Economic Growth

Brazil: Latin America's Potential Economic Giant

Summary

Map Scale and Projections

Selected National Statistics

Conversion Factors

Glossary

Credits

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

We live in a most remarkable age, when satellites can circle the globe in a matter of minutes and electronic messages can be sent halfway around the world in just a few seconds. For many, these are the best of times, with rapid advances in health care extending human life expectancies to record high levels and material comforts that were unheard of even a generation ago now being commonplace. It is easy in such conditions to overlook the fact that most of the world's people live in less industrialized regions characterized by hunger, malnutrition, poor health, and limited educational and economic opportunities. Many also live under circumstances of restricted personal freedom owing to political, racial, religious, or gender-based prejudice. What is even more troubling is the fact that the income gap between the technologically more developed and less developed nations is increasing. The purpose of this volume is to introduce students to the geographical foundations of development and underdevelopment and to help us recognize the contributions that the study of geography can make to environmentally and culturally sustainable development. As we study the lives of others through this text, we will learn not only about them but also come to better understand ourselves. We will come to realize further that development, or the improvement of the human condition, consists of far more than increased economic output and that each person and society contributes in a positive way to the cultural diversity and richness of the earth. College students are in a unique position to increase their understanding of the world and to use that knowledge to benefit themselves and others. Through the study of world regional geography, we begin to comprehend the issues involved in the pursuit of world peace, preservation of the environment, improved health, and higher levels of living. In fact, the Association of American Geographers, the National Geographic Society, the American Geographical Society, and the National Council for Geographic Education have devoted significant resources and effort to improving geographic awareness. Even the U.S. Congress has cited geographic education as critical to understanding our increasingly interdependent world. This eighth edition ofWorld Regional Geographyis dedicated to college students who are seeking a better understanding of our complex and challenging world. It is written for both majors and nonmajors and does not require an extensive background in geography. The basic regional structure of the seventh edition has been retained, including a multiple author approach that permits each region to be discussed by a scholar who is an expert in that area. Although our regional specializations vary, we are united in our dedication to expanding geographical awareness and to contributing to the development of the peoples of both the more and less industrialized nations. World Regional Geographyopens with four chapters that consider geography as a discipline, population and resources, physical and cultural elements of the environment, and the world condition as it relates to economic and human development. Eight additional parts--organized into twenty-three chapters--follow, structured within a regional framework. Within this regional framework, students are introduced to basic geographical and developmental concepts. Although the use of this text as an entity is encouraged, its organization allows a variety of teaching strategies. As time requires, sections treating historical or environmental processes, or specific regions, can be selectively emphasized or deleted. In a two-term sequence, the book facilitates consideration along continental or regional divisions or along the lines of more industrialized-less industrialized countries. The suggested further readings at the end of each part can then be used to supplement the text; table and figure reference