APHUG Unit 4

State

political unit with a permanent population and boundaries that are recognized by other states that allows for the administration of laws, collection of taxes, and provision of defense.

Nation

people who think of themselves as one based on a shared sense of culture and history and who desire political autonomy.

Nation-states

a state with a single nation (very few of these exist)

Stateless nations

a nation that does not have its own independent state

Multinational states

a state with two or more nations (most states)

Multistate nations

a nation living across states. Can either have a state, 2 or be stateless

Autonomous region

an area which governs itself but is not an independent country

Semi-autonomous region

an area which can govern itself in certain areas, but does not have complete power to govern

Sovereignty

final authority over a territory and the right to defend territorial integrity against incursion.

Self-Determination

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

Independence movements

an area that believes it should be its own country

Devolution

the transfer of decision-making power from a central government to a lower level.

Choke point

a strategic narrow route providing passage through or to another region

Neocolonialism

gaining indirect control of another country through economic or cultural pressures (as opposed to colonialism which generally used military power)

Shatterbelt

a region caught between stronger colliding external forces, under persistent stress, often fragmented by aggressive rivals

Territoriality

the perceived connection of people, their culture, and their economic systems to the land

Boundary

line that determines the limit of state jurisdiction that is a vertical plane that cuts through the subsoil and extends into the airspace above and often coincides with cultural, national, or economic divisions.

Relic

boundary that no longer exists as an international border but remnants of its existence remain.

Superimposed

boundary that is drawn by powerful outsiders (colonizers) and ignores existing cultural groups

Subsequent

boundary that evolves as the cultural landscape of an area takes shape and changes

Antecedent

boundary in the natural landscape that existed before the cultural landscape emerged and stayed in place as people moved in.

Geometric

boundary that follows a straight line or arc

Consequent

boundaries that coincide with cultural groups (example: India (Hinduism) and Pakistan (Islam))

Definition

the boundary is negotiated and legally described.

Delimitation

the boundary is drawn on a map

Demarcation

markers are placed on the ground at the boundary (signs, walls, fences, etc.)

Administration

the boundary is maintained

Demilitarized zone

an area previously in conflict from which weapons and military forces have been removed

The Berlin conference

a meeting held in Berlin in 1884 and 1885 with the purpose of the European nations dividing Africa among them for colonization with the intent of preventing conflict over the process.

Maritime boundary

the extensions of a country's territory into the oceans around them

UNCLOS

established rights and responsibilities of states concerning ownership/usage of the seas and their resources.

Territorial Sea

zone of water adjacent to a state's coast (12 miles) in which a state has sovereignty.

Median-Line Principle

an approach to dividing and creating maritime boundaries at the midpoint between two places

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

zone of water adjacent to the Contiguous Zone (200 miles) in which the state has a right to explore, exploit, conserve, and manage resources.

Voting District

subdivision for electing members to a governmental body.

Redistricting

when voting districts are redrawn due to changes in population.

Gerrymandering

redrawing voting district boundaries to give an advantage to a particular political party.

Democracy

a form of government in which the ultimate power rests with the people, usually through their elected representatives.

Unitary state

a country where the national government is strong and the regional governments are weak

Federal state

a country where the national government is strong and the regional governments are also strong, sharing power.

Physical Geography & devolution

physical boundaries can cause devolution as it was historically hard for states to maintain autonomy over difficult physical regions

Ethnic Separatism

mainly religion, language, or ethnicity related differences.

Ethnic Cleansing

the mass expulsion or killing of members of an unwanted ethnic or religious group in a society.

Terrorism

violence against (typically) civilians for political reasons.

Economic and Social Problems & devolution

economic or social strife can lead to the devolution and altering of states.

Irredentism

when a state wants to annex a territory whose population is ethnically similar.

Examples of devolution

Eritrea, South Sudan, East Timor, Soviet Union.

Democratization

introducing democratic systems or principles.

Supranationalism

political and/or economic alliance of three or more states that is formed for mutual benefit to promote shared goals or resolve disputes, but can limit the economic or political actions of member states creating a challenge to state sovereignty.

Economies of scale

cost advantages gained by an increased level of production.

Trade agreements

treaty between two or more states who agree on trade, tariffs, taxes, and often include investment guarantees.

Military alliance

alliance between two or more states who agree on mutual protection and support in case of a crisis.

Centripetal Force

Force or attitude that tends to unify people and enhance support for the state.

Centrifugal Force

Force or attitude that divides the state.