APHG Unit 4 Slideshow Notes

Political geography

Geography that deals with boundaries, divisions, and possessions of countries (states).

Nation

A group that is united by common cultural, ethnic, religious, or historical identity who may or may not have their own government.

Nation-state

An ethnic group with sovereign territory.

Self-determination

The right for an ethnicity to govern itself, which can challenge existing sovereignty.

Sovereignty

The power of a government to exercise complete control over a defined area and regulate its internal and external affairs.

Stateless nation

An ethnic group without sovereign territory.

Multinational state

A state with two or more ethnicities in its territory.

Centrifugal forces

Forces that may lead to failed states, uneven development, stateless nations, and ethnic nationalist movements.

Centripetal forces

Forces that can lead to ethnonationalism, more equitable infrastructure development, and increased cultural cohesion.

Devolution

The transfer of political power from central to subnational government.

Terrorism

The use of violence or the threat of violence to achieve certain goals by creating a state of fear beyond the initial victims.

Transnational terrorism

Terrorism by private individuals/groups that involves people from more than one state.

Domestic terrorism

Terrorism by private individuals/groups that only involves people from one state.

Fragmentation

The division of a state or territory into smaller, often isolated or conflicting parts due to ethnic, economic, or political forces.

Disintegration

The breakdown of a state or unified entity into smaller, independent parts due to internal centrifugal forces like ethnic conflict and economic instability.

Irredentism

When a nation seeks control over a country state to annex or reclaim territory for ethnic or historic reasons.

Superimposed boundary

A boundary that has been imposed on an area by an outside or conquering power ignoring the cultural organizations on the landscape.

Demilitarized zone

A buffer area typically between two nations or territories where military forces, installations, and activities are prohibited.

Buffer state

A small neutral country in between two larger hostile countries that serves to prevent the outbreak of regional conflict.

Choke points

Strategic straits or canals that are narrow and essential for the shipping of oil, food, and consumer products around the world.

Regime types

Different forms of government including democracy, autocracy, and anocracy.

Unitary state

A strong central government that holds the political power.

Federal state

A system with strong local or regional government.

Maritime Zones

Specific areas defined by international law that include territorial waters, exclusive economic zones, and high seas.

Electoral college

A body of representatives established by the United States Constitution to elect the president and vice president.

Berlin conference

An 1880's conference where 14 countries sought to split control over African territories, exemplifying imperialism and superimposed boundaries.