THE WORLD MAP REVISITED: How the world political map came to be as it is today, and why it is a great deception.

The role of the colonial powers in creating the colourful mosaic of states we see today is considered, and why the state system will continue to evolve. The world maps we love and cherish are arguably not the best way to see the world. For example land boundaries only reveal their true character when seen at larger scales. The hugely significant extension of state jurisdictions into the oceans is also described, but the process has gone almost unnoticed because the new reality of ocean boundaries is rarely shown on our world maps.

NOTE: The lecture will be accompanied by an exhibition of different types of world map on loan from local collectors.