ABSTRACT

This chapter concerns aspects of the organisation of authority throughout the state which may be influenced during their creation or operation by geographical factors, or may influence the geography of the state through their operation. The policies considered here are lay down the general principles of land and resource control; the detailed policies which influence the use made of land will be considered and dealing with policies of development. Administrative policies form a significant sector of state policies and should be studied by political geographers interested in this field. Geographers searching for geographical factors which were important in the decision to federate will usually find a multitude of reasons relating to defence, trade, economic development, access to the sea, complementary resources and a common ethnic origin. The geographic factors serve to persuade states that need a significant measure of local autonomy includes remoteness, ethnic differences, and specialised economies together with other factors may fostered a distinct regional identity.