APHUG ~ Unit 4: Political Patterns and Processes

Annexation –

Adding land to a country or city, often by force or agreement.

Antarctica –

A continent with no permanent residents; territorial claims are suspended.

Apartheid –

System of racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa (1948–1991).

Balkanization –

A region breaking into smaller, hostile states due to ethnic conflicts.

Definitional Boundary Dispute –

Disagreement over a treaty's wording. Ex. Native American treaties.

Locational Boundary Dispute –

Disagreement over a boundary’s placement on a map.

Operational Boundary Dispute –

Conflict over how a border functions (e.g., trade regulations).

Allocational Boundary Dispute –

Disagreement over resource use near a boundary. Ex. Iraq-Kuwait oil conflict.

Antecedent Boundary –

A boundary established before significant settlement.

Subsequent Boundary –

A boundary developed alongside cultural changes.

Superimposed Boundary –

A boundary forced by external powers without regard to local culture. Ex. Africa under colonial rule.

Relic Boundary –

A former boundary still visible. Ex. Berlin Wall.

Natural Boundary –

A boundary defined by physical features like rivers or mountains.

Cultural Boundary –

A boundary based on language, religion, or ethnicity.

Geometric Boundary –

A straight-line boundary unrelated to physical or cultural features.

Defined Boundary –

A boundary legally established in a treaty or agreement.

Delimited Boundary –

A boundary drawn on a map.

Demarcated Boundary –

A boundary marked by physical objects like fences or signs.

Buffer State –

A smaller, neutral country between two larger, opposing powers.

Capital –

The main city where a country's government is based.

Centrifugal Force –

A force that weakens a state's unity (e.g., ethnic conflict).

Centripetal Force –

A force that strengthens a state's unity (e.g., shared language).

City-State –

A sovereign city with its own government and territory. Ex. Ancient Athens.

Colonialism –

A country taking control of foreign land for economic and political gain.

Confederation –

A group of states with shared governance but independent policies.

Berlin Conference (1884–85) –

European powers divided Africa without African input.

Core-Periphery Model –

A system where wealthy core regions exploit poorer periphery regions.

Decolonization –

Process of former colonies gaining independence.

Devolution –

Transfer of power from a central government to local governments. Ex. Scotland in the UK.

Domino Theory –

Cold War idea that if one country falls to communism, others will follow.

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) –

A sea zone where a state has resource rights (200 nautical miles offshore).

Electoral Region –

A geographic area with political representation (e.g., congressional districts).

Enclave –

A territory completely surrounded by another. Ex. Lesotho in South Africa.

Exclave –

A part of a country separated from the main territory. Ex. Alaska.

Ethnic Conflict –

Violence between ethnic groups over power, land, or resources.

European Union (EU) –

A political and economic alliance of European countries.

Federal State –

A country where power is shared between national and local governments. Ex. USA.

Forward Capital –

A capital moved to promote development in a different region. Ex. Brazil moving its capital to Brasília.

Frontier –

An area with no clear political control, often disputed.

Geopolitics –

The study of how geography affects global politics and power.

Gerrymandering –

Redrawing voting district boundaries for political advantage.

Global Commons –

Areas not owned by any state, like international waters or space.

Heartland Theory –

The belief that controlling central Eurasia leads to world dominance.

Immigrant State –

A country with high levels of immigration. Ex. USA.

International Organization –

A group of countries cooperating for political, economic, or humanitarian reasons. Ex. United Nations.

Iron Curtain –

The Cold War division between communist and non-communist Europe.

Irredentism –

A country claiming land due to historical or ethnic ties. Ex. Russia’s claim over Crimea.

Israel-Palestine Conflict –

Ongoing dispute over land and sovereignty.

Landlocked State –

A country without direct access to the ocean. Ex. Chad.

Law of the Sea –

International rules defining territorial waters and economic zones.

Lebanon Conflict –

Political and religious tensions leading to civil war.

Mackinder’s Heartland Theory –

The idea that controlling Eastern Europe leads to world dominance.

Manifest Destiny –

19th-century belief that the US was destined to expand westward.

Median-Line Principle –

Dividing overlapping sea zones between countries equally.

Microstate –

A very small, sovereign country. Ex. Monaco, Vatican City.

Nation –

A group of people with a shared identity, culture, or history.

Nation-State –

A country where most people share the same nationality. Ex. Japan.

Nunavut –

A Canadian territory established for Indigenous governance.

Raison d’être –

The fundamental reason for a state's existence.

Reapportionment –

Adjusting political districts based on population changes.

Regionalism –

Strong regional identity within a state. Ex. Quebec in Canada.

Religious Conflict –

A conflict caused by religious differences.

Reunification –

Bringing a divided state back together. Ex. Germany in 1990.

Satellite State –

A country formally independent but under heavy influence from another. Ex. Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe.

Self-Determination –

The right of a group to govern itself. Ex. Kurds seeking an independent state.

Shatterbelt –

A region with ongoing instability due to external pressures. Ex. The Balkans.

Sovereignty –

A state’s full control over its own affairs.

State –

A defined political territory with a government and sovereignty.

Stateless Nation –

An ethnic group without its own country. Ex. Kurds, Palestinians.

Supranationalism –

Countries working together for shared goals. Ex. European Union.

Territorial Dispute –

Conflict over land ownership between states.

Theocracy –

A government ruled by religious leaders. Ex. Iran.

Treaty Ports –

Ports forced open for trade by foreign powers. Ex. 19th-century China.

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

Treaty defining maritime boundaries.

Unitary State –

A government where most power is held by the central authority. Ex. France.

USSR Collapse –

The 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union into independent states.

Women’s Enfranchisement –

The right of women to vote and participate in politics.

Colonialism –

The practice of acquiring political control over another country.

Imperialism –

Extending a country's power through diplomacy or military force.

Neocolonialism –

Economic or political control over former colonies rather than direct military control.