AMSCO AP Human Geography - Unit 4.5: The Function of Political Boundaries

defined boundary

boundary established by a legal document such as a treaty

delimited boundary

drawn by a cartographer on a map to show the defined boundaries

demarcated boundary

physical (human or natural) objects on the landscape that mark defined boundaries

definitional boundary dispute

when two or more parties disagree about how to interpret the legal documents/maps that identify the boundary

locational boundary disputes

boundary disputes on where a boundary should be, mapped, or demarcated

territorial disputes

disputes that have the basic question of who possesses the land

irredentism

when one country wants to annex a territory due to cultural similarities or historical claims to that land

operational boundary dispute / functional dispute

a boundary dispute focused on how it functions such as trade, transportation, or migration

allocational boundary dispute / resource dispute

boundary disputes which are focused on boundaries that separate natural resources that can be used by two countries; who can have the resources

administered boundary

how a boundary will be maintained, function, and what goods and people can cross make up this boundary

controlled boundary

boundaries that contain checkpoints where passports or visas are needed to enter the country

exclaves

territories that are part of a state, yet geographically separated by the main state by one or more COUNTRIES

(political) enclaves

states, territories, or parts of a state or territory that are completely surrounded by the territory of ONE OTHER STATE

shatterbelt

places located between two very different, contentious (conflictive) regions

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

organization signed by more than 150 countries that defined four zones about how far horizontally out into the ocean a country’s influence spreads

nautical mile

ocean mile which is equivalent to 1.15 land-measured miles

territorial sea

area extends up to 12 nautical miles of sovereignty where commercial vessels can pass, but noncommercial vessels may be challenged

contiguous zone

coastal states that have limited sovereignty for up to 24 nautical miles where they can enforce laws on customs, immigration, and sanitation

exclusive economic zone (EEZ)

states can explore, extract minerals, and manage natural resources up to 200 nautical miles

high seas / international waters

water beyond any country’s EEZ and is open to all states

small island developing states (SIDS)

small island states that can take advantage of the EEZ; very valuable economically