APHG Unit. 4

Federal Government

A system of governance where power is shared between central and regional governments.

Unitary Government

A centralized system of governance where all power is held by a central authority.

Spatial Organization

The arrangement of different elements of governance, including how power is distributed.

Autonomy

The ability of a regional or local government to govern itself independently.

Central Authority

The main governing body that holds supreme power in a unitary system.

Multinational

A term describing a state with multiple national groups or ethnicities.

Local Government

Administrative offices that manage and govern local regions or communities.

Legislate

To make or enact laws.

Positives of Federal Government

Reduction of conflict on issues, and quicker local issue resolution.

Negatives of Federal Government

Slow change enactment and potential conflicts between governmental layers.

Positives of Unitary Government

Efficiency in law implementation and quick response to national issues.

Negatives of Unitary Government

Risk of centralization leading to corruption and detachment from local issues.

Cultural Identity

The shared characteristics of a group, including language and traditions.

Decentralization

The transfer of authority from central to regional government bodies.

Constitution Amendment

The process required to change the Constitution, often requiring extensive agreement.

Political Units

Divisions of government that have specific authorities and responsibilities.

Canton

A type of regional government division in Switzerland with significant legal power.

Assembly

A formal meeting or gathering of representatives for law-making purposes.

Executive Branch

The part of government responsible for enforcing laws and policies.

Legislative Assembly

A body of elected representatives responsible for making laws.

National Policy

Policies that are applied uniformly across a state, usually decided by the central government.

Local Authorities

Governmental bodies that manage local affairs and operations.

Economic Measures

Decisions regarding financial policies and responses to economic issues.

Disaster Response

Plans and actions taken to manage relief efforts during emergencies.

Civic Participation

Involvement of citizens in the governance process, including voting and law-making.

Education Reform

Changes made to improve the educational system.

Authority of Local Governments

The extent of power that local administrations hold to enact laws and policies.

Cultural Rights

The rights of diverse cultural communities to preserve their identity and traditions.

Uniform Application

The consistent enforcement of laws across all regions.

Peer Grading

The process where students assess each other's work according to a rubric.

Political Entity

An organization that holds power in governance, usually a state or nation.

Sovereignty

The right of a government to control and defend its territory and determine what happens within its borders.

Nation

A group of people with a common identity through shared cultural traits such as language, religion, ethnicity, and heritage.

State

An independent political entity with defined territory, a permanent population, government, and sovereignty.

Nation-state

A state whose borders coincide with its national identity, ideally containing one nation only.

Stateless nation

A group of people with a common identity but without a state to govern them.

Multi-state nation

A nation that is spread across and inhabits more than one state.

Multinational state

A country containing multiple ethnic groups and cultures within its borders.

Plurinationalism

A political system acknowledging multiple national identities within one state.

Recognition from other states

The acknowledgment by one state of another's existence and authority.

Peace of Westphalia

The 1648 agreement that helped establish the concept of state sovereignty.

Cultural traits

Features that define a group's identity, including language, religion, ethnicity, and heritage.

Autonomous region

A location within a state that is granted self-governing authority separate from the national government.

Example of a nation

The Maasai, a semi-nomadic ethnic group in East Africa.

Territory

Defined geographic area with recognized borders belonging to a state.

Permanent population

A stable and lasting group of residents living in a defined territory.

Government

The organization through which a state exercises authority and makes laws.

Ethnic Group

A community of people who share a common cultural background.

Indigenous languages

Languages that are native to a region or group, often linked to ethnic identity.

Example of a multinational state

The United States, which comprises various ethnicities and cultures.

Authority

The legitimate power to make decisions and enforce rules within a governed area.

Sovereignty

A state’s authority to control its territory and govern itself.

Nation-State

The territory occupied by a particular nation of people is the same as the recognized political boundary of that state.

Self-Determination

The right of all people to govern themselves, typically leading to independence movements.

Devolution

The transfer of power from a central government to regional authorities, often due to centrifugal forces.

Berlin Conference

A meeting in 1884 where European powers divided Africa into colonies, disregarding tribal cultures.

Colonialism

The practice of acquiring control over another country, often through settlement and exploitation.

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Treaty of Versailles

The 1920 treaty that ended WWI and redrew national boundaries in Europe and Southwest Asia.

Establishment of Israel

The founding of Israel in 1948 on former Palestinian territory, sparking ongoing conflict.

Decolonization

The process by which colonies gain independence and establish self-governing nations.

Cold War

A period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States after WWII.

Ethnic Tensions

Conflict arising from the grouping of different ethnic groups within newly drawn national borders.

Balkanization

The fragmentation of a region into smaller, often hostile, political units.

Centrifugal Forces

Factors that divide or pull apart a state, leading to instability and potential conflict.

Ethnic Nationalism

A form of nationalism wherein the nation is defined in terms of ethnicity.

Stateless Nation

A group of people with a common ethnicity and culture without an independent state.

Post-Colonialism

The period and thought after colonies gain independence, examining the impacts of colonial rule.

Rise of Nationalism

The surge in national identity and pride leading to movements for independence.

World Map Changes

The changes in territorial boundaries and political divisions influenced by historical events.

Treaty of Westphalia

The 1648 treaties that ended the Thirty Years' War and marked the beginning of modern state sovereignty.

Geopolitical Influences

The effects of geography on international politics and relations.

Territoriality

The control and influence over a specific geographic space.

Political Power

Control over people, land, and resources, not necessarily tied to a specific geographic area.

Neocolonialism

The use of economic, political, cultural, or other pressures to control or influence other countries.

Semi-Periphery Countries

Nations that are not powerful but also not weak, often in an intermediate stage between developed and developing countries.

Periphery Countries

Countries that are less developed and often economically dependent on more developed countries.

Shatterbelts

Regions that experience instability due to overlapping territorial claims and political power from various states.

Choke Points

Strategic narrow passages or canals that can be militarily and economically significant.

Examples of Choke Points

Strait of Malacca, Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal.

Impacts of Colonialism

The effects of colonization on the geography and political landscapes of former colonies.

Centrifugal Forces

Forces that divide people and countries, often leading to conflict.

Geopolitical Influence

The effects that geographical factors have on international politics.

Sovereignty

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

Boundaries

Limits that define a state's territory and influence.

Defense/Military

The systems and capabilities a state uses to protect itself.

Historic Links

Cultural and historical connections that influence regional politics.

Economic Dependence

Reliance on external funds or investments for economic stability.

Kennedy's $3.8 Billion Railroad

An example of neocolonialism with China's investment in Kenya.

Cold War Germany

A historical example of a shatterbelt region.

Balkan Peninsula

A shatterbelt region with complex ethnic and religious diversities.

U.S. Wars in the Middle East

An example of political influence exerted through military means.

Territoriality

The attempt by individuals or groups to assert control over a geographic area.

Neocolonialism

The practice of using economic, political, and cultural pressures to control or influence other countries, particularly former dependencies.

Choke Point

A geographical feature that is significant for controlling passage through a space, often critical for trade and military movement.

Antecedent Boundary

A boundary that was established before significant human settlement.

Subsequent Boundary

A boundary that is drawn after the area has been settled and often reflects the cultural landscape.

Consequent Boundary

A type of subsequent boundary that takes into account the cultural distribution of the population.

Superimposed Boundary

A boundary imposed on a territory without regard for existing cultural patterns.

Geometric Boundary

A boundary defined by straight lines, often based on latitude and longitude.