APHUG Unit 4 Chapter 9 Vocabulary

Irredentism

When a country claims or annexes territory in another state because the people there share the same ethnic or national identity.

Shatterbelt Region

Regions that are politically unstable because they are caught between competing powers or cultural influences.

Choke Point

Narrow geographic passage that controls access between larger areas, making it strategically important for trade or military movement.

State

A political unit with defined boundaries, a permanent population, sovereignty, and recognition.

Nation

A group of people with shared culture, history, language, or identity.

Nation-State

A state whose territory corresponds to a single nation (e.g., Japan).

Multistate-Nations

A nation that spans multiple states (e.g., Kurds, Koreans).

Stateless-Nations

A nation without its own sovereign state (e.g., Kurds, Palestinians).

Autonomous / Semi-autonomous Region

Areas with some self-governance within a state (e.g., Catalonia, Nunavut).

Sovereignty

Complete control over internal and external affairs.