Political Geography Flashcards

Flashcards to review key vocabulary terms from Political Geography lecture notes.

Compact State

A state where the distance from the center to any boundary does not vary greatly.

Projected State

A state with a projecting extension, often to access resources or separate areas.

Elongated State

A state that is long and narrow, often suffering from poor communication.

Fragmented State

A state with several discontinuous pieces of territory.

Perforated State

A state completely surrounded by another state.

Landlocked State

A state lacking direct access to the sea.

Physical Boundaries

Natural boundaries such as rivers, lakes, or mountains.

Cultural Boundaries

Estimated boundaries between nations, ethnic groups, or tribes.

Geometric Boundaries

Boundaries surveyed along lines of latitude and longitude.

Antecedent Boundary

A boundary that existed before the cultural landscape emerged.

Subsequent Boundary

A boundary that developed after an area is settled.

Consequent Boundary

A boundary that coincides with a cultural divide, such as religion or language.

Relict Boundary

A boundary that has stopped functioning but is still noticeable on the landscape.

Median Line Principle

Drawing a border using the midpoint between two areas.

Definitional Boundary Dispute

Border treaties are interpreted differently between states.

Locational Boundary Dispute

When borders naturally change, like a river changing course.

Operational Boundary Dispute

Borders are agreed to, but passage across is a problem.

Allocational Boundary Dispute

When a resource lies on both sides of the border.

Frontier

A zone where no states exercise complete control.

Berlin Conference (1884)

European powers met and carved up Africa.

Territorial Sea

12 nautical miles from shore where all laws of a country apply.

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

Exclusive economic rights within 200 miles of shore.

Gerrymandering

Irregularly drawing voting districts to favor a particular party.

Supranational Organizations

International organizations where member states transcend national boundaries.

United Nations Purpose

To maintain world peace.

NATO

A military cooperation created by the U.S. after WWII.

Article 5

An attack on one member is seen as an attack on all members.

Warsaw Pact

Military cooperation created by the Soviet Union after WWII.

European Union (EU)

Acts as one giant economy for all members.

Free Trade

elimination of tariffs

Unitary State

Most power is placed in the hands of a central government.

Federal State

Power is broken up and given to local units.

Nation

A group of people with common cultural characteristics.

Nation-State

A country whose people are of a homogenous cultural background.

Stateless Nation

An ethnic minority within a state that would like its own state, but does not have one.

Centripetal Force

Factors that unify a country/bring people together.

Centrifugal Force

Factors that divide a country and its people.

Devolution

When power is transferred from the central government to smaller local/regional governments.

Balkanization

The process by which a country breaks apart through conflicts among its ethnicities.

Irredentism

The movement to reclaim land that was considered lost or taken from a country in the past.

Autonomous Regions

Regions that usually have control over their own affairs.

Shatterbelt

An area in between two opposing forces.

Value-Added tax

Minimum 15% sales tax to pay for the governance of the EU

USMCA

Replaced NAFTA

Loss of Sovereignty

Loss of Sovereignty when countries give up some power to abide by EU decisions