Here is the original discussion topic:This semester we have covered many topics in the field of PoliticalGeography. What concept (from Chapters 15 – 34) do you find the mostinteresting. Defend your position.

I have already written the original post. Below are two posts made by students. Please just type a 100-150 word response to EACH of these two posts, totaling in 300-400 words all together.

Post number one:

Chapter 22’s topic of the nation and nationalism was the political

geography topic I found the most interesting from the chapters we read.

Nationalism is a force that may seem insignificant, however its power

has lent itself to some of the most influential events in the history of

the world. Nationalism and its manipulation have led to wars,

presidential candidates winning elections, and many more incredibly

significant events. Because of the scale to which nationalism is

relevant, its power, and its ability to last generations I find that the

nation and nationalism was the most interesting concept.

Nationality is spoken of in the text as “one of the mostuniversally legitimate articulations of group identity and one of themost enduring and passive forms of modern particularism.” (Antonsich,Page 298). Nationality and nationalism serves to divide the world, butto unite the people who live in it. Just about every individual in theworld identifies with a nation and this concept of a belonging with agroup stirs up an incredibly unique feeling in the population of thenation it affects. This belonging affects how people interact with thosewho identify as the same nationality, but it even more-so affects howindividuals interact who are of different nationalities. Nationalismcreates the idea of “us, them, and we” (Antonsich, Page 298). This ideaof division is what makes Nationalism so integral to politicalgeography.

Knowing someone’s nationality, and their sense of nationalismcan help you discover incredibly essential information about them andhow they view the world. Someone who identifies with a strong sense ofnationalism in the United States may act with an individualist attitude,whereas someone who identifies with a strong sense of nationalism inChina would act with a more communal attitude. When it is determinedthat someone identifies to a nation, and holds a sense of nationalism inthat nation then it is easier to predict how they will respond tocertain actions and ideas.

Another reason that nationality is so significant is that itis not going anywhere. Historians and political scientists agree thatbecause of the level of comfort and security that nationalism makes anindividual in a much larger world feel, the concept will continue togrow and evolve (Antonsich, Page 304). National belonging is somethingthat will continue to be significant in a world with so many differentreligious, cultural, and personal identities, and its power to movepeople should not be underestimated.

Post number two:

I chose Social Media as the most interesting.

The relevancy of the impact that social media has had onevents that have transpired over the last eighteen months should beenough to support my position. You do not have to scroll down far onGoogle if you were to search for events impacted by social media. As amatter of fact, you could just go to C-SPAN and watch the leaders of thegiant technological companies testify about how their websites arebeing used for political gains.

America’s intelligence agencies have stated that Russiawas heavily involved in promoting political propaganda on social medialeading up to the 2016 Presidential election. These statements have costtaxpayers billions of dollars due to multiple investigations in theSenate, the House of Representatives, and the special counsel. Somecould argue that it has also been a constant distraction for the currentadministration. It has also fueled a lot of late night comedy fortelevision.

Speaking of television, Hollywood has been devastated bythe impact of social media. Persons have been removed from their owncompanies. Actors have been fired from production sets. Celebrities havecome forward by the dozens to present allegations of inappropriatebehavior, sexual harassment, and sexual assault. Social media has evenled to elected officials in Washington, D.C., resigning.

Finally, I would present the power of social media as itrelates to gun violence. The students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Highhave utilized social media to raise awareness about gun violence. Theyhave used social media to organize students across the country toprotest gun violence. They are also leveraging social media to influenceour current elected officials and the voters who put them in office.