Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/319

 STL'DIES IN POLITICAL AREAS

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which is situated in the broadest part of the continent and embraces the largest river basin of the world. In the remaining portion, we find the next group of states in point of size, varying from two to five times the area of Germany, from the 1,125,000 square miles of Argen- tine to the 294,000 square miles of Chili ; so that only a tenth of the whole remains for the far smaller domains, which range from Ecuador's 116,000 square miles to French Guiana's 30,000 square miles.

Let us review the division of the continents with independent states according to the three classes usually adopted on the basis of size : continental states, with an area of 2,000,000 square miles and over ; medium states, from 80,000 to 2,000,000 square miles ; and small states.

Continental

Medium

Small

Europe

I

7

16

Asia

7

g

Africa

JC

The Americas

7

12

Australia

I

Oceanica

If we leave out of consideration the continent of Africa, which is only in the initial stage of political development, in all the rest we find the states of continental size in the preponderance. Moreover, these show a much closer relationship in point of extent than do the medium and smaller states ; for the latter utilize the given area in a more acci- dental manner, while the former fill it out to its natural boundaries, that is, from sea to sea, and therefore stand in closer touch with their territory. Where the same fact holds for medium and smaller states, it is to be explained, not by the size, but by the shape of the continent; wherefore, the very smallest states and colonies leaving out of consid- eration members of federations are located without exception on islands or strips of coast. The conclusion to be drawn from these smaller and older stages of development'would only become apparent if we could construct a table of areas existing before the evolution of the numerous large and medium states; such a table would show every- where an unqualified preponderance of small and smallest states in North America, Australia, and l^orthern Asia, even excluding from the list all medium states. But the material, unfortunately, is lacking for the reconstruction of those conditions. Still, we know enough to be