APHG Unit 4

state

An area organized into a political unit and ruled by an established government that has control over its internal and foreign affairs.

sovereignty

The ability of a state to govern its territory free from control of its internal affairs by other states.

nation

A group of people with a shared culture, language, ethnicity, or historical identity.

nation-state

A state whose territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular ethnicity that has been transformed into a nationality.

self-determination

The concept that ethnicities have the right to govern themselves.

multinational state

A state that contains more than one ethnicity with traditions of self-determination and self-management.

stateless nation

A nation that does not have a state.

empire

A large political unit in which extensive areas or groups of people are controlled by a single dominant authority.

colonialism

An effort by one country to establish settlements in a territory and to impose its political, economic, and cultural principles on that territory.

imperialism

Control of territory already occupied and organized by an indigenous society.

boundary

An invisible line that marks the extent of a state's territory.

physical boundary

A political boundary that coincides with significant features of the natural landscape, such as mountains or rivers.

cultural boundary

A political boundary that follows the distribution of cultural characteristics, such as language or religion.

geometric boundary

A political boundary defined by straight lines drawn on a map.

antecedent boundary

A boundary that was established before the present cultural landscape developed.

subsequent boundary

A boundary that evolved with the cultural landscape and is drawn to accommodate existing religious, ethnic, linguistic, or economic differences.

superimposed boundary

A boundary that has been forced upon an existing cultural landscape, country, or people by a conquering or colonizing power without regard for pre-existing cultural patterns.

relic boundary

A former boundary that no longer functions as an international border but still leaves a visible mark on the cultural landscape.

irredentism

A political or cultural belief that a particular territory belonging to another state should be annexed for reasons of ethnicity or prior historical possession.

centripetal force

An attitude that tends to unify people and enhance support for a state.

centrifugal force

An attitude or force that tends to divide a state.

regionalism

Loyalty to the interests of a particular region.

nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's nation.

supranational organization

A multinational grouping of independent states that delegate some of their sovereignty to a common institution to achieve shared goals.

United Nations (UN)

An international organization founded in 1945 to promote international peace and cooperation.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

A military alliance formed in 1949 by countries in North America and Europe for the purpose of collective security.

European Union (EU)

A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

A regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten countries in Southeast Asia, which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and socio-cultural integration among its members.

African Union (AU)

A continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa.

Organization of American States (OAS)

A regional international organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States. Its member states are the 35 independent states of the Americas.

geopolitics

The study of the effects of geography (human and physical) on politics and international relations.

heartland theory

A geopolitical hypothesis proposed by Halford Mackinder that suggests that whoever controls the "heartland" of Eurasia could eventually dominate the world.

federal state

An internal organization of a state that allocates most powers to units of local government.

unitary state

An internal organization of a state that places most power in the hands of central government officials.

confederation

A system of government in which sovereign states delegate power to a central government for specific purposes, but retain ultimate authority.

devolution

The transfer of power from a central government to regional or local authorities within a state.

electoral geography

The study of the spatial aspects of how people vote and the organization of electoral districts.

gerrymandering

The drawing of electoral district boundaries to favor one political party or group over another.

boundary dispute

A disagreement between states over the location or function of a boundary.

territorial dispute

A disagreement over the ownership or control of land.

sovereign debt

The debt that a national government owes to others.

political instability

A situation characterized by a lack of consistent patterns of governance, often involving violence or the risk of it.

failed state

A state whose political or economic system has become so weak that the government is no longer in control.

proxy war

A conflict in which two opposing states "fight" by supporting different sides in a war fought by others.

terrorism

The systematic use of violence by a group calculated to create an atmosphere of fear and thereby to bring about a particular set of political objectives.

human rights

Fundamental rights and freedoms inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status.

environmental issues

Problems related to the planet's natural systems and the impact of human activities on them, which can be a source of international tension.

refugee

A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.

internally displaced person (IDP)

A person who has been forced to flee their home but remains within their country's borders.

asylum seeker

A person who has fled their home country and is seeking international protection in another country.

migration

Movement of people from one place to another.

xenophobia

Intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries.

globalization

The increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of countries through exchanges of goods, services, information, and ideas.

multilateralism

Cooperation among several countries on an issue.

unilateralism

The policy of a state acting alone, without consulting or cooperating with other nations.

non-governmental organization (NGO)

A non-profit, voluntary citizens' group that is organized on a local, national, or international level to address issues in support of the public good.

intergovernmental organization (IGO)

An organization composed primarily of sovereign states (referred to as member states), or of other intergovernmental organizations.

territoriality

A fundamental aspect of human behavior and a core political geography concept that refers to the perceived, conceived, or actual control over a physical space by an individual, group, or state.

neocolonialism

A modern form of colonialism in which former colonies are still economically and politically dependent on former colonial powers or other powerful states.

shatterbelt

A region caught between stronger colliding external cultural-political forces, under persistent stress, and often fragmented by aggressive rivals.

buffer state

A state located between two larger conflicting countries, helping to prevent conflict between them.

satellite state

A country that is formally independent but is heavily influenced or controlled by another country.

chokepoint

A strategic narrow route (land or sea) allowing passage to another region, the control of which could halt trade or movement.

exclusive economic zone (EEZ)

A sea zone extending up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline, over which a coastal state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources.

Law of the Sea

A body of international law governing the rights and duties of states with respect to the world's oceans.

median line principle

A method used to divide and allocate resources in international waters or between states with overlapping claims, typically drawing a line equidistant from the baseline of each state.

frontier

A zone where no state has complete political control and which is often sparsely settled.

internal waters

Waters on the landward side of the baseline from which the territorial sea is measured, including rivers, lakes, and harbors, over which a state has complete sovereignty.

territorial sea

A belt of coastal waters extending up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline of a coastal state, over which the state has sovereignty, subject to the right of innocent passage for foreign ships.

contiguous zone

A zone extending from the outer edge of the territorial sea up to 24 nautical miles from the baseline, in which a coastal state can enforce laws related to customs, fiscal, immigration, and sanitary matters.

high seas / international waters

The parts of the ocean that are not included in the territorial sea or exclusive economic zone of any state, and are free for use by all states.

census

A complete enumeration of a population, often conducted by governments to gather demographic data.

reapportionment

The process of reallocating seats in a legislative body, such as the U.S. House of Representatives, based on population changes after a census.

House of Representatives

The lower house of the United States Congress, with the number of representatives for each state based on its population.

redistricting

The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries within a state after reapportionment to ensure each district has roughly the same population.

cracking

A type of gerrymandering that involves dispersing a concentration of voters for one party into several districts so that they are a minority in each.

packing

A type of gerrymandering that involves concentrating the opposing party's voters into a small number of districts that they win by a large margin, thereby reducing their influence in other districts.

unitary Systems

A system of government in which power is concentrated in a central government.

federal systems

A system of government in which power is divided between a central government and regional (state, provincial) governments.

compact state

A state with a relatively round or square shape, making communication and transportation easier.

fragmented state

A state that includes several discontinuous pieces of territory, which can pose challenges for unity and communication.

elongated state

A state with a long and narrow shape, which can lead to regional variations and challenges in governance.

perforated state

A state that completely surrounds another state.

prorupted state

A state with a compact area and an extension or "peninsula."

balkanization

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

physical geography

Physical features like mountains, islands, or vast distances that can create barriers to interaction and promote regionalism.

ethnic separatism

Feelings of distinctiveness and alienation based on ethnicity that can lead to demands for greater autonomy or independence.

economic and social issues

Regional disparities in wealth, development, or social conditions that can fuel demands for greater local control.

terrorism

Organized violence aimed at creating fear and achieving political aims, which can destabilize a state and lead to calls for regional autonomy or separation.

social problems

Issues like discrimination, inequality, or cultural clashes that can create tensions between different groups within a state and lead to demands for greater self-governance.

communication technology

Advances in technology like the internet and social media that can connect people across regions and foster a sense of national identity.

supranationalism

Cooperation among three or more states for mutual benefit, often involving the surrender of some sovereignty, which can create a sense of shared identity and purpose.

collective defense

Agreements between states to provide mutual military assistance in case of attack, which can strengthen alliances and create a sense of shared security.

defined

The phase where the exact location of a boundary is legally described and agreed upon, often through a treaty or legal document.

delimited

The phase where the boundary is drawn on a map or other visual representation.

demarcated

The phase where the boundary is physically marked on the ground with visible means such as walls, fences, posts, or other markers.

administered

The phase where the boundary is actively maintained and controlled by the government, including regulating movement across it.

definitional

Disagreements over the legal interpretation of the boundary agreement.

locational

Disagreements over the actual placement of the boundary on the ground, even if the definition is clear.

operational

Disagreements over the way a boundary should function or be administered.