1 How is the world divided territorially?

If we consider the political map of the world at different points in history, we are presented with a fluctuating picture that shows a range of different territorial units forming, falling away and reforming again over time. For example, Figure 1 shows this in relation to the British and Russian Empires throughout the nineteenth and into the twentieth century. The fortunes of successive empires were one formative influence on how the world has been divided up territorially throughout history. The Achaemenians of ancient Persia, the Romans in Europe, the Mongols across Asia and the Songhai Empire in West Africa were all large, imperial administrations carving up vast swathes of territory that were often continental in scale. The colonial empires of European powers also had a major impact on the map of the world and their mark is still felt in contemporary international relations, with colonial-era administrative divisions forming the basis of many modern states.

Later, you will be introduced to a case study that illustrates the importance of territory in international relations, looking at the development of the modern Middle East state system. This is a part of the world where historic and contemporary conflicts over territory have, in part, resulted from still contested borders previously drawn up by external powers. In Europe too, we only need look at the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, based in part on the pretext of Moscow seeking to redress perceived historical wrongs of a previous Soviet administration, to see how such borders remain contested. Before the Middle East case is examined further, there are some important, foundational ideas that you will be introduced to that provide the platform for understanding the ‘world of states’ that we are currently living in.