Political Geography - Term Paper Example

Landlocked states have historically existed after the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. They were created after empires had been defeated and their territories had to be carved. The collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1991 led to the division of the country into a number of republics (Glassner, 2003). Several of these republics do not have access to coastal ports which forces to remain under the clout and influence of Russia. A number of Eastern European States do not have access to the seaports but this has been mitigated by their joining of the European Union.

This allows them to have access to seaports and trade with some of the largest economies of the world. The independence of several African states led to many of them not having access to the seaports. Many of these countries have experienced political, economic, and social problems because they have been destabilized by their powerful neighbors. Landlocked states are categorized according to their geographical location. Asia has a number of countries which are landlocked. The number of landlocked states in Asia is few in number as compared with Europe and Africa.

The Central Asian republics which obtained independence from the USSR in 1991 are dependent upon Russia for their exports and imports. Afghanistan does not have any sea outlet which forces it to depend upon Iran and Pakistan for trade (Glassner, 2003). Other countries include Nepal and Laos which are dependent upon their more powerful neighbors for trade and commerce. A number of Eastern European states which became independent after the revolutions of 1989 are encircled by terrain. Previously these nations were dependent upon the USSR for their exports and imports.

The USSR used this as a leverage to dominate and influence its satellite states that did not have access to the coastal areas. Africa has the largest number of landlocked states in its various regions