Is the Mercator projection to blame for bad public policy and geographical ignorance? It is true that the almost universally used Mercator world map (named for Gerardus Mercator, the 16th century cartographer who created it) relatively reduces the size of regions near the equator and expands the size of areas near the poles. When third world countries are misrepresented, they’re likely to be valued less.”
But it may be best remembered from a 2001 episode of “The West Wing,” in which an enthusiastic academic tells the White House that the Mercator map has “fostered European imperialist attitudes for centuries.” As he explains, “In our society we unconsciously associate size with importance and even power. The anti-Mercator case continues to fascinate us, making regular appearances in outlets as diverse as The Economist, Upworthy, The Guardian and Business Insider.
Most egregiously, critics note, it distorts the world by making Africa look much smaller, relative to other continents, than it really is.
If you’ve heard of the Mercator projection, the term for the ubiquitous rectangularly rendered maps found in almost every American classroom, you probably know about its flaws. With all the deadly serious issues of social and economic injustice confronting Africa, it’s amazing how many people remain concerned with the continent’s size on our maps.
