AP Human Geography Unit 4: Political Geography Vocabulary Definitions

Balkanization

The process by which a state breaks down through conflicts among ethnicities.

Balkanized

A geographic area that cannot be successfully organized into stable states due to ethnic conflicts.

Centrifugal Force

A force that divides people and countries (e.g., ethnic conflicts, political instability).

Centripetal Force

A force that unifies people and enhances support for a state (e.g., nationalism, shared culture).

Ethnic Cleansing

The forced removal or extermination of an ethnic group from a region.

Ethnicity

A group of people who share a common cultural tradition, ancestry, or homeland.

Genocide

The deliberate mass killing of a particular ethnic, religious, or national group.

Multi-Ethnic State

A state that contains multiple ethnic groups.

Multinational State

A state containing multiple ethnic groups with traditions of self-determination (e.g., Canada).

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride and loyalty toward one's country or cultural group.

Nation-State

A state where the political boundaries match the distribution of a single ethnic group (e.g., Japan).

Race

A classification of people based on physical traits, often socially constructed.

Self-Determination

The right of ethnic groups to govern themselves.

Shatterbelt

A region caught between external political or cultural forces, often experiencing conflict.

Sovereignty

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

Annexation

The formal addition of territory into a state (e.g., Russia’s annexation of Crimea).

Antecedent Boundary

A boundary established before significant population settlement (e.g., U.S.-Canada border).

Autonomous

A region within a state that has a high degree of self-governance (e.g., Hong Kong).

Semi-Autonomous

A region that has some self-governing power but remains under the authority of a larger state.

DMZ (Demilitarized Zone)

A neutral area between conflicting states where military activity is forbidden (e.g., Korean DMZ).

Berlin Conference

A meeting (1884-85) where European powers divided Africa without considering ethnic groups.

UN Law of the Sea

International laws defining rights over ocean resources and territorial waters.

Boundary

A political or geographic line separating states or regions.

City-State

A sovereign state consisting of a city and its surrounding territory (e.g., Ancient Athens).

Colonialism

The control and exploitation of a foreign territory by a more powerful state.

Colony

A territory legally tied to a sovereign state rather than being independent.

Compact State

A state where the distance from the center to any boundary is roughly equal (e.g., Poland).

Democracy

A system of government in which power is vested in the people, often through elections.

Devolution

The transfer of power from a central government to regional governments (e.g., Scotland in the UK).

Elongated State

A state with a long and narrow shape (e.g., Chile).

Enclave

A territory completely surrounded by another state (e.g., Vatican City in Italy).

Exclave

A portion of a state that is geographically separated from the main part (e.g., Alaska).

Federal State

A state where power is shared between central and regional governments (e.g., U.S.).

Fragmented State

A state composed of several disconnected pieces of territory (e.g., Indonesia).

Frontier

A zone where no state exercises full political control.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of voting district boundaries to favor a particular political party.

Imperialism

The domination of one country over another through political, economic, or military means.

Landlocked State

A state with no direct access to the ocean (e.g., Bolivia).

Microstate

A very small state in both population and land area (e.g., Monaco).

Perforated State

A state that completely surrounds another (e.g., South Africa surrounding Lesotho).

Prorupted State

A compact state with an extended arm of territory (e.g., Thailand).

Relic Boundary

A boundary that no longer functions but still influences the cultural landscape (e.g., Berlin Wall).

Subsequent Boundary

A boundary drawn after cultural landscape changes have occurred (e.g., India-Pakistan).

Superimposed Boundary

A boundary drawn by outside powers, ignoring cultural divisions (e.g., Africa’s borders after colonialism).

State

A political entity with a defined territory, government, and sovereignty.

Terrorism

The use of violence and intimidation for political purposes.

Unitary State

A state with a strong central government and little regional autonomy (e.g., France).

Supranational Organization

An organization of multiple states for collective benefit (e.g., UN, EU).

Territoriality

The control over a geographic area and its resources.

Stateless Nation

An ethnic group that does not have a sovereign state (e.g., Kurds, Palestinians).

Redistricting

The redrawing of political districts to reflect population changes.

Reapportionment

The process of reallocating seats in a legislature based on population shifts.

Neocolonialism

The use of economic or political pressure by developed countries to control former colonies.

Irredentism

A movement to reclaim and reoccupy a 'lost' homeland (e.g., Russia and Crimea).

Geometric Boundary

A boundary drawn as a straight line, often following latitude/longitude (e.g., U.S.-Canada border).

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

A maritime zone extending 200 nautical miles from a state's coast, giving it control over resources.

Consequent Boundary

A boundary drawn to accommodate existing cultural or ethnic differences (e.g., the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland).

Chokepoint

A narrow strategic passageway crucial for trade or military control (e.g., Strait of Hormuz).

Electoral College

A body of representatives from U.S. states that formally elects the president.

Economies of Scale

The cost advantages that businesses gain due to increased production size.

Multi-State Nation

A nation that spans multiple states (e.g., Koreans in North and South Korea).

Democratization

The process of transitioning to a more democratic system of government.