Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
The Union is a patchwork of states with many different
ethnic traditions and histories of confl ict and competition,
and some in Europe express concern over losing traditional
state powers. Economic success and growing well-being
tend to submerge hesitancy and differences, but in the face
of diffi cult economic or social times, divisive forces can, and
have, reasserted themselves. Moreover, as the EU gets big-
ger, it becomes increasingly diffi cult for individual states
(even powerful ones) to shape the direction of the union.
And some citizens in smaller states such as Denmark and
Sweden worry about getting lost in the mix.
Another diffi cult problem involves Turkey. Some
western Europeans would like to see Turkey join the EU,
thereby widening the organization's reach. The govern-
ment of Turkey has long sought to join, but many Greeks
are hesitant to support Turkish membership because of
the long-standing dispute between Greece and Turkey
over Cyprus and a number of islands off the Turkish coast.
Other EU members have expressed concern over Turkey's
human rights record, specifi cally its treatment of Kurds
and its reluctance to recognize the extent of the mass kill-
ing of Armenians in World War I. Behind these claims lies
an often-unspoken sense among many Europeans that
Turkey is not “European” enough to warrant membership,
perhaps rooted in a historical and cultural tendency to
defi ne Muslims as the “Other.” The debate within the EU
Figure 8.23
Member States of the United Nations.
This map shows charter members, members after
1945 (with dates of entry), and nonmembers of the United Nations.
Data from:
the United Nations,
www.un.org
GREENLAND
U.S.
(Alaska)
60
°
CANADA
40°
40°
UNITED STATES
ATLANTIC
BERMUDA
OCEAN
BAHAMAS 1973
MEXICO
Tropic of Cancer
CUBA
JAMAICA
1962
BELIZE 1971
DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC
ST. KITTS & NEVIS 1983
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA 1981
DOMINICA 1978
ST. LUCIA 1979
BARBADOS 1966
ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
1980
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 1962
SURINAME 1975
FRENCH GUIANA
20°
20°
U.S.
(Hawaii)
HAITI
PUERTO
RICO
HONDURAS
GUATEMALA
EL SALVADOR
GRENADA
1974
NICARAGUA
PACIFIC
COSTA RICA
VENEZUELA
PANAMA
COLOMBIA
GUYANA
1966
0°
Equator
ECUADOR
OCEAN
PERU
BRAZIL
BOLIVIA
20°
20°
20°
PARAGUAY
Tropic of Capricorn
THE UNITED NATIONS
ARGENTINA
CHILE
URUGUAY
Charter members, 1945
40°
40°
40°
40°
Members after 1945 with
dates of entry
Nonmembers
160°
140°
120°
80°
40°
60°
60°
60°
60°
60°
SOUTHERN
OCEAN
0
1000
2000
3000 Kilometers
0
1000
2000 Miles
