National atlases: the influence of wealth and political orientation on content

Summary

Maps can be used to both represent and distort reality. National governments are one of the most prolific producers of map products and a nation's mapping policy determines what will be mapped, when, and how. In some instances, national governments intentionally modify maps to suit political and strategic goals. National atlases are demonstrations of a nation's character and pride and portray a nation to its own people and the world. This study examines the size, use of language, and subject content of 30 national atlases from among four groups of nations broadly representing distinct political and socioeconomic orientations: the West, the Eastern Bloc, the Independent Third World, and the Colonial Third World. Significant differences exist among the four groups, with the wealthier groups producing larger, more complex atlases in more languages. Subject content varies little among the four groups, suggesting that political orientation and wealth have little influence on the subject content of national atlases. Government mapping policy, in all countries, plays a critical role in the map products available to the public and invites careful study and scrutiny by cartographers and geographers.