The Political and Economic Power of Maps: How Global Borders are Shaped

The fact that maps prepared on a global scale and geographical names do not merely reflect physical realities, but are also directly shaped by political and economic preferences, is once again brought to light by recent developments.

Africa Map Decision at the United Nations

The United Nations General Assembly approved a draft map that depicts the world differently from traditional formats and portrays the African continent larger, closer to its true size.

In the vote held, 164 countries voted in favor, 6 countries abstained, and only 1 country voted against.

Geographical Name Changes in the USA

In the United States, the federal administration made changes in the naming of certain water bodies and geographical areas within the scope of periodic trade and political processes.

While regulations were made in the names of regions such as Lake Ontario and the Gulf of Mexico upon the instructions of President Donald Trump, this situation led to different practices between technology companies and map providers.

Projection Problems in Two-Dimensional Maps

During the process of transferring the three-dimensional global world onto two-dimensional planes, various geographical distortions and proportion errors inevitably occur.

While the long-used Mercator projection is criticized for showing regions close to the equator smaller, the Equal Earth projection supported by the UN offers more accurate proportions.

The Political and Historical Dimension of Cartography

Experts emphasize that maps are not only geographical guides, but also act as time capsules reflecting the political preferences and power relations of eras.

The determination of borders and names directly affects how societies perceive the world and shapes global politics.