Political Geography Terms 1-25

state

An area organized into a political unit and ruled by an established government with control over its internal and foreign affairs.

Nation

a group of people with a common culture living in a territory and having a strong sense of unity

nation-state

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

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.

multistate nation

nation that stretches across borders and across states

Autonomous Regions (ARs)

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

Nationalism

Loyalty and devotion to a particular nationality

centripetal force

An attitude that tends to unify people and enhance support for a state (i.e. common language)

centrifugal force

a force that divides people and countries (i.e. poor economy)

Imperialism

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

Colonialism

Attempt by one country to establish settlements and to impose its political, economic, and cultural principles in another territory.

Neocolonialism

Economic dominance of a weaker country by a more powerful one, while maintaining the legal independence of the weaker state. In the late nineteenth century, this new form of economic imperialism characterized the relations between the Latin American republics.

Sovereignty

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

Territoriality

Defense of a space against encroachment by other individuals.

Core (World Systems Theory)

high levels of education/high salary/ high standard of living who exploit the semi-periphery and periphery

Periphery (World Systems Theory)

Relatively weak government, greatly influenced by and depend on core countries and transnational corporations

semi-periphery

places where core and periphery processes are both occurring; places that are exploited by the core but in turn exploit the periphery

Unitary State

An internal organization of a state that places most power in the hands of central government officials

Federal State

An internal organization of a state that allocates most powers to units of local government.

Devolution

the transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states

Shatterbelts

politically fragmented areas often between main powers.

stateless nation

A nationality that is not represented by a state.

choke point

a strategic, narrow waterway between two larger bodies of water (Rock of Gibraltar, Suez Canal)

majority-minority districts

Drawing district boundaries to give a minority group a majority

Gerrymandering

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