Political Organization of Space Concepts U4

Annexation

Incorporation of a territory into another geo-political entity.

Antarctica

Southernmost continent in the world. It has no permanent residents and doesn't belong to any country.

Apartheid

Afrikaans for apartness, it was the segregation of blacks in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. It was created to keep the white minority in power and allow them to have almost total control over the black majority.

Balkanization

The political term used when referring to the fragmentation or breakup of a region or country into smaller regions or countries. The term comes from the Balkan wars, where the country of Yugoslavia was broken up in to six countries between 1989 and 1992. It was the effect of the Balkan wars.

Border Landscape

There are two types, exclusionary and inclusionary. Exclusionary is meant to keep people out, such as the border between the U.S. and Mexico. Inclusionary is meant to facilitate trade and movement, such as the U.S.-Canada border.

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.

Boundary origin

Boundaries often originated from old tribal lands and lands won in war. They were meant to establish claims to land and were often smaller historically.

Boundary process

The process of creating boundaries.

Boundary type

Many boundaries are natural boundaries, formed by rivers, mountains, etc. There are also political boundaries. These are often formed through war and compromise in treaties and agreements.

Buffer state

A country lying between two more powerful countries that are hostile to each other. An example is Mongolia, which serves as a buffer between Russia and China.

Capital

Principle city in a state or country. The best place to locate is at the center of a country, so it is a somewhat equal distance from all parts of the country.

Centrifugal

Religious, political, economic, conflict, etc. that causes disunity in a state.

Centripetal

An attitude that unifies people and enhances support for the state.

City-state

A region controlled by a city and that has sovereignty. They were more common in the middle ages and Renaissance in Europe.

Colonialism

The attempt by a country to establish settlements and impose political and economic control and principles. It was a big thing in the 17th through 20th century for countries in Europe to take areas around the world and make them into colonies.

Confederation

Association of sovereign states by a treaty or agreement. It deals with issues such as defense, foreign affairs, trade, and a common currency.

Conference of Berlin

Regulated trade and colonization in Africa. It formalized the scramble to gain colonies in Africa and set up boundaries for each country's colonies.

Core/periphery

countries have high levels of development, a capacity at innovation and a convergence of trade flows. countries usually have less development and are poorer countries.

Decolonization

movement of American/European colonies gaining independence. Some were peaceful struggles while others became violent.

Devolution

the both the decentralization of a government from a unitary to a federal system or a fracturing of a government like Balkanization.

Domino theory

the idea that if one land in a region came under the influence of Communists, then more would follow. It was used by successive United States administrations during the Cold War, to justify American intervention around the world.

Exclusive Economic Zone

a sea zone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources. The country that controls It has rights to the fishing, whaling, etc., as well as the raw material resources.

Electoral regions

the different voting districts that make up local, state, and national regions.

Enclave/exclave

a country or part of a country mostly surrounded by the territory of another country or wholly lying within the boundaries of another country (Lesotho). a country which is geographically separated from the main part by surrounding alien territory (Azerbaijan).

Ethnic conflict

a war between ethnic groups often as a result of ethnic nationalism or fight over natural resources. often includes genocide. It can also be caused by boundary disputes.

European Union

a supranational and intergovernmental union of 27 democratic member states of Europe. The activities cover most areas of public policy, from economic policy to foreign affairs, defense, agriculture and trade. is the largest political and economic entity on the European continent, with around 500 million people and an estimated GDP of US$13.4 trillion.

Federal

a political philosophy in which a group or body of members are bound together with a governing representative head. the system in which the power to govern is shared between the national & state governments.

Forward capital

a symbolically relocated capital city usually because of either economic or strategic reasons. is sometimes used to integrate outlying parts of a country into the state. An example would be Brasília.

Frontier

a zone where no state exercises complete political control. It is usually uninhabited or sparsely inhabited. It separates countries where a boundary cannot be found. A current example can be found between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Geopolitics

the study that analyzes geography, history and social science with reference to international politics. It examines the political and strategic significance of geography, where geography is defined in terms of the location, size, and resources of places.

Gerrymander

the process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the political party in power. The process is usually used to turn 'too close to call' states into a party's favor.

Global commons

which no one person or state may own or control and which is central to life. contains an infinite potential with regard to the understanding and advancement of the biology and society of all life. (Forests, oceans, land mass and cultural identity)

Heartland/rimland

the central region of a country or continent; especially a region that is important to a country or to a culture. Rimland is the maritime fringe of a country or continent.

Immigrant State

a type of receiving state which is the target of many immigrants. are popular because of their economy, political freedom, and opportunity. One example would be the USA.