AP Human Geography Unit 4 Vocabulary Review

Requirements for a state

Defined territory, Permanent population,
Government,
Sovereignty, and
Recognition from other states

Nation

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

nation-state

when the borders of the nation match the borders of the state - a state with (ideally) only one nation within it.

Stateless nations

are nations of people without a state to occupy

multinational state

a country with various ethnicities and cultures within its borders

An autonomous or semi autonomous region

a location within a state that is given authority to govern independently from the national government

Berlin Conference (1884)

Europeans drew political boundaries for their own benefits without regard to tribal cultures and distributions. Over time this causes conflict and violence and impacted the development of African countries and other colonies.

The Treaty of Versailles (1920)

This treaty was signed to end WWI. It redrew boundaries in Europe and Southwest Asia.

Establishment of Israel (1948)

Self-determination for Arabs across Palestine rose and conflict has ebbed and flowed since the state was officially established.

Decolonization & Independence Movements (1945-1990)

Resistance to colonial power and political self-determination gained momentum and new countries were formed out of previous colonial empires.

Fall of the Soviet Union (1991)

The fall of communism and the Soviet Union ended the Cold War and led to the creation of newly independent states, and changed the world balance of power.

Territoriality

the control and influence over a specific geographic space

Neocolonialism

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

Shatterbelts

Instability within a region that is geographically located between states with overlapping territoriality and political power.

Choke Points

A strategic strait or canal which is narrow, hard to pass through and has competition for use.

antecedent boundary

Borders that are established before there has been major settlement by people in a territory.

subsequent boundary

Borders that are drawn in areas that have been settled by people, typically due to changes that have occured over time.

Consequent

Type of subsequent boundary - takes into account the existing cultural distribution of the people living in the territory and redevelops boundary lines to more closely align with cultural boundaries.

superimposed boundary

Border that is drawn over existing and accepted borders by an outside force.

Geometric Boundary

Borders that are established on straight lines of latitude and longitude instead of physical or cultural boundaries.

Relic Boundary

Border that no longer exists, but has left some imprint on the local cultural or environmental geography.

Territorial Sea

12 nautical miles from the coastline
Complete sovereignty over the water and airspace
Permission of "innocent passage "of foreign ships

EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone):

200 nautical miles
A state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources such as fishing, whaling, as well as natural resources like natural gas, oil, energy.

Median Line Principle

Drawing a boundary that is midway between two or more states' coasts.

Census

Done every 10 years, mandated by the Constitution.
Official population count but also includes data on age, race, sex.

Reapportionment

Process in which U.S. House of Representative seats are re-allocated to different states, based off of population change.

Electoral College

Organization that utilizes the popular vote to then vote for President. Loss of congressional seat = loss of Electoral College seat.

Redistricting

State's internal political boundaries that determine voting districts for the US House of Representatives and the state legislature

Gerrymandering

Redistricting for a political advantage, when the political party that controls a majority of seats in the state legislature draws political district boundaries to maintain or extend their political power.

Packing

Clustering like-minded voters in a single district, thereby allowing the other party to win the remaining districts

Cracking

Dispersing like-minded voters among multiple districts in order to minimize their impact and prevent them from gaining a majority.

Federal Government

A style of government in which power is shared between central, regional, and local governments.

Unitary Government

A style of government in which the power is located centrally and the purpose of regional or local units is to carry out policy.

Devolution

the process in which regions within a state demand and gain political strength and growing autonomy at the expense of the central government.

Autonomy

Independence, freedom, self-governing

Balkanization

Process by which a state breaks down through conflicts among its ethnicities

What factors lead to the devolution of states?

Physical Geography
Ethnic Separatism
Ethnic Cleansing
Terrorism
Economic or Social Problems
Irredentism

Supranational Organizations

An alliance of three or more states that work together in pursuit of common goals

Collective Defense

For military organizations, an attack against one Ally is considered as an attack against all Allies.

Economies of Scale

Increased trade and bargaining power in order to make more money for corporations or member nations of a Supranational Organization

CENTRIPETAL FORCES

Characteristics that unify a country and provide stability.

CENTRIFUGAL FORCES

Characteristics that divide a country and create instability, conflict and violence.

African Union (AU)

An organization of African nations pursuing greater political and economic integration across the continent

Artic Council

a high-level intergovernmental forum that addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

a trade alliance that promotes trade and economic integration among member nations in Southeast Asia

buffer state

a small neutral state between two rival powers

Core States

States that have the most advanced industrial and military technologies, complex manufacturing systems, external political power, and the highest levels of wealth and mass consumption

peripheral states

States that have relatively little industrial development, simple production systems focused mostly on agriculture and raw materials, and low levels of consumption of manufactured goods

Cultural cohesion

The capacity of different national and ethnic groups to make a mutual commitment to live together as citizens of the same state.

Demarcated Boundary

A boundary demarcated (marked) by some visible means on the ground. Ex. wall posts, fences, etc.

Delimited Boundary

a line drawn on a map to show the limits of a space

European Union (EU)

a free trade zone encompassing 27 European countries

failed state

A state so weak that its political structures collapse, leading to anarchy and violence

Iconography

the study of a group of representative pictures or symbols

Irredentism

a policy of cultural extension and potential political expansion by a country aimed at a group of its nationals living in a neighboring country

International Terrorism

Terrorism that is carried out by people in a country other than their own; also known as cross-border terrorism.

NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)

Allows open trade between the US, Mexico, and Canada.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

A 1949 defense alliance initiated by the US, Canada, and 10 Western European nations

Satellite State

A political term that refers to a country which is formally independent, but under heavy influence or control by another country.

State Terrorism

the use of force and terror by a state government against its own people - either a particular group or minority within the state or the entire population

Domestic Terrorism

acts of terrorism that take place within a state's boundaries without direct foreign involvement