AP Human Geo Unit 4

state

A 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. Popularly known as countries - e.g. United States, Canada, China, Cameroon, Honduras.

nation

"People who think of themselves as one based on a shared sense of culture and history and who desire political autonomy. Examples: Japanese, French, German, Hmong."

nation-state

A state where the vast majority of the people are of the same single nation (nationality or ethnicity). Very few of these exist - examples: Japan, Iceland, Armenia, Lesothosta

stateless nation

a nation who do not have their own independent state. Examples: Palestinians, Basque, Kurds, Hmong

multinational state

A state with two or more nations (most states). Example Germany, France, USA, Mexico, China, Russia

multi-state nation

A nation living across multiple states. Can either have a state (Russians or Arabs), a state divided in two (Korea), or be stateless (Kurds, Basque)

autonomous nation

"An area which governs itself but is not an independent country Examples: Greenland, Hong Kong"

semi-autonomous nation

"An area which can govern itself in certain areas, but does not have complete power to govern. Examples: Nunavut (isolated territory near Arctic Circle in Canada), Indian Reservations in US "

sovreignty

The authority of a state to govern itself. The United States has authority to govern itself - States have right to govern, Native American Tribal regions can govern themselves

self determination

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

independence movement

"An area that believes it should be its own country. Current US movements include: Texas, Cascadia, Chicago, California"

devolution

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

neocolonialism

Form of indirect control through the use of economic/political pressures to control or influence other countries, especially former colonies in which they continue to be exploited.

shatterbelt

Region endangered by local conflicts within the state or between countries in the area, as well as the opposing great powers outside the region. (Israel/Palestine)

choke point

geographical feature (sea or land), that has significant strategic importance - because it is a point of natural congestion along two wider and important passages

territoriality

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

relic boundary

A boundary that no longer exists as an international border but remnants of its existence remain. Examples: North and South Vietnam, Berlin Wall (again)

superimposed boundary

"A boundary that is drawn by powerful outsiders (colonizers) and ignores existing cultural groups. Examples: Israel/Palestine, Africa"

subsequent boundary

"A boundary that evolves as the cultural landscape of an area takes shape and changes as cultural landscape changes. Examples: Ireland and Northern Ireland, Sudan and South Sudan"

antecedent boundary

A boundary in the natural landscape that existed before the cultural landscape emerged and stayed in place as people moved in. Jungles between Malaysia and Indonesia. Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France. Great Lakes between US and Canada"

geometric boundary

"boundary that follows a straight line or arc. For example US and Canada. Western US states, North and South Korea"

consequent boundary

"boundaries that coincide with cultural groups.

demilitarized zone

"A buffer zone created by treaties/agreements between two or more military powers that falls on either side of the actual boundary. Example: DMZ between North and South Korea"

berlin conference

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

international waters

International waters are those located outside any nation's territorial waters. Some refer to these waters as the open seas or the high seas. No nation 'owns' these waters. They generally extend about 200 nautical miles from the shore of a country,

territorial sea

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

voting district

"Subdivision for electing members to a legislative body. In the U.S. voting districts are drawn at the local, state, and federal levels"

redistricting

"When voting districts are redrawn due to changes in population. This usually happens every 10 years after the US conducts its census"

gerrymandering

Redistricting that is unfair and gives an advantage to a particular political party by concentrating voting strength.

unitary state

State that is governed as a single unit with a central, top down form of governance where local territories only have power that is granted by the central government.

federal state

"state where there is a division of power between a central government and local territories/provinces/States. Examples: United States, Canada, Russia"

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. Examples: Armenian Genocide, Rohingya Muslims

terrorism

Violence against (typically) civilians for political reasons

irredentism

"When a state wants to annex territory whose population is ethnically similar. Example: Russia annexing Crimea

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. (So...SO much more on this later)

democratization

introducing democratic systems or principles

economies of scale

Cost advantages gained by an increased level of production. As countries agree to produce more of a good, the revenue received from selling that good is bound to increase.

trade agreements

Treaty between two or more states who agree on trade, tariffs, taxes, and often include investment guarantees. Example: NAFTA formed to eliminate tariffs between USA, Canada, and Mexico

military alliances

An agreement between two or more states who agree on mutual protection and support in case of a crisis. Example: NATO formed to defend against threats by communist countries after WWII.