Chapter 7 of 10All chapters
Chapter 7 of 10
Borders and countries
Lines with histories.
How borders form
Some follow rivers and mountain ranges, others were drawn by colonial administrators along lines of latitude with no regard for who lived there.
- Straight borders usually indicate external imposition.
- Enclaves and disputed areas remain common; counting countries is not neutral.
Landlocked states
More than forty countries have no coast, which raises trade costs and makes them dependent on neighbours for access to ports.