APHG Vocabulary: Political Geography

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms related to political geography, designed for exam preparation.

Autonomous Region

A defined area within a state that has a high degree of self-governance.

Multinational State

A state that contains two or more ethnic groups with traditions of self-determination.

Multistate Nation

A nation that spans multiple states or countries.

Nation

A group of people with a shared culture, language, and history.

Nation-state

A political entity characterized by a coinciding national and state boundary.

State

A politically organized territory with a permanent population and government.

Stateless Nation

An ethnic group that does not possess its own state.

Semiautonomous Region

A region that has some degree of self-governance but is still under the control of a larger political entity.

Colonialism

The practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers.

Devolution

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

Imperialism

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

Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself or another state.

Self-determination

The right of a people to determine their own political status and pursue their own economic, social, and cultural development.

Territoriality

The effort by an individual or group to influence or control an area.

Shatterbelt

A region that is caught between stronger colliding external cultural-political forces.

Neocolonialism

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

Choke points

Strategically significant areas or waterways that are narrow and allow control over the flow of goods or military.

Geometric boundary

A boundary drawn based on a grid system, often using lines of latitude and longitude.

Cultural boundary

A boundary that follows the distribution of cultural features.

Physical boundary

A boundary that follows a physical feature such as a river or mountain range.

Relic boundary

A boundary that no longer functions but can still be detected on the landscape.

Superimposed boundary

A boundary that has been imposed on the cultural landscape.

Subsequent boundary

A boundary that is established after a population has settled.

Antecedent boundary

A boundary that was established before the area was populated.

Consequent boundary

A boundary that takes into account the cultural characteristics of the populations.

Demilitarized zone

An area in which treaties or agreements between nations forbid military installations.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

An international agreement that establishes guidelines for the use of the world's oceans.

Gerrymandering

The practice of manipulating electoral district boundaries for electoral advantage.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries.

Unitary states

States in which most or all power is held by a central government.

Federal states

States that divide power between a central government and various regional governments.

Ethnic separatism

The advocacy for separation of a particular ethnic group from a larger political entity.

Ethnic cleansing

The systematic removal of a particular ethnic group from a territory.

Terrorism

The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians.

Irredentism

The political principle or policy of reclaiming lost land or reuniting separated nation-states.

Supranationalism

The idea of having power or influence that transcends national boundaries.

Supranational Organization

An organization composed of countries that give up a degree of sovereignty for mutual benefits.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

A regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten Southeast Asian countries.

European Union (EU)

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

Arctic Council

A high-level intergovernmental forum that addresses issues faced by Arctic governments.

African Union

A continental union consisting of 55 African countries aimed at promoting unity and cooperation.

Subnational Political-territorial units

Political subdivisions within a nation-state that possess a degree of autonomy.

Centrifugal force

A force that divides people and countries.

Centripetal force

A force that unifies people and countries.

Ethnonationalism

Nationalism based on ethnic identity.