APHUG UNIT 4 VOCABULARY

State

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

Nation

A group of people with a shared culture, history, homeland, and desire for self-governance.

Self-determination

The right or desire of a nation to self-govern.

Nation-state

A self-governing state with a relatively uniform population, often sharing a common language, culture, and history.

Multinational state

A state containing multiple nations within its borders, each retaining its distinct identity.

Multi-state nation

A nation that exists across multiple states.

Stateless nation

A nation with a history of self-determination but no officially recognized state.

Autonomous region

A region within a state that enjoys a high degree of self-rule and control over its internal affairs.

Semi-autonomous region

A region controlled by another state but granted a moderate degree of self-governance.

Colonialism

Acquiring territories and settling them to exert control over the area.

Imperialism

Growing a state or empire by exerting force over other nations to gain power.

Berlin Conference

An 1884-1885 meeting where European powers divided Africa into colonies without regard for existing ethnic or cultural boundaries.

Decolonization

The process of colonies gaining independence from their colonizers.

Devolution

The transfer of political power from a central government to regional governments.

Territoriality

The tendency to establish and defend a specific geographic area.

Neocolonialism

The indirect use of political, cultural, or economic power to influence or control another country.

Shatterbelt

A region caught between larger powers in conflict.

Chokepoint

A geographically narrow area that must be passed to reach a destination.

Geometric boundary

Uses straight lines and follows lines of latitude and longitude.

Anacan boundary

A boundary that existed before human settlement or the development of the cultural landscape.

Relic boundary

A boundary that is no longer officially recognized but still affects the cultural landscape.

Superimposed boundary

A boundary created by an external power without consideration for local communities.

Subsequent boundary

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

Consequent boundary

A type of subsequent boundary that separates different ethnic, religious, or linguistic groups.

International boundary

Separates one sovereign state from another.

Internal boundary

Separates different regions within a single state.

Definitional dispute

Occur over the interpretation of the original boundary documents.

Locational dispute

Occur over the location of the boundary.

Operational dispute

Occur over how to manage the boundary.

Allocational dispute

Occur over the use of resources on or in the boundary.

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

International law governing the use of the world's oceans, defining territorial waters, contiguous zones, and exclusive economic zones (EEZs).

Voting districts

Geographic areas organized for the purpose of administering elections.

Redistricting

The redrawing of voting districts to better reflect population changes.

Gerrymandering

Redrawing districts to favor one political party over another.

Unitary state

A state where power is concentrated in the national government.

Federal state

A state where power is shared between the national government and regional governments.

State disintegration

The breakup of a state into smaller parts.

Supernational organizations

Alliances of multiple countries that work together to achieve common goals.

Centrifugal forces

Forces that divide people or states.

Centripetal forces

Forces that unite people or states.