Unit 4: Geopolitics

Geopolitics

The study of how geography influences political power, relationships (between countries), and decision making among states

Territorality

The connection of people, their culture, and their economic systems to a specific land or territory

Self-Determination & Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself and make its own laws without external interference
Self-Determination: Seek out sovereignty (or the right to govern themselves)

Microstate

Very small population and land area, often economically dependent
Ex. Vatican City

City State

A sovereign state that consists of one city and its surrounding territory Ex. Vatican City

Multiethnic state

A state with 1+ ethnic group that can experience cultural diversity or ethnic conflict Ex. U.S

MultiNational State

A state with more than 1+ Nation inside its borders often has ethnic or cultural tension Ex. U.S

Nation vs Nation-State

Nation: A group of people who share a common culture
Nation-State: A sovereign state whose population is culturally homogenous, most people belong to same nation

Stateless Nation

A culturally unified group of people that does not have its own sovereign state Ex. Palestenians

Compact State

A state whose distance from the center to any boundary is =. Often creates a roughly circular or square shape Ex. Poland

Elongated State

An elongated state that is long and narrow in shape. Capital may be far from certain parts of the country. Hard to defend. Ex. Chile

Prorupted State

A mostly compact state with a narrow extension that projects outward from the main territory accessible resources create a buffer between rival states Ex. Afghanistan

Landlocked State

No direct access to the ocean or any ocean sea, and completely surrounded by land or other states

Perforated State

A state that completely surrounds another sovereign state

Colonialism / Neo-Colonialism

Colonialism is a practice where a country takes control over foreign territories. Influenced by global power dynamics

Berlin Conferences

A meeting held in 1884-1885 where European powers convened to discuss the partition and colonization of Africa marked a significant turning point in the establishment of political boundaries across the continent

Devolution

The transfer of authority and responsibility from a central government to regional or local government, allowing them to exercise more autonomy over their affairs. Arises from demands for greater local control

Geometric Border

Straight lines that are drawn on maps without regard to physical or cultural features. Can impact political, social, and economic interactions by creating divisions.

Physical Border

Borders formed by natural features of the landscape

Ethnic/cultural Border

Borders drawn to separate different ethnic, linguistic or cultural groups intended to reduce conflict by separating groups

Relic

Political borders that no longer function as formal boundaries but still hold historical significance and may affect cultural or social interactions

Superimposed

Political borders that are imposed on a region without consideration to the existing cultural or ethnic groups often drawn by powers

Antecedent

Political borders established before the area in question is well populated or developed

Subsequent

Political borders that are established after the settlement of a region and often reflect the cultural, ethnic, or historical influences that have developed shaped by the interactions and conflicts among different groups and may change as a result of negotiations, wars, and other political processes

Consequent

Political boundaries that are drawn to accommodate the cultural, ethnic, or social character of a specific area.

Fronteir

A zone/area where no clearly defined political boundary exists, acting as a buffer region

Shatterbelt

Regions of geopolitical tension and conflict where the control and influence of major powers Compete. Often resulting in political fragmentation

Irredentism

A policy or movement in which a country seeks to reclaim territory it believes is historically/culturally its own

Choke Point

A narrow, strategically important passage on land or water, through trade/transportation/military, narrow, highly trafficked strategically valuable

Autocracy

A form of government in which one person or a small group holds all political power, and citizens have no role to decision making. Decisions centralize around the leader

Anocracy

A form of government that is a mix of democracy and autocracy. Often charactered as politically instable and weak institutions. More prone to violence and instability

Unitary State

A form of government where most power resides in a central authority, binding on the entire state.

Federal State

A political entity charactered by the division of powers between a central government and regional governments allowing for multiple levels of governance.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts to reflect changes in population and ensure fair representation

Gerrymandering

The practice of manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political power or group.

UNCLOS (Acronym)

An international treaty that establishes rules for how countries use and control the world’s oceans and regulates forming method.
High seas - Open to all states (largest unit)
EEZ - Up to 200 nautical miles (mid unit)
Territorial seas - Up to 12 nautical miles (Smallest unit)

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance formed in 1955 by the Soviet Union and Eastern European Allies in response to NATO.

NATO

A military alliance formed in 1909 by the U.S, Canada, and Western European countries to provide collective security based on collective defense

Balance of Powers

A situation in which no single country or alliance is strong enough to dominate others. Power is distributed among multiple states. Countries with alliances counter stronger states

United Nations (U.N)

An international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace and maintain international peace and security (193 states)

European Union (E.U)

A supernational organization of European countries that promotes economic, Political, and social cooperation. Founded in 1993. (27 European Countries)

African Union

Supernational organization of African countries that promotes Political, economic, and social cooperation. Founded in 2002 (55 Countries)