Geographic Theory and Political Redistricting

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTii

DECLARATIONiii

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW1

Theoretical Framework1

Introduction1

Geographic Theory1

Plans for Redistricting4

Redistricting Methods4

Constraints in Redistricting5

Recent Example of Redistricting Process6

Application of Geographic Theory for Redistricting Processes8

Past Studies on Geographic Theory and Redistricting16

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

Theoretical Framework

The geographic theory and the political redistricting is an important topic that has been discussed in the past to great extent. The emergence of the geographic theory has made it possible to understand the purpose of the political redistricting. The study aims at knowing the application of geographic theory on the political redistricting as well as the outcomes that is faced by the territories later on. By making use of the geographic theory, it is possible for the states to successfully implement the redistricting processes over the world. The main purpose of redistricting is to alter the political outcomes of the parties that are largely related to the geographic position of the state.

Introduction

The study takes into account the past studies related to the geographic theory and the impact of this geographic theory on the redistricting outcomes. The study looks at the use of the geographic theory for undertaking the redistricting process in the world while at the same time also analyse the use of this geographic theory on the redistricting outcomes. The geographic theory is mainly concerned with setting up the boundaries and limits of a certain area that make the political parties to operate within that system appropriately.

Geographic Theory

The emergence of geographical theory was an inevitable product of the desire to systematize existing geographic knowledge and to use that systematized base to explore new areas of knowledge. Although the usefulness of theory and predictive models in geography is by now a matter of record, it was not always the case. The usefulness and need for disputed, despite the oft repeated argument that theories of location explained the laws of spatial distributions, theories of interaction explain the laws of movement and spatial behavior, theories of growth and development explain the nature of past, present, and future states of being, and theories of decision-making and choice explain observable regularities and repeatable trends in individual, group, institutional and governmental behaviors. Hudson (1 969) argued that a theory represents a direct attempt to provide a logical system or nesting Place for previously noted regularities- in his case concerning changes in rural settlement patterns. While Hudson's task was specific, the sentiment he expressed has widespread relevance for the emergence and adoption of geographical theories generally (Jacobson, 1989).

With the realm of geographical theory, two singular paths were ...