Unit 4: Political Organization of Space

state

A country with defined population and borders, not a U.S. subdivision.

nation

A unified group of people with a common culture (e.g., Kurds, Navajo, Gypsies).

nation-state

A state with 90%+ population from a specific cultural group (e.g., Japan, Iceland).

core area

A region of a state where economic development is greatest (often the capital).

growth pole

An area drawing jobs/people into underdeveloped interior (e.g., Brasília, Islamabad).

compact country

Round shape; efficient defense/communication (e.g., Belgium, Poland).

prorupt/protruded country

Round with a long extension for access/resources (e.g., Thailand, Mozambique).

elongated country

Long and narrow; difficult communication (e.g., Chile, Vietnam).

fragmented country

Separated areas; hard to govern (e.g., Indonesia, Philippines).

perforated country

Surrounds another country (e.g., South Africa with Lesotho).

landlocked country

Has no access to water; harder to trade (e.g., Bolivia, Rwanda).

antecedent boundaries

Placed before cultural development.

subsequent boundaries

Drawn after cultural landscape is in place.

consequent boundaries

Align with cultural groups (e.g., language, religion).

superimposed boundaries

Imposed by outsiders (e.g., Africa's colonial lines).

relic boundaries

No longer in use (e.g., Great Wall, North/South Vietnam).

irredentism

Desire to reunite with ethnic group across borders (e.g., Somalis in Ethiopia).

imperialism

Using power to control another country and its resources.

colonialism

Formal control by a mother country over colonies (e.g., UK → India).

decolonization

Process of colonies gaining independence.

heartland-rimland theory

Control of Eurasia's heartland means world dominance.

domino theory

If one country falls to communism, neighbors will follow (used during Cold War).

terrorism

Use of violence to draw attention to an issue; targets populations, not individuals.

state-sponsored terrorism

Involves government support.

individual terrorism

Is not state-backed.

supranational organizations

Groups of 3+ countries for mutual benefit (e.g., EU, NAFTA).

NGOs

Nonprofits focused on issues like health, rights, and development.

technology effect on immigrants

Helps maintain cultural ties and slows assimilation.

sovereignty

Power of a country to govern itself.

federal state

Shares power with regional governments (e.g., U.S., Germany).

unitary state

Power is centralized (e.g., France, Sweden).

enclave

A territory of one country surrounded by another (e.g., Nagorno-Karabakh).

centripetal forces

Unify a country (e.g., national symbols, holidays).

centrifugal forces

Divide a country (e.g., religious/ethnic tensions).

devolution

Central government gives power to regional groups to maintain peace.

nationalism

Strong loyalty to one's country; can unify or divide.

alliances

Agreements for defense/trade (e.g., ASEAN, UN).

Law of the Sea (1982)

International treaty governing marine rights.

country rights up to 12 nautical miles

Full sovereignty, including fishing rights.

Law of the Sea

Tells countries who controls what parts of the ocean, how far their rights extend, and what they can and can’t do. Helps countries avoid fights over ocean territories

high seas

Waters beyond EEZs, open to all.

gerrymandering

Drawing voting districts to favor one party.

wasted vote

Spreading opposition across districts to dilute their impact.

gerrymandering

Concentrating opposition in few districts to limit influence.