APHG Unit 4

Administered boundaries

Boundaries that are managed, monitored, and protected by a government or authority.

African Union

An organization of African countries formed to promote unity, development, and cooperation among African nations.

American Indian reservations

Areas of land managed by Native American tribes under the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs

Antecedent boundaries

Boundaries drawn before the cultural landscape developed.

Arctic Council

A forum promoting cooperation among Arctic nations and indigenous communities.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

An organization promoting economic and political cooperation in Southeast Asia.

Autonomous regions

Areas within a state that have some degree of self-governance.

Chokepoints

Narrow strategic passages, such as straits or canals, crucial for trade and military transport.

Consequent boundaries

Boundaries drawn to accommodate existing cultural differences such as religion or language.

Defined boundaries

Boundaries established by a legal document like a treaty.

Delimited boundaries

Boundaries drawn on a map

Demarcated boundaries

Boundaries physically marked on the landscape with walls, fences, or signs.

Demilitarized zones

Areas where military forces are not allowed.

Democratization

The transition from authoritarian rule to democratic governance.

Devolution

The transfer of political power from the central government to regional or local governments.

Ethnic Cleansing

The forced removal of an ethnic or religious group from an area.

Ethnic separatism

When an ethnic group desires to separate from a larger political entity.

Ethnonationalism

Strong loyalty to one’s ethnic group rather than to the state.

European Union (EU)

A political and economic union of European countries that share common policies.

Exclusive economic zones (EEZ)

Sea zones extending 200 nautical miles from a country's coast where it has special rights over resources.

Federal states

States where power is shared between the national and regional governments.

Geometric boundaries

Straight-line boundaries not related to physical or cultural differences.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating voting district boundaries to favor one political party.

Independent State

A nation with full sovereignty and control over its affairs.

Irredentism

When a country seeks to annex territories of another country due to shared culture or ethnicity.

Legitimacy

The general acceptance of a government’s authority by its people.

Maritime boundaries

Divisions of the ocean defining territorial waters and resource zones.

Multinational states

States that contain two or more ethnic groups with traditions of self-determination.

Multistate nations

A nation spread across multiple states

Nations

Groups of people with shared culture, history, and identity.

Nation-states

States where the borders of a nation and a state coincide.

Neocolonialism

Economic and political control of developing countries by developed countries through indirect means.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

A military alliance formed for mutual defense among Western nations.

Redistricting

Redrawing voting district boundaries due to population changes.

Relic boundaries

Old boundaries that no longer function but still leave visible traces in the landscape.

Self-determination

The right of people to choose their own government.

Semi-autonomous regions

Areas that have some self-governing powers but remain under the control of a larger state.

Shatterbelt region

A region caught between stronger colliding external cultural or political forces.

Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself without outside interference.

Stateless nations

Nations that do not have their own independent state.

Subsequent boundaries

Boundaries drawn after the cultural landscape developed.

Superimposed boundaries

Boundaries imposed by outside powers with no regard for local cultures.

Supranationalism

When countries work together for shared goals or policies.

Supranational organizations

Groups of multiple countries working together for economic, political, or cultural purposes (e.g., EU, UN).

Territoriality

The connection of people, culture, and economic systems to land

Territorial seas

Coastal waters extending up to 12 nautical miles from a country’s shoreline under its control.

Terrorism

The use of violence and intimidation for political purposes.

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

A treaty defining nations’ rights in ocean use and resource management.

Unitary states

States where power is concentrated in the central government.

United Nations (UN)

An international organization formed to promote peace, security, and cooperation among countries.

Voting districts

Geographical areas represented by elected officials; used to organize elections.