Unit 4 Political Patterns and Processes

African Union (AU)

An organization of African nations pursuing greater political and economic integration across the continent.

antecedent boundary

a boundary that existed before the cultural landscape emerged and stayed in place while people moved in to occupy the surrounding area.

Arctic Council

1996 Members include countries with territory in the Arctic Promotes sustainable development
Dedicated to protecting the regions environment.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

a trade alliance that promotes trade and economic integration among member nations in Southeast Asia

autonomous region

a defined area within a state(country) that has a high degree of self-government and freedom from its parent state

Berlin Conference

A meeting from 1884-1885 at which representatives of European nations agreed on rules and the division/colonization of Africa during the time period of imperialism. These colonies were strictly controlled politically and economically for the benefit of industrializing European countries

choke point

a strategic, narrow waterway between two larger bodies of water OR a strategic land route that can be easily controlled or cut off

Colonialism

Attempt by one country to establish settlements and to impose its political, economic, and cultural principles in another territory from 1500-1800s.

consequent boundary

A type of subsequent boundary that is drawn to accommodate existing linguistic, cultural, or religious boundaries

Cultural cohesion

The capacity of different national and ethnic groups to make a mutual commitment to live together as citizens of the same state.

Defined Boundary

boundary is created in agreement between two parties in a treaty or other legal document

Delimited Boundary

A boundary, DRAWN on a map, and agreed upon.

Demarcated Boundary

actual placing of a political boundary on the physical landscape by means of fences, barriers, signs, etc.

demilitarized zone

A region where no military forces or weapons are permitted.

Democratization

the spread of representative government to more countries and the process of making governments more representative

Devolution

when a central government authority grants more political power to a subnational region within their territory

Ethnic cleansing (genocide)

the systematic killing, torturing, or removal of persons with the intention of eliminating a specific racial or ethnic group

ethnic nationalist movement

Ethnic, racial, and nationalist movements seek to advance group‐based politics in relation to their distinct identities. At different times movements can switch interchangeably between being ethnic, racial, or nationalist in character.

ethnic separatism

The advocacy of a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, or racial separation from the larger group usually expressed by the promotion of regional autonomy.

Ethnonationalism

the tendency for an ethnic group to see itself as a distinct nation with a right to autonomy or independence (positive in a nation-state, negative in multi-nation state).

European Union (EU)

an economic association established in 1957 by a number of Western European countries to promote free trade among its members.

failed state

a state whose political or economic system has become so weak that the government is no longer in control.

Federal State

An internal organization of a state in which the national government shares power with subnational units of local government. Examples: the United States, Mexico

geometric boundary

Political boundaries that are formed by arcs or straight lines(usually latitude or longitude lines) irrespective of the physical and cultural features of the land it passes through.

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

Imperialism

domination by one country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region, a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or economic policy or military force.( 1800s to the present)

Independence Movements

The process of gaining self-rule; for example, After WWII, Europe was greatly weakened. African nations such as Ghana, Algeria, and Kenya and other former colonies took advantage of this and gained independence through peaceful and violent means.

infrastructure development

Creating or strengthening fundamental facilities and systems serving a country, city, or area, such as transportation and communication systems, power plants, and schools (loans by LDCs are usually focused on this).

Irredentism

a policy of cultural extension and potential political expansion by a country aimed at a group of its nationals living in a neighboring country, many times to regain former territory

maritime boundary

An international boundary that lies in the ocean. Like all boundaries, it is a vertical plane, extending from the seafloor to the upper limit of the air space in the atmosphere above the water.

multinational state

a state with more than one nation inside its borders

Nation

a large group of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language

nation-state

A state whose territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular ethnicity that has been transformed into a nationality

Neocolonialism

Also called economic imperialism, this is the domination of newly independent countries by foreign business interests that causes colonial-style economies to continue, which often caused monoculture (a country only producing one main export like sugar, oil, etc).

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

1949 alliance of democratic nations that agreed to band together in the event of war and to support and protect each nation involved from the threat of communist forces. Since the end of the Cold War, these democratic countries in North America and Europe have continued this military alliance

Redistricting

The drawing of new electoral district boundary lines in response to population changes, usually every 10 years after the census

relic boundary

A boundary no longer observed but that still affects the present-day area (e.g. border between West and East Germany in Berlin)

Self-determination

Concept that ethnic groups have the right to govern themselves

semi-autonomous region

area where a group has some type of political autonomy. Semi-autonomous regions, like Kurdistan, has a degree of power and self-determination, but not fully like autonomous regions

Shatterbelt

a region caught between stronger colliding external cultural-political forces, under persistent stress, and often fragmented by aggressive rivals (e.g., Israel or Kashmir today; Eastern Europe during the Cold War,...).

Balkanization

Process by which a state breaks down through conflicts among its ethnic groups, named for the break-up of the former Yugoslavia into 8 ethnic majority countries on the Balkan peninsula

Sovereignty

Ability of a state to govern its territory free from control of its internal affairs by other states.

State

A body of people living in a defined territory who have a government with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority, and is recognized as such by the international community a.k.a a country

stateless nation

a group of people with a common culture and political identity who do not have sovereign territory

subsequent boundary

a boundary line that is established after the area in question has been settled and that considers the cultural characteristics of the bounded area

superimposed boundary

a boundary that is placed by an outside power on the cultural landscape which ignores pre-existing cultural patterns (typically a colonial boundary)

Supranationalism

term applied to associations created by three or more states for their mutual benefit and achievement of shared objectives (usually economic or for common defense)

Territoriality

In political geography, a country's or more local community's sense of property and attachment toward its territory, as expressed by its determination to keep it inviolable and strongly defended.

Terrorism

Acts of violence designed to promote a specific ideology or agenda by creating panic among an enemy population

Unitary State

An internal organization of a state that places most power in the hands of central government officials. Example: Japan, China

United Nations (UN)

an organization of independent states formed in 1945 to promote international peace and security. Some of the UN Developmental Goals: Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms.
Goal 2: Zero Hunger.
Goal 3: Health.
Goal 4: Education.
Goal 5: Gender equality and women's empowerment.
Goal 6: Water and Sanitation.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea: a code of maritime law approved by the UN in 1982 that authorizes, among other provisions, territorial waters extending 12 nautical miles from shore and 200 nautical mile wide exclusive economic zones.

voting districts

generic term adopted by the Bureau of the Census to include the wide variety of small polling areas, such as election districts, precincts, or wards, that State and local governments create for the purpose of administering elections

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

as established in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, a zone of exploitation extending 200 nautical miles seaward from the a coastal state that has exclusive mineral and fishing rights over it

multi-state nation

a nation or cultural group that is divided across two or more state borders

centripetal force

An attitude that tends to unify people and enhance support for a state, can be political, economic, or cultural

centrifugal force

a force that divides people and countries, can be political, cultural, or economic