Political Geography and Its Dynamics

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions related to political geography, state dynamics, colonialism, and socio-political theories.

Political Geography

The study of the role of space in governing and the struggles for power over people and territories.

Sovereign State

A self-governing political entity with well-defined, agreed-upon territorial boundaries.

Sovereignty

The supreme authority of individual states to control their political, economic, and social affairs.

Nation

A group of people who share a common culture and often feel a connection to a specific territory.

State

An area with defined boundaries recognized by other states.

Nation-State

A group that self-identifies as a community, occupies a defined territory, and possesses social/political institutions.

Multinational State

A political unit consisting of two or more cultural groups, such as Canada or Belgium.

Nationalism

The belief that a nation and state should align, often leading to conflict with non-nationals.

Colonialism

External control of an area for material and political gain, often involving exploitation of existing populations.

Decolonization

The process of colonies gaining independence from colonial powers, especially post-WWII.

Geopolitics

The study of how the control of space or territory shapes international relations.

Centrifugal Forces

Forces that challenge the unity of a nation-state, such as cultural or linguistic differences.

Centripetal Forces

Forces that bind and strengthen nation-states, including shared history and infrastructure.

Federalism

The division of power between central and regional governments which can alleviate centrifugal forces.

Irredentism

When a state seeks to reclaim territory or people that belonged to it in the past.

Socialism

An economic system involving shared ownership of production and service delivery.

Anarchism

A political philosophy that rejects the state's authority and structure.

Terrorism

A tactic involving violence used to achieve political objectives, instilling fear through public acts.

State Terrorism

Violence practiced by a government against its own people or for international terrorism purposes.