Unit 4

Nation

A common cultural heritage, set of unifying beliefs, claim to traditional space, and a desire to establish or express self-rule.

Multinational State

A state that contains multiple nations; for example, the USA, where all states have at least one nation.

Multi State Nation

A nation that spans across multiple states, such as the Koreas.

Stateless Nation

A nation that does not have sovereignty and may serve as a centrifugal force, as seen with the Basque region in Spain.

Sovereignty

The power of a political unit or government to rule over its own affairs, maintaining legitimacy in domestic and international contexts.

Autonomous Region

A defined region within a state that has high self-government and freedom from its parent state, such as Greenland.

Semi Autonomous Region

Regions that have some degree of power and autonomy, but not complete, like the Navajo Nation.

Nationalism

A nation's desire to create and maintain a state of its own.

Centrifugal Force

A force that divides people within a country, such as different religions or ethnicities.

Centripetal Force

A force that helps unify people within a country, like shared religion or a common language.

Imperialism

A broader concept involving influence over another country or group via conquest, economic control, or cultural dominance.

Colonialism

A type of imperialism where people move into and settle land in another country.

Berlin Conference

An 1884-1885 meeting where European representatives laid claim to African territories, disregarding ethnic and pre-established borders.

Self Determination

The right of peoples to choose their own sovereign government without external influence.

Decolonization

The process of ending colonization and allowing indigenous people to reclaim sovereignty over their territory.

Neocolonialism

Control exerted over developing countries through indirect means, including economic and cultural power.

Genocide

The organized mass killing of people based on race, religion, ethnicity, or nationality.

Ethnic Cleansing

The forced removal of an ethnic minority from a territory, exemplified by the Rohingya in Myanmar.

Geopolitics

The study of how geography affects politics and relations among states.

Choke Point

A place of physical congestion between regions of movement; for example, the Bab-el-Mandeb strait.

Antecedent Boundary

A boundary established before the cultural landscape evolves, often based on physical features.

Subsequent Boundary

A boundary created as the cultural landscape evolves, often subject to change over time.

Consequent Boundary

A type of subsequent boundary that takes cultural characteristics into account.

Superimposed Boundary

A boundary drawn by outside powers that ignores pre-existing cultures and ethnic groups.

Geometric Boundary

A boundary that does not follow any physical features but is defined by lines or arcs.

Militarized Boundary

A heavily guarded border that discourages illegal crossing.

Defined Boundary

A boundary established by legal documents or treaties.

Allocated Dispute

Disputes arising over the usage of a natural resource that may be shared by different states.

Operational Dispute

Disagreements relating to how a boundary operates, influencing trade and migration.

National Exclave

Territories that belong to a state but are not physically attached to it, often causing separation.

Fragmentation

The process of a state fracturing along regional lines, often leading to instability.

Devolution

The transfer of power from a national government to local authorities.

Balkanization

The fragmentation of a state or region into smaller, often hostile units along ethnic lines.

Globalization

The integration of markets, states, communication, and trade worldwide.

Supranationalism

Political and economic cooperation beyond national boundaries, as seen in the EU and NATO.

Ethnonationalism

Political advocacy aimed at the political interests of a specific ethnic group.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor a political party.