AP Human Geography Unit 4

Boundary

invisible line that marks the extent of a state's territory

Centripetal Force

An attitude that tends to unify people and enhance support for a state

Centrifugal Force

a force that divides people and countries

Cold War

A conflict that was between the US and the Soviet Union. The nations never directly confronted each other on the battlefield but deadly threats went on for years.

Colonies

a group of people who leave their native country to form in a new land a settlement subject to, or connected with, the parent nation.

European Union

An international organization of European countries formed after World War II to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members

Geopolitics

An interest in or taking of land for its strategic location or products

Government

the system or form by which a community or other political unit is governed

Imperialism

A policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, socially, and economically.

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country

Nation-State

A country who's population share a common identity.

Sovereignty

Ability of a state to govern its territory free from control of its internal affairs by other states.

Stateless Nation

A nationality that is not represented by a state.

State

A politically organized territory that is administered by a sovereign government and is recognized by the international community.

Territoriality

In political geography, a country's or more local community's sense of property and attachment toward its territory, as expressed by its determination to keep it inviolable and strongly defended.

Autonomous region

an area of a country that has a degree of autonomy, or has freedom from an external authority

Balance of power

a political situation in which no one nation is powerful enough to pose a threat to others

Berlin Conference

Conference that German chancellor Otto von Bismarck called to set rules for the partition of Africa. It led to the creation of the Congo Free State under King Leopold II of Belgium.

Capital city

The city where the central government of a country is.

city-state

A sovereign state comprising a city and its immediate hinterland.

colonialism

the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

Devolution

The process whereby regions within a state demand and gain political strength and growing autonomy at the expense of the central government.

Landlocked State

A state that does not have a direct outlet to the sea.

microstate

A state or territory that is small in both size and population.

multinational state

State that contains two or more ethnic groups with traditions of self-determination that agree to coexist peacefully by recognizing each other as distinct nationalities.

Soviet Union

A Communist nation, consisting of Russia and 14 other states, that existed from 1922 to 1991.

United Nations

An international organization formed after WWII to promote international peace, security, and cooperation.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an alliance made to defend one another if they were attacked by any other country; US, England, France, Canada, Western European countries

ethnicity

A social division based on national origin, religion, language, and often race.

genocide

Deliberate extermination of a racial or cultural group

Nationalism

pride in one's country

nationality

Identity with a group of people that share legal attachment and personal allegiance to a particular place as a result of being born there.

nation-state

a sovereign state whose citizens or subjects are relatively homogeneous in factors such as language or common descent.

race

A group of human beings distinguished by physical traits, blood types, genetic code patterns or genetically inherited characteristics.

Self-determination

the right of people to choose their own form of government

Federal State

allocates strong power to units of local government within the country

Unitary State

places most power in the hands of central/national government officials

Annexation

The adding of a region to the territory of an existing political unit.

China and Taiwan

-Officially recognized as part of the Republic of China

-Taiwan not recognized as part of the United Nations

multinational state

a state with more than one nation inside its borders

semi-autonomous region

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

Imperialism

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

Colonialism

acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

Early Colonialism

The first wave of European colonialism was led by Spain and Portugal, and then by France and Britain; established empires in the Americas

Later Colonialism

led by Great Britain, France, the Netherlands Belgium, Italy and Germany focused on controlling Africa and Asia. Began with the Berlin Conference in 1884-1885.

Berlin Conference of 1884

Africa divided unequally among European nations. The rights of Africans were disregarded.

Self-determination

The ability of a government to determine their own course of their own free will

Decolonization

the action of changing from colonial to independent status; having sovereignty over a territory

Genocide

the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group, religion, or nation.

Cold War

A conflict that was between the US and the Soviet Union. The nations never directly confronted each other on the battlefield but deadly threats went on for years; Began in 1945 after WWII and ended with breakup of Soviet Union in 1991

sattelite state

a country that is economically and politically dominated or dependent on another country

Territoriality

A country's or more local community's sense of property and attachment toward its territory, as expressed by its determination to keep it strongly defended.

Religious Conflicts

Violence between members of different religious groups; Ex: Sunni & Shia Muslims divided on question of who should succeed Muhammad

Economic Conflicts

A type of conflict over territory that is important for trade routes or resource production (Ex: South Asian nations claiming sovereignty in the South China Sea)

Neocolonialism

Also called economic imperialism, this is the domination of newly independent countries by foreign business interests that causes colonial-style economies to continue.

Modern Globalization

After WWII, trade barriers were lowered with the creation of the UN leading to a new era of globalization

choke point

Strategic, narrow waterway between two larger bodies of water that leads to congestion and potential important economic benefits

Strait of Hormuz

a strategically important strait linking the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman; Arguably the world's most important choke point

Physical geographic boundaries

natural barriers between areas such as oceans, deserts, and mountains

cultural boundaries

borders based on culture traits, like language and religion

antecedent boundary

a boundary line established before the area in question is well populated or developed a cultural landscape

subsequent boundary

a boundary line that is established after the area in question has been settled and that considers the cultural characteristics of the bounded area

ethnographic

relating to cultural phenomena

superimposed boundary

a boundary line placed over and ignoring an existing cultural pattern

landlocked states

A state that does not have a direct outlet to the sea.

relic boundary

A boundary no longer observed but that still affects the present-day area (e.g. border between West and East Germany in Berlin)

geometric boundary

Political boundaries that are defined and delimited by straight lines.

consequent boundary

A type of subsequent boundary that is drawn to accommodate existing linguistic, cultural, or religious boundaries

open boundary

a boundary where crossing is unguarded and with little to no political intervention

Militarized Boundary

A boundary that is heavily guarded and discourages crossing and movement.

territorial dispute

Any dispute over land ownership

Irredentism

a policy of cultural extension and potential political expansion by a country aimed at a group of its nationals living in a neighboring country

Boundary Disputes

Conflicts over the location, size, and extent of borders between nations. There is conflict over where exactly the border is between the U.S. and Mexico, especially along the Rio Grande because the river has changed course and moved, and it is the traditional border.

Exclave

a part of a country that is separated from the rest of the country and surrounded by foreign territory.

Enclaves

Any small and relatively homogenous group or region surrounded by another larger and different group or region

Shatterbelt

A region caught between powerful forces whose boundaries are continually redefined.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

a code of maritime law approved by the United Nations in 1982 that authorizes, among other provisions, territorial waters extending 12 nautical miles from shore and 200-nautical-mile-wide exclusive economic zones

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

coastal states can explore, extract minerals, and manage up to 200 nautical miles

electoral geography

the study of how the spatial configuration of electoral districts and voting patterns reflect and influence social and political affairs

voting districts

Wide variety of small polling areas, such as election districts, precincts, or wards, that State and local governments create for the purpose of administering elections

electorate

the citizens eligible to vote

Reapportionment

the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census

Redistricting

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

Ethnic Separatism

The advocacy of a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from the larger group.

Terrorism

the use of violence by groups against civilians to achieve a political goal

subnationalism

Identification with small ethnic and regional groups within a nation.

Balkanization

Process by which a state breaks down through conflicts among its ethnicities

Globalization

Actions or processes that involve the entire world and result in making something worldwide in scope.

Supranationalism

a venture involving 3 or more national states political economic or cultural cooperation to promote shared objectives

European Union

An international organization of European countries formed after World War II to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members.

OPEC

An international oil cartel originally formed in 1960. Represents the majority of all oil produced in the world. Attempts to limit production to raise prices. It's long name is the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

WTO (World Trade Organization)

the only international body dealing with the rules of trade between nations

Transnational Corporation

conducts research, operates factories, and sells products in many countries

Ethnonationalism

the tendency for an ethnic group to see itself as a distinct nation with a right to autonomy or independence. A fundamental centrifugal force.