APHuG Unit 4 Vocabulary Terms

Allocational (Resource) Boundary Dispute

Conflict over natural resources (e.g., oil, gas, water) located near or across borders.

Antecedent Boundary

A boundary drawn before a region became heavily populated or culturally developed.

Apartheid

System of racial segregation in South Africa (1940s–1990s) under white minority rule.

Autocracy

Government controlled by a ruler who holds absolute power rather than the people.

Autonomous Region

Area within a country with self-governing powers or limited independence.

Balkanization

Fragmentation of a state into smaller, hostile units due to ethnic conflicts.

Boundary

Invisible line marking the territorial extent of a state.

Centrifugal Forces

Forces that divide or fragment a state (e.g., ethnic conflict, regionalism).

Centripetal Forces

Forces that unify a state (e.g., shared culture, national pride).

Choke Point

Narrow passage (like a strait or canal) crucial for controlling sea trade routes.

Colonialism

Control by one state over another territory to exploit resources and spread influence.

Compact State

State where borders are roughly equidistant from the center; circular shape.

Consequent Boundary

Boundary drawn to align with cultural divisions like language or religion.

Decolonization

Process by which colonies gain independence and control over their territories.

Definitional Boundary Dispute

Disagreement over legal wording or interpretation of boundary treaties or maps.

Delimitation

Mapping or drawing of boundaries from legal descriptions.

Demarcation

Physically marking boundaries with walls, fences, or signs.

Democracy

Government in which citizens elect leaders and can hold office.

Devolution

Transfer of powers from a central government to regional or local governments.

Electoral Geography

Study of how spatial patterns affect elections and political representation.

Elongated State

State much longer in one direction; long and narrow shape.

Enclave

Territory completely surrounded by another state but not part of it.

Ethnic Cleansing

Forced removal or extermination of an ethnic group to create homogeneity.

Ethnonationalism

Political movement focused on independence or self-rule for a specific ethnic group.

Exclave

Territory belonging to a country but separated from it by another state.

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

Sea zone extending 200 nautical miles from shore for resource rights.

Federal State

Political system dividing power between national and regional governments.

Forward-Thrust Capital

Capital city moved or built to promote development in a frontier or interior area.

Fragmented State

State consisting of separated pieces of territory (e.g., islands).

Frontier

Zone where no state has complete political control.

Functional (Operational) Boundary Dispute

Disagreement about border management, like migration or customs.

Genocide

Systematic killing of a particular ethnic, political, or cultural group.

Geometric Boundary

Boundary defined by straight lines or arcs, often following latitude/longitude.

Geopolitics

Study of how geography influences political relations and power.

Gerrymandering

Redrawing of voting districts to favor one political party.

Global Commons

Areas outside national jurisdiction (e.g., oceans, atmosphere) not owned by any country.

Irredentism

Belief that a nation should reclaim territory inhabited by its ethnic kin outside current borders.

Landlocked

State without direct access to the ocean.

Law of the Sea

International law defining nations’ rights to ocean use and resources.

Locational (Positional) Boundary Dispute

Conflict over interpretation or location of an established boundary.

Median-Line Principle

Maritime boundary set equidistant between two states’ coasts.

Microstate

Very small country in land area and population (under 1 million people).

Multinational State

State containing multiple ethnic groups with self-determination traditions.

Multi-State Nation

Nation spread across multiple countries.

Nation

Group of people with shared culture, history, and territory seeking unity.

Nation-State

State where political and cultural boundaries align; one dominant national identity.

National Iconography

National symbols representing identity (e.g., flags, monuments).

Nationalism

Strong loyalty and devotion to one’s nation; prioritizing national interests.

Perforated State

State that completely surrounds another (e.g., South Africa around Lesotho).

Physical (Natural) Boundary

Boundary based on natural features like mountains, rivers, or lakes.

Prorupted State

State with a large extension or “arm” projecting from its main area.

Raison d’être

“Reason for being” or purpose that justifies a state’s existence.

Reapportionment

Redistribution of political representation based on population changes.

Regionalism

Loyalty to a specific region over the entire country.

Relic Boundary

Old boundary no longer in use but still visible in the landscape.

Satellite State

Country formally independent but heavily influenced or controlled by another power.

Self-Determination

Right of a people or ethnicity to govern themselves.

Sovereignty

State’s authority to govern itself without external interference.

State

Politically organized area with a government and recognized borders (synonymous with “country”).

Stateless Nation

Nation without its own independent state (e.g., Kurds, Palestinians).

Subsequent Boundary

Boundary created after cultural development of an area.

Superimposed Boundary

Boundary drawn by external powers ignoring existing cultural divisions.

Supranationalism

Cooperation among multiple states for mutual benefit, often sacrificing some sovereignty (e.g., EU).

Territorial Dispute

Conflict over land ownership between two or more countries.

Territorial Morphology

Study of a state’s shape and how it affects politics and governance.

Territoriality

Effort to control or defend a geographic area.

Terrorism

Use or threat of violence against civilians to achieve political or ideological goals.

Unitary State

State with centralized power and limited regional autonomy; strong national identity.