Political Patterns & Processes Flashcards

Flashcards on Political Patterns & Processes

State

A geographic area with a permanent population, defined borders, and a sovereign government, recognized by other states.

Sovereignty

A state's authority to govern its own affairs, including domestic and international.

Nation

A group of people with a shared culture, language, history, homeland, and self-determination.

Self-determination

The right or desire for a nation or group of people to govern themselves.

Nation-state

A sovereign state with a relatively homogenous population that has a shared language, culture, and history (one nation).

Multinational state

A state that has multiple nations residing within its borders.

Multistate nation

A nation that is spread across multiple sovereign states.

Stateless nation

A nation with a history of self-determination that does not have a recognized state.

Colonialism

The practice of acquiring territories and settling there to exert political, economic, and social control over the area.

Imperialism

The idea of growing a state or empire by exerting force over other nations to gain economic and political power without establishing settlements.

Decolonization

A process by which a colony becomes independent of the colonizing country.

Devolution

Power is transferred from a national government to regional governments (i.e., power is broken up and distributed between lower organizations).

Territoriality

How people use space to communicate ownership of territory that connects to their culture, economic system, or political interests.

Neocolonialism

The use of political, cultural, or economic power to influence or control other countries (Does not involve direct military rule or control).

Shatterbelt

An area where countries or people are subjected to political, cultural, and economic pressure from external powers that are in conflict with each other.

Demilitarized zone

An area between two states that cannot be occupied or used for military purposes.

Defining (Boundary)

A boundary is agreed upon, fixed, and set.

Delimiting

The process of drawing a boundary on a map and physically marking it.

Demarcating

The process of marking a boundary (e.g., with a border wall or sign).

Geometric boundary

A boundary that follows the lines of latitude and longitude.

Antecedent boundaries

These are boundaries that existed before human settlement and the creation of the cultural landscape.

Relic boundary

A boundary that is no longer active but still impacts the cultural landscape.

Superimposed boundary

A boundary that was created by a foreign state or group.

Subsequent boundary

A boundary that develops along with the development of the cultural landscape.

Consequent boundary

A type of subsequent boundary established to settle conflict between opposing cultural, ethnic, or political groups.

Frontier

A geographic area over which no state has direct power or control.

International boundaries

Separate one sovereign state from another.

Internal boundaries

Separate different regions within a single state.

Definitional boundary dispute

A boundary dispute over the interpretation of the original documents that defined the boundary.

Locational boundary dispute

A boundary dispute over the location of the boundary and ownership of the land.

Operational boundary dispute

A dispute over how to manage the boundary and handle different issues/situations that occur on the boundary.

Allocational boundary dispute

A dispute over the use of what is on or in the boundary (e.g., natural resources).

Baseline

This is the shoreline. States have sovereignty over their internal and external affairs.

Territorial Zone

12 nautical miles from baseline. States can set laws regulating passage of ships from other countries.

Contiguous Zone

24 nautical miles. States may enforce laws concerning pollution, taxation, customs, and immigration.

Exclusive Economic Zone

200 nautical miles. States have the sole right to all natural resources (e.g., oil, natural gas, or fish).

International Waters

N/A. No state has control.

Voting district

A geographic area organized for the purpose of administering elections (such as election districts, precincts, or wards).

Gerrymandering

The process of redistricting a voting district to favor one political party over another.

Cracking (gerrymandering)

The process of spreading like-minded voters out across multiple districts.

Packing (gerrymandering)

The process of stacking like-minded voters into just a few districts to reduce the impact of their vote in other districts.

Unitary

Power is located in the central or national government. Little to no power is given to regional and local governments.

Federal

Power is shared between the central or national government and regional governments. Decisions are made at both the local and national levels.

Ethnic separatism

When a person or group starts to identify more as their own ethnic group than as a citizen of the state.

Stateless nation

A nation that has a history of self-determination but does not have a recognized state.

Ethnic cleansing

When a government, organization, or group of people attack an ethnic group in a state with the goal of pushing the group of people out of the state. (Often carried out by mass incarceration or by killing members of the ethnic group).

Irredentism

A movement by a nation to unite other parts of its nation that are located in another state.

Democratization

A process through which a political regime becomes more democratic.

Supranational organization

An alliance consisting of multiple countries, traditionally three or more, that work together to achieve common goals or address specific issues/challenges that impact the states.

Centrifugal forces

Factors that divide people, a state, or a group.

Centripetal forces

Forces that unite people, a state, or a group.

Failed state

A state that no longer has a functioning government. (The government cannot carry out its basic duties and loses authority over the land).

Ethnic nationalist movement

When a cultural group wants to separate or wants the right to self-determination based on a specific ethnicity or nationality.