AP HG U4C8

Political Geography

The study of the spatial organization and political processes of states and territories, including the impact of human activity on the political landscape.

State

A defined territory with a permanent population, a governing body, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.

Territoriality

The influence of space on social behavior, manifesting in control over a specific area to assert identity and interests.

Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself and make decisions without external interference, including control over its territory and population.

Territorial Integrity

The principle under international law that a state's borders should not be violated or altered without consent, ensuring respect for the state’s sovereignty and territorial boundaries.

Mercantilism

An economic theory and practice that promotes government regulation of a nation's economy to enhance state power, focusing on accumulating wealth through trade surplus and maintaining a favorable balance of trade.

Peace of Westphalia

A series of treaties that ended the Thirty Years' War in 1648, establishing the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity among European states.

nation

A large group of people who share a common identity, often defined by language, culture, ethnicity, or history, and typically inhabit a specific territory.

nation-state

A political entity characterized by a defined territory, permanent population, and a government that exercises sovereignty over its affairs. It often coincides with a cultural or ethnic identity.

democracy

A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives.

multinational state

A state that contains two or more national groups with their own distinct identities.

multistate nation

A nation that extends across the borders of two or more states, often having a significant population in each.

stateless nation

A nation that does not possess its own state and is not recognized as sovereign by other states, often leading to challenges in political representation and autonomy.

colonialism

The practice by which a powerful country directly controls and exploits another territory, often for economic gain, by establishing settlements and imposing its political and cultural systems.

scale

The practice by which a powerful country directly controls and exploits another territory, often for economic gain, by establishing settlements and imposing its political and cultural systems.

capitalism

An economic system in which the means of production are privately owned and operated for profit, typically in competitive markets.

commodification

The process of transforming goods, services, ideas, or people into objects of trade or market value.

core

In world-systems theory, regions that have achieved high levels of socioeconomic development and dominate the global economy through advanced technology, diversified economies, and control over financial markets.

periphery

In world-systems theory, regions that are characterized by low levels of socioeconomic development, often exploited for their raw materials and cheap labor by core regions.

semiperiphery

In world-systems theory, regions that exhibit characteristics of both core and periphery regions, often playing an intermediary role in the global economy and experiencing a mix of development and exploitation.

ability

The capacity or competence to perform certain actions or tasks, often referring to a state's power or influence in geopolitical contexts.

centripetal

Forces or attitudes that tend to unify people and enhance support for a state, such as nationalism, shared culture, and common goals.

centrifugal

Forces or attitudes that tend to divide and weaken a state, leading to disunity and potential fragmentation.

unitary

An internal organization of a state that places most power in the hands of central government officials.

federal

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units, such as states or provinces.

devolution

The transfer of powers from a central government to a lower level of government, often in recognition of regional identities or demands for greater autonomy.

territorial representation

A system in which elected officials represent specific geographical areas, ensuring that each region has a voice in the government.

reapportionment

The process of reallocating electoral seats to various geographical areas based on population changes, typically after a census, to ensure fair representation.

splitting

A gerrymandering technique used to divide a concentration of a particular group's voters across several districts to dilute their voting power and prevent them from forming a majority in any single district.

majority-minority districts

Electoral districts in which a racial or ethnic minority group constitutes a majority of the population, often created to ensure minority representation in government.

gerrymandering

The practice of manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts to favor one political party or group over another, typically for partisan advantage.

boundary

An invisible line that marks the extent of a state's territory and authority, often defining where one state ends and another begins.

geometric boundary

A type of political boundary that is drawn as a straight line, arc, or other regular geometric shape, often without regard for physical features or cultural differences.

physical-political boundary

A type of political boundary that is defined by a prominent physical feature of the natural landscape, such as a river, mountain range, or desert.

heartland theory

A geopolitical theory proposed by Halford Mackinder, which posits that control over the central core of Eurasia (the 'Heartland') is key to world domination.

critical geopolitics

An approach to geopolitics that examines how geographical assumptions and political ideologies are used by states and elites to construct foreign policy and justify military actions.

unilateralism

A foreign policy approach in which a state acts independently, without seeking the cooperation or approval of other states or international organizations.

supranational organization

An international organization in which member states cede some of their sovereignty to the organization, allowing it to make decisions that are binding on its members, such as the United Nations or the European Union.