APHUG Political Geography Vocab

Annexation

Forceful acquisition of territory by another state or nation.

Balkanization

Process of fragmenting a multinational region into smaller states.

Buffer State

Country between rival powers, reducing conflict potential.

Capitalism

Economic system based on private ownership and market forces.

Centrifugal Forces

Factors that divide people within a state.

Centripetal Forces

Factors that unite people within a state.

Colonialism

Control of territory by foreign power for economic gain.

Conference of Berlin

1884 meeting haphazardly dividing Africa among European powers.

Decolonization

Process of colonies gaining independence from imperial powers.

Devolution

Transfer of autonomy from central to regional governments.

Redistricting

Redrawing congressional district boundaries following the census and reapportionment.

Enclave

Territory surrounded entirely by another state.

Exclave

Territory separated from the main territory by another state.

Ethnic Conflict

Disputes between groups based on cultural differences.

Frontier

Zone of transition between settled and unsettled areas.

Geopolitics

Study of geography's influence on international relations.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating congressional district boundaries for political advantage.

Heartland Theory

Halford Mackinder’s belief that control of Eurasia leads to world dominance.

Rimland Theory

To control the world, coastal regions are more important than continental interior.

Imperialism

Policy of extending a country's power through colonization.

Landlocked

Country with no direct access to the ocean.

Reapportionment

Redistributing congressional seats based on population changes.

Majority-Minority Districts

Electoral areas where minorities form voting majority.

Mercantilism

Economic policy maximizing exports and minimizing imports.

Multinational States

Countries containing multiple ethnic groups/nationalities.

Multi-State Nation

Single ethnic group spread across multiple countries.

Nation

Group sharing common cultural identity and heritage.

Nation-State

Country where political borders match ethnic boundaries.

Peace of Westphalia

1648 treaties establishing a modern state system in Europe.

Ratzel's Theory

States grow like organisms through territorial expansion.

Domino Theory

Communism in one country will spread to its neighbors if it is not contained.

Self-Determination

Right of people to choose their political futures.

Shatterbelt

Unstable region contested by competing powers.

Sovereignty

Supreme authority within territory's borders.

State

Political unit with territory, population, and government/autonomy.

Stateless Nation

Ethnic group without autonomy/sovereignty.

Supranational Organization

Group of countries united for common economic, political, social, or military goals.

Territoriality

Control or influence over geographic area.

Unilateralism

Nation acting alone without international cooperation.

Unitary Government

Centralized government system with power at national level.

Apartheid

Former South African system of racial segregation.

Asymmetric Federalism

Regions have different powers within the same country.

Challenges to Modern State

Issues such as immigration or supranational organizations that threaten traditional state authority.

East-West Divide

Cold War split between communist/capitalist worlds.

European Union

Economic and political partnership of European countries.

Federalism

Power shared between national and regional governments.

Forward Capitals

Capital cities moved for strategic reasons.

Irredentism

Movement to reclaim lost territory for ethnic groups behind another country’s borders.

Microstates

Very small independent countries known for sense of place and tax havens.

Military Alliances

Formal defense agreements between nations.

NAFTA

Set up tariff-free trade zone between the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Separatism

Movement to break away from the existing state.

Terrorism

Violence for political aims against civilians.

Theocracies

States governed by religious law.

Census

Official population count and demographic survey completed every 10 years.

Positional Boundary Dispute

Disagreement over exact location of boundary line.

Territorial Boundary Dispute

Conflict over ownership of specific land area.

Resource Boundary Dispute

Dispute over natural resources spanning or near borders.

Functional Boundary Dispute

Conflict over how a border should operate (movement/access/control).

Antecedent Boundary

Border established before current settlement patterns existed.

Subsequent Boundary

Border created after population settled the area.

Superimposed Boundary

Border forcefully placed, ignoring cultural/physical geography.

Relic Boundary

Former border that no longer serves political function.

Border Definition

Legal description of boundary's location and characteristics.

Border Delimitation

Drawing boundaries on a map or plan.

Border Demarcation

Physical marking of boundary on the ground.

Natural/Physical Boundaries

Boundaries based on physical features like rivers or mountains.

Ethnographic/Cultural Boundaries

Boundaries based on cultural traits, such as language or religion.

Geometric Boundaries

Boundaries based on straight lines (latitude/longitude).

Compact Country Shape

Small, efficient shape with relatively equal distances from center.

Fragmented Country Shape

Country made up of disconnected pieces or islands.

Elongated Country Shape

Long, narrow shape, often with diverse climates or regions.

Prorupted Country Shape

Compact shape with a large, extended projection or peninsula.

Perforated Country Shape

Country that completely surrounds another state.