How significant is a country’s geographic location in determining its long-term development?

1. Introduction

Given  that  several  geographic  factors  have  a  substantial  impact  on  income  levels and  growth,  this  essay  discusses  the  significant  relationship  among the geographic location and  economic  growth.  Furthermore,  it  appears  that  geography  affects  the  decision of  economic  policy  itself.  Many  of  the  geographical  places  where  modern economic  growth  is  impossible  have  been  found  to  have  high  population  densities and  rapid  population  growth.  Communities  in  remote  locations,  for  instance,  as well  as  those  in  tropical  regions  where  diseases are more  common,  must  pay significant  travel  costs  for  international  trade.  The  geography  of  economic  activity is  another  term  for  the  distribution  of  people,  production  and  consumption  of goods  and  services  across  a  territory.

Geographical  position  could  be  seen  as  a  gift  that  confers  strength  and  bliss  on  the  owner,  but  it  can  also  contribute  to  conflict  in  international  relations. Geographical  influences  on  the  acquisition  of  economic  power  are  particularly significant.  The  development  of   the  economy  is  effected  by  a  number  of elements,  including  the  availability  of  arable  land,  navigable  rivers,  ports,  the possibility  of  communication  between  different  regions  and  others.  As  was  the case  with  Africa,  geographic  “poor”  can  also  have  detrimental  effects  on development  (economic,  social  and  cultural).  In  fact,  it  is  argued  that  the  poor  horizontal fragmentation  of  the  African  continent,  with  the absence  of  many  significant  ports,  was one  of  the causes  of  underdevelopment  and  cultural,  economic, and  technological  backwardness  because  it  denied the  continent  the  opportunity  to  communicate  with  the  outside  world  and  foster trade.

2. Geographical Location  As   An  Important  Factor  Affecting  Development

Geographical  location  is  one  of  the  most  crucial  development  elements  since  it significantly  affects  access  to  markets.  The  foundation  of  every  great  empire  has been  trade  routes,  and  these  are  nearly  usually  marine.  There  are  major  exceptions such  as,  the  Mongol  empire  of  the  Middle  Ages  that  was  centered  on  the  Silk Road  that  connected  China  to  the  West.  Through  tolls  and  shipping  services, ports  can  generate  revenue.  Not  only  do  the  countries  lose  out  on  these  services if  they  do  not  have  access  to  the  ocean,  but  also  they  have  to  move  everything by  land,  which  is  far  more  expensive.  Access  to  ports  is  an  issue  for  countries like  Afghanistan,  Rwanda,  Malawi,  or  Bolivia.  Other  countries,  such  as  Ethiopia or  Lesotho,  are  not  only  landlocked,  but  mountainous  as  well,  making  trade  even more  expensive.

Since  the  dawn  of  civilization,  geographical  location  has  had  an  impact  on  the development  of  the  countries.  Years  ago,  biogeographical  factors  produced  a unique  path  for  development.  A  few  certain  areas  with  favorable  conditions  were the  first  to  develop  sedentary  agriculture  and  farming,  giving  them  an  advantage in  the  creation  of  classes  that  did  not  produce  food,  specialization  and  the accumulation  of  wealth.  Climate,  latitude and  landmass  were  among  the  identified characteristics  that  favored  biodiversity  in  terms  of  domesticated  plants  and animals.  The  dissemination  of  information  and  skills  was  also  aided by geographical  circumstances,  with  Eurasia  being  particularly  favored  in  this  regard. It  is  believed  that  differences  in  original  circumstances  (  going  back  to  the Neolithic  Revolution’s  beginning  )  still  exist  now  because  they  persisted  through time  due  to  urban  agglomeration  effects  and/  or   colonisation.

Moreover, a  nation’s  place  on  the  international  stage  as  well  as  the  development  of  its relationships  with  neighboring  nations  are  significantly  influenced  by  its geographic  location  and  configuration.  For  instance,  it  depends  whether  a  nation is  insular  or  continental,  low-lying  or  incredibly  dispersed  on  both  a  horizontal and  vertical  axis.  A  country’s  proximity  to  conflict  zones,  ethnic  conflicts,  major countries’  strategic  interests,   as  well  as  its  own  possession  of  critical  raw commodities  or  key  strategic  locations,  are  all  important  factors  (  ports,  airports, sea  straits,  etc).  Other  significant  power  factors  include  proximity  to  or  control over  major  sea  lanes  and  key  aspects.

Some  states  are  more  exposure  to  the  risk  of  being  conquered  by  other  countries due  to  their  geographic  location.  From  a  strategic  perspective,  certain  governments have  positions  that  are  more  significant  geographically  than  others.  The  country’s foreign  policy  is  seen  to  be  influenced  by  its  access  to  the  main  sea  lanes  and the  degree  to  which  the  shape  of  its  boundaries  exposes  it  to  or  shields  it  from the  possibility  of  assault  by  nearby  enemies.  Furthermore,  a  country’s  ability  to mobilize  its  armies  against  other  countries  depends  on  its  geographic  location, which  also  affects  climate  and  the  duration  of  the  growing  season  for  agricultural items.  The  type  and  scope  of  threats  and  challenges  to  a  state’s  security  are determined  by  their  geographic  position  in  conjunction  with  the  kind  of  regional structure  they  are  required  to  operate  within,  especially  in  the  case  of  tiny  states. A  minor  state’s  political  future  is  typically  determined  by  its  geographic  location and  interactions  with  major  powers.

It  is  worthy  to  be  mentioned  that  except  from  geographical  location,  climate, natural  resources  and  environmental  stability  have  a  significant  role  to  the development  of  countries.  The  fact  that  the  poorest  nations  are  located  in  the tropics,  where  it  is  hot,  the  soil  is  less  fruitful,  the  water  is  more  scarce  and where  diseases  thrive,  is  not  a  coincidence.  On  the  other  hand,  the  vast  expanses of  extremely  productive  land,  the  moderate  climate  and  abundant  rainfall  benefit Europe  and  North  America.  In  addition,  gold,  diamonds  and  oil  have  also contributed  to  South  Africa’s  development  of  the  continent’s  most  prosperous economy.  Finally,  it  could  not  be  disputed  that  certain  nations  have  more  stable environmental  conditions  than  others,  such  as  Bangladesh  and the  Philippines,  or in  Madagascar,  where  the  annual  cyclone  season  regularly  ruins  bridges  and  roads,  harms  railroads  and  refineries,  and  destroys  residences  and  accommodations near  the  coast.

3. The examples  of  Greece  and  Cyprus  regarding  the  relationship  between  geography  and  national  power  and  development

Due  to  its  unique  geostrategic  worth,  which  makes  it  beneficial  for  supporting the  strategic  interests  and  aspirations  of  the  big  powers  in  the  wider  region, Cyprus  has  faced  considerable  issues  of  conflicts  and  conquests  for  decades  or even  centuries.  For  military  troops conducting  operations  in  Asia  Minor,  the Middle  East,  North  Africa  and  the  Central Mediterranean,  in  particular,  Cyprus  serves as  a  sea  and  air  transport  zone.  In  addition to  serving  as  a  supply  facility  for  naval  and  air  forces  operating  in  the  Eastern Mediterranean,  it  also  serves  as  an  air bridge  intermediate  station  for  the  transportation  of  troops,  supplies  and  equipment from  Europe  to  the  Middle  East  and  North  Africa.  It  might  also  serves  as  a  staging  area  for  forces  or  health  losses  that  arrive  from  Asia  Minor,  the  Middle East,  or  the  larger  region  of  the  Indian  Ocean in  order  to  reassemble  and  depart or  return  to  the  west.

In  addition,  in  the  Balkan  region,  the  country  of  Greece  is,  from  a  geographical  point  of  view, in  a  privileged  position  compared  to  its  northern  neighbors.  Geography  motivates the  formulation  of  the  external  policy  of  the  country,  exploits  its  advantages, builds  the  relationships  of  mutually  beneficial  cooperation,  but  at  the  same  time emerges  crises.  Greece’s  geographic  location  at  the  southernmost  tip  of  the  Old continent,  enables  it  to  benefit  from  the  multifaceted  power  that  comes  with being  close  to  the  Balkan  countries,  the  Middle  East  and  Africa,  as  well  as  the waters  of  the  Eastern  Mediterranean  and  the  Libyan  Sea.  It  is,  in  general,  the exit  of  the  Balkan  peninsula  to  the  Mediterranean  (warm  seas),  with  the  ports  of  North  Greece,  such  as  the  port  of  Thessaloniki,  to  be  characterized  as  the  ports  of  the whole  Balkans.

All  these  elements  provide  Greece  and  Cyprus  with  advantages  and  possibilities of  influencing  the  surrounding  area  and  exercising  a  foreign  policy,  with  initiatives in  the  field  of  economy,  trade,  business,  education,  and  culture.

4. Conclusion – The importance  of  the  geographical  factor  today

It  is  certain  that  technological  developments  in  the  fields  of  transport, communications,  space  and  warfare  limit  or  change  the  factor  of  geography.  It is,  for  example,  obvious  that  the  Alps  were  a  different  value  obstacle  during  the Roman  Empire  than  they  were  during  the  Second  World  War.  Likewise,  the strategic  value  of  the  Strait  of  Gibraltar  has  changed  from  what  it  was  in  previous  centuries  or  even  a  few  decades  ago.  Undoubtedly,  this  differentiation is  more  pronounced  in  the  modern  era,  due  to  the  use  of  high-tech  systems.  The control  of  navigation  can  now  be  occurred  by  satellite  systems  or  radar,  from long  distances  and  with  absolute  precision  and  attacking  sea  targets  –  if  required –  can  be  achieved  from  distances  of   kilometers,  with  high  precision  missile systems  that  can  be  launched  from  bases  land,  by  ships  or  by  aircraft.

5. References

[1] Geography  and  Economic  Development [CID Working Paper No. 1

March 1999]

https://www.hks.harvard.edu/search?query=publications&advanced=&fq=&page=1

[2] Climate Change Is a Challenge For Sustainable Development

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/speech/2014/01/15/climate-change-is-challenge-for-sustainable-development

[3] The Economic Significance Of Natural Resources

https://www.oecd.org/general/searchresults/?q=geographic%20location&cx=012432601748511391518:xzeadub0b0a&cof=FORID:11&ie=UTF-8

[4] Strategy for the Western Balkans: EU sets out new flagship initiatives and support for the reform-driven region

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_18_561

[5] Why geopolitical risk management is a strategic opportunity

https://www.ey.com/en_gl/geostrategy/why-geopolitical-risk-management-is-an-opportunity