APHG Final Review

State

A politically organized territory with a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.

Colonialism

The practice of acquiring and maintaining colonies, where one nation exerts control over dependent territories and their peoples.

Imperialism

The policy or ideology of extending a nation's rule over foreign countries and creating an empire.

Core

The most developed and economically powerful regions, often characterized by advanced technologies, strong infrastructure, and wealth.

Periphery

Regions that are less developed, typically characterized by a reliance on primary sector activities and lack of technological advancement.

Semiperiphery

Regions that fall between the core and periphery, exhibiting some level of industrialization and economic development, but not to the extent of core regions.

Neocolonialism

A form of indirect control or influence over countries, mainly through economic and cultural pressures rather than direct political control.

Centripetal forces

Forces that unite a state or country, creating a stable political environment and cohesion.

Centrifugal forces

Forces that divide or destabilize a state, leading to fragmentation, conflict, or separation.

Unitary government

A system of government where a single central authority holds significant power, with little or no decentralization.

Federal system

A system of government where power is divided between a central authority and smaller political units.

Geometric boundary

A boundary defined by straight lines, often following lines of latitude and longitude.

Physical-political boundary

A boundary defined by a physical geographic feature, such as a river, mountain, or ocean.

Relic boundary

A boundary that no longer functions but still holds historical significance.

Subsequent boundary

A boundary created and adjusted after the cultural landscape has developed.

Antecedent boundary

A boundary that was established before the present cultural landscape developed.

Superimposed boundary

A boundary imposed on a territory without regard to existing cultural or ethnic divisions.

Consequent boundary

A boundary that coincides with a cultural or ethnic division, reflecting the differences among groups.

Geopolitics

The study of the effects of geography on international politics and relations.

Supranational organization

An organization or alliance formed between multiple countries to achieve collective goals beyond the scope of individual nations.

Deterritorialization

The process of removing or diminishing the significance of territorial boundaries or limits.

UNCLOS

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, an international treaty defining the rights and responsibilities of nations regarding the use of the world's oceans.

Shatterbelt

A region caught between stronger, competing external cultural-political forces, often characterized by conflict and instability.

Choke point

A strategic location where transportation or trade is narrowed, creating a potential for controlling movement.

Ethnic separatism

The advocacy for the separation of a specific ethnic group from a larger political entity to achieve autonomy or independence.

Irredentism

A political or popular movement advocating for the restoration of a place or territory that was formerly part of a larger nation.

Ethnonationalism

A form of nationalism where a specific ethnic group seeks to assert its rights and identity.

Decolonization

The process of undoing colonial influences and gaining sovereignty over a territory previously controlled by a colonizing power.