Lecture on Race, Ethnicity, and Political Geography

Flashcards summarizing key concepts related to race, ethnicity, and political geography covered in the lecture.

What is the definition of Race?

A social construct, usually based on physical and/or biological features, used to categorize people.

What does Ethnicity refer to?

Identification with a group that shares cultural traditions of a particular hearth.

What is an Ethnic Group?

A group of people who share a common culture, ancestry, language, and traditions.

Define Ethnic Nation.

When a country is mostly made up of one dominant ethnic group, culture, and identity.

What is Reapportionment?

Redistributing seats in the House of Representatives based on population changes.

Define Gerrymandering.

Manipulating district boundaries to give one political party an unfair advantage.

What is meant by the term Succession in demographic context?

One group gradually replacing another in a neighborhood.

Explain Barrioization.

A process where a Hispanic/Latino population moves into an area over time, becoming the dominant culture group.

What is 'White Flight'?

When white residents move out of urban neighborhoods as minority populations move in.

What does Queer Theory question?

Traditional ideas about gender.

What was Apartheid?

A system of legal racial segregation and discrimination that separated people based on race.

What did the Partition of British India create?

The separation of British India into India (mainly Hindus) and Pakistan (mainly Muslims).

What are the implications of the Israel/Palestine conflict?

Disputes over land, national identity, political control, and the existence of Palestinian refugees.

Who are the Rohingya?

A Muslim ethnic minority in Myanmar, facing discrimination and not recognized as citizens.

Define Self-Determination.

The right of a group of people to choose their own political status and form their own government.

What is State Sovereignty?

A state has full control and authority over its territory and affairs without interference.

What does Ethnic Cleansing refer to?

The forced removal of an ethnic or religious group from an area to make the population more uniform.

What is Wallerstein's World Systems Theory?

The theory that the modern global economy formed during the colonial era and created a system of countries with different roles and levels of power.

What are Core Countries?

Rich, powerful countries that control trade and global business.

What defines a Semi-Periphery Country?

A country that is in between core and periphery, with some industry and growing economies.

What is a Nation-State?

A political unit where the majority of people share the same national identity and culture.

What is a Stateless Nation?

A group with a shared identity and culture but no recognized independent country of their own.

Nation

A nation is a group of people who share culture, language, history, identity, and culture

State

A political uni with defined bordes, permanent population, government, sovereignty

Multistate Nation

One nation (same cultural identity) that is spread across multiple countries

Define Multinational State.

A country that contains multiple nations (cultures/ethnic groups).

What is Devolution?

When a central government gives power to regional/local governments within a country.

What is Balkanization?

The process where a state breaks apart into smaller, independent countries.

What are Superimposed Boundaries?

Boundaries drawn over existing cultural groups without consideration of them.

What is the significance of the Median-Line Rule?

Used to establish maritime boundaries between two countries located close to each other.

What is a Shatterbelt?

A region that is politically unstable and divided by internal conflicts, often influenced by external powers.

What is a Supranational Organization?

A group of multiple countries that work towards common goals and often give up some sovereignty.

What is the Heartland Theory?

The theory that whoever controls the Heartland (central Eurasia) has the key to controlling the world.

What is Rimland Theory

Whoever controls the Rimland (coastal edges of Eurasia) controls the world.

Compact State

Round/Square distant from center to edges

Prorupted Sate

Compact with long extensions (arm)

Elongated State

Long and narrow

Fragmented State

Broken into pieces

Perforated State

One state surrounds another state

Geometric Boundary

A straight-line boundary drawn using latitude/longitude or survey lines

Cultural Boundary

A border based on cultural differences like language, religion, ethnicity

Relic Bboundary

A boundary that no longer functions as an official border but still affects them culturally or politically

Maritime Boundary

They are sea borders that gives countries control over nearby ocean areas

12-Mile Territorial Sea

A country controls the ocean up to 12 nautical miles from its coast (treated almost like land territory)

200-Mile Exclusive Economic Zone

Extends up to 200 natural nautical miles country has rights to fishing, oil, gas, minerals

Unitary Government

Most power is held by the national (central) government

Federal Government

Power is shared between the national government and regional governements

Centripetal Forces

Pulls a country (stability, unity, national identity)

Centrifugal Forces

Pulls a country apart (division, conflict, separatism)

United Nations (UN)

Global organizations, focus; peace, security, human rights, and most countries are members

NATO

Military alliance, members defend each other if attacked, collective security agreement