Political Patterns and Processes

These flashcards summarize key concepts in political geography, covering definitions and important terms related to states, nations, colonialism, sovereignty, and boundary types.

What does a state refer to in political geography?

A political unit with a permanent population, territorial boundaries recognized by other states, an effective government, a working economy, and sovereignty.

What is the definition of a nation?

A group of people who think of themselves as one based on shared culture and history, which may include religion, language, and ethnicity.

What is a nation-state?

A politically organized area where a nation and state occupy the same space, effectively merging the concepts of nation and state.

What is a stateless nation?

When a nation does not have a territory to call its own.

What is a multinational state?

A state that contains more than one nation within its borders.

What are autonomous regions?

Areas within a state that have a high degree of self-government and freedom from their parent state.

What is self-determination in the context of political geography?

The right of a country to be independent and for its people to choose their form of government.

What is colonialism?

The establishment of a new territory by a group that maintains ties to their home government, often leading to control over another place.

What was the Berlin Conference of 1884?

A meeting that brought together European powers to establish rules for the division of Africa among themselves.

What is genocide?

A mass, organized killing of people targeted due to their race, religion, ethnicity, or nationality.

What is the definition of decolonization?

The process of winning independence from a colonial power.

What does the term gerrymandering refer to?

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one political party over another.

What is the Schengen Area?

An area comprising 26 European countries that have abolished passport and border control at their common borders.

What is the difference between a geometric boundary and a natural boundary?

Geometric boundaries are drawn based on a grid system (latitude or longitude), while natural boundaries follow features in the natural landscape (like mountains or rivers).

What are the four zones defined by UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)?

Territorial seas, contiguous zones, exclusive economic zones (EEZ), and high seas.

What are centripetal forces?

Forces within a state that unify the people, such as nationalism and shared cultural symbols.

What are centrifugal forces?

Forces within a state that divide the people, such as ethnic tensions and economic disparities.