APHG unit 4 quiz 1

Autonomous Regions

a subnational area within a country that has a degree of self-governance, allowing it to make its own political, economic, and cultural decisions while still being part of the larger state

Annexation

the incorporation of new territory into a larger political entity, whether a country or a city

Balance of Power

a condition of roughly equal strength between opposing countries or alliances of countries

Berlin Conference

1884-1885 meeting where European powers regulated colonization and trade in Africa, leading to the division of the continent without African representation

Boundry

a defined line that separates political entities or geographic areas, marking the limits of territorial jurisdiction and governance

City-State

sovereign state that consists of an independent city and its surrounding territory

Centrifugal Force

forces causing conflict

Centripetal Force

uniting forces

Census

the official count of a population that provides data on characteristics like age, gender, and income, used to analyze population trends, allocate resources, and inform policy

Colonialism

a practice where a country establishes and maintains control over a foreign territory to exploit its resources, people, and markets for economic, cultural, and political gain

Cold War

the period of geopolitical tension after World War II between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, characterized by ideological conflict and a global struggle for influence rather than direct military conflict

Cracking

splitting a geographically compact minority population into multiple districts to dilute their voting strength

Cultural Boundary

an invisible line separating different cultural groups based on traits like language, religion, or ethnicity

Decolonization

The process where colonies gain independence from a colonial power, establishing self-governance and sovereignty

Defined Boundry

a legally established line that separates political units, created by a treaty or other legal document

Delimited Boundary

a political boundary that has been drawn on a map

Demarcated boundary

a political border that has been physically marked on the ground with visible objects like fences, walls, posts, or other monuments

Neocolonialism 

the use of economic, political, and cultural pressures to control or influence a country, especially former colonies, without direct military or political rule

Devolution

the transfer of power from a central government to regional or local governments within a stat

Ethnographic

referring to a method of delineating boundaries based on the cultural and ethnic composition of a population

Federal State

a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing regions or states under a central federal government.

Frontier 

a zone of separation or transition between two areas, often marked by a lack of clear boundaries or governance.

Genocide

the intentional and systematic destruction of a racial, ethnic, national, or religious group.

Gerrymandering

the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group.

Geometric Boundary

a political boundary defined by geometric shapes, typically straight lines, rather than by physical or cultural features.

Hijacking

the unauthorized takeover of a vehicle, such as an aircraft or ship, usually for political or criminal purposes.

Imperialism

the policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force, often involving the domination of one nation over another.

Kidnapping

the unlawful carrying away of a person by force or fraud, often for ransom or political purposes.

Microstates

very small sovereign states, often characterized by small land area, population, or both, that still hold full international recognition.

Militarized Boundary

a heavily guarded boundary between two countries or regions, often designed to restrict movement and prevent illegal crossings, frequently a source of tension.

Multinational state

a state containing more than one nation, where each nation has its own distinct culture and identity.

Nationalism

a strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country, often accompanied by the belief in its superiority over other nations.

Nation-state

a state whose territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular ethnicity that has been transformed into a nationality.

Packing

in gerrymandering, concentrating a minority group's voters into one district to minimize their influence in other districts.

Physical Boundary

a boundary that follows a natural feature in the landscape, such as a river, mountain range, or desert.

Multistate Nation

a nation that stretches across borders and across states.

Self-Determination

the process by which a country determines its own statehood and forms its own government.

Semiautonomous region

a region within a country that has a degree of self-governance, but less autonomy than a fully autonomous region, often with specific delegated powers from the central government.

sovereignty

the full right and power of a governing body over itself, without any interference from outside sources or bodies.

Stacking

a form of gerrymandering that combines like-minded voters into large districts, where they are a minority and unable to elect their preferred representatives, and is often used to dilute minority voting power.

State

a political unit with a defined territory, a permanent population, its own government, and sovereignty.

Stateless Nation

a group of people with a common culture, history, and identity that does not have its own independent, sovereign state

Terrorism

the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.

Uneven Development

the economic development of different regions at different rates, often leaving some areas more prosperous and others more impoverished.

Unitary State

a state governed as a single power in which the central government is ultimately supreme and any administrative divisions exercise only powers that the central government chooses to delegate.