border landscape definition ap human geography

Since tensions between India and China continue to exist, and there is a record of Sino-Indian wars being fought as recently as 1962 along the China-India border, the importance of Nepal and Bhutan as potential buffer states becomes quite clear. Even though Nepal and Bhutan have their own systems of governance and armed forces, these countries might be regarded as buffer states between India in the south and China in the north. To prevent wars and conflicts, many modern day states across the world have been given the status of buffer states. Siam (between the British Colonial Empire in south Asia and French Indochina) and the colony of Georgia (separating Spanish-controlled Florida from the British-controlled American colonies), were other notable examples of buffer states during the colonial era. For example, Afghanistan acted as the buffer state between the Russian Empire to the north and the British Colonial Empire (in what are now India and Pakistan) to the south.

Often, these historic buffer states were created as a result of the presence of natural barriers along imperial extensions, such as tall mountains or dense, dangerous forests, or even exceptionally violent-natured native inhabitants. These areas, or buffer states, were left to local governance by the natives, and helped maintain the balance of power. Since the colonial empires of these powers often approached each others at close quarters, thereby increasing the chances of conflict, the powers decided on leaving certain areas in between the empires unconquered to act as a 'buffer'. The concept of buffer states surfaced in the 17th Century, when the then major Europeans powers of England, France, Spain and Portugal started exploring and exploiting vast tracts of land on foreign continents, and establishing their own empires in such areas. Still, the existence of a buffer state may allow for the rival countries to solve their problems through peaceful negotiations and diplomatic actions instead of engaging in direct armed warfare. Armed forces of either of the rival powers do not exist in the buffer area, and war often ensues when either or both of the powers try to invade the territory of the buffer state.

DefinitionĪ buffer state is an area lying between the borders of two powerful and potentially hostile powers. What Is The Definition Of A Buffer State? Map showing supposed Himalayan buffer states of Bhutan (red) and Nepal (orange) situated between global superpowers India (green) and China (blue).

Border landscape definition ap human geography