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35 Terms
1
Devolution
Movement of power from the central government to the regional government within a state.
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2
State
Area organized into a political unit and ruled by a government, with a permanent population and defined territory.
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3
Sovereignty
The ability of a state to govern itself or another state, independent from external control.
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4
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.
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5
Compact state
A state in which the distance from the center to any boundary does not vary significantly, often considered to be ideally shaped.
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6
Elongated state
A state that is long and narrow, which can lead to issues of communication and transportation.
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7
Fragmented state
A state that consists of several discontinuous pieces of territory, often separated by water or other states.
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8
Gerrymandering
The process of redrawing legislative boundaries to favor one particular political party over another.
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9
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.
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10
Supranationalism
The practice of two or more countries forming alliances or organizations for economic, political, or cultural reasons.
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11
Microstate
A very small sovereign state, often with a limited population and land area.
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12
Colonialism
The practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country and exploiting it economically.
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13
Imperialism
The policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.
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14
Irredentism
Political or popular support for the annexation of territories administered by another state on the grounds of common ethnicity or prior historical possession.
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15
Centripetal forces
Factors that promote unity and stability within a state.
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16
Centrifugal forces
Factors that can lead to the fragmentation or disintegration of a state.
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17
Territorial morphology
The study of the shape, size, and layout of political units and how these factors affect their behavior and relations.
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18
Heartland theory
Mackinder's theory suggesting that the nation that controls Eastern Europe controls the world; strategic importance of the Heartland.
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19
Rimland theory
Spykman's theory that coastal fringes of Eurasia are vital to power; controlling these is crucial for global dominance.
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20
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.
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21
Terrorism
The systematic use of violence to intimidate or coerce a population or government for political or ideological goals.
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22
Frontier
A zone where no state exercises complete political control, characterized by open space and uncertainty.
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23
Enclave
A territory or part of a territory that is entirely surrounded by the territory of another state.
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24
Exclave
A portion of a state's territory that is separated from the main part and surrounded by foreign territory.
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25
Decolonization
The process by which colonies gain independence from colonial powers.
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26
Balkanization
The fragmentation of a region into smaller regions or states that are often hostile to one another.
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27
Self-determination
The right of people to determine their own political status and pursue their own economic, social, and cultural development.
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28
Gerrymandering types
Methods employed in gerrymandering: wasted vote, excess vote, and stacked vote.
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29
Microstate Examples
Countries like Monaco, San Marino, and Liechtenstein that are characterized by their small size and population.
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30
Urbanization
The process by which larger populations move from rural to urban areas, often leading to city growth and changes in land use.
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31
Physical boundaries
Natural land features like rivers and mountains used to delineate political borders.
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32
Cultural boundaries
Borders that correspond to ethnic, cultural, or linguistic differences among populations.
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33
Defined boundary
A boundary established by a legal document or treaty.
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34
Demographic transition model (DTM)
A model that describes population change over time through stages based on birth and death rates.
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35
OPEC
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries; an intergovernmental organization of oil-producing nations.
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