Unit 4 Notes

Devolution

Movement of power from the central government to the regional government within a state.

State

Area organized into a political unit and ruled by a government, with a permanent population and defined territory.

Sovereignty

The ability of a state to govern itself or another state, independent from external control.

Stateless nation

An ethnic group that does not possess its own state and is not the majority population in any nation-state, e.g., the Kurds.

Compact state

A state in which the distance from the center to any boundary does not vary significantly, often considered to be ideally shaped.

Elongated state

A state that is long and narrow, which can lead to issues of communication and transportation.

Fragmented state

A state that consists of several discontinuous pieces of territory, often separated by water or other states.

Gerrymandering

The process of redrawing legislative boundaries to favor one particular political party over another.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

A treaty that defines the rights and responsibilities of nations regarding the use of the world's oceans.

Supranationalism

The practice of two or more countries forming alliances or organizations for economic, political, or cultural reasons.

Microstate

A very small sovereign state, often with a limited population and land area.

Colonialism

The practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country and exploiting it economically.

Imperialism

The policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Irredentism

Political or popular support for the annexation of territories administered by another state on the grounds of common ethnicity or prior historical possession.

Centripetal forces

Factors that promote unity and stability within a state.

Centrifugal forces

Factors that can lead to the fragmentation or disintegration of a state.

Territorial morphology

The study of the shape, size, and layout of political units and how these factors affect their behavior and relations.

Heartland theory

Mackinder's theory suggesting that the nation that controls Eastern Europe controls the world; strategic importance of the Heartland.

Rimland theory

Spykman's theory that coastal fringes of Eurasia are vital to power; controlling these is crucial for global dominance.

Choke point

A strategic, narrow passageway in international waters or land that serves as a point of congestion in the transportation of goods and military.

Terrorism

The systematic use of violence to intimidate or coerce a population or government for political or ideological goals.

Frontier

A zone where no state exercises complete political control, characterized by open space and uncertainty.

Enclave

A territory or part of a territory that is entirely surrounded by the territory of another state.

Exclave

A portion of a state's territory that is separated from the main part and surrounded by foreign territory.

Decolonization

The process by which colonies gain independence from colonial powers.

Balkanization

The fragmentation of a region into smaller regions or states that are often hostile to one another.

Self-determination

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

Gerrymandering types

Methods employed in gerrymandering: wasted vote, excess vote, and stacked vote.

Microstate Examples

Countries like Monaco, San Marino, and Liechtenstein that are characterized by their small size and population.

Urbanization

The process by which larger populations move from rural to urban areas, often leading to city growth and changes in land use.

Physical boundaries

Natural land features like rivers and mountains used to delineate political borders.

Cultural boundaries

Borders that correspond to ethnic, cultural, or linguistic differences among populations.

Defined boundary

A boundary established by a legal document or treaty.

Demographic transition model (DTM)

A model that describes population change over time through stages based on birth and death rates.

OPEC

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries; an intergovernmental organization of oil-producing nations.