Human geo voc unit 4

nation

a people who share a common heritage, are unified by shared values and heritage, and typically claim a specific location as their homeland based on tradition

state

synonymous with country

nation-state

A singular nation of people who fulfill the qualifications of a state

multinational state

a country that contains more than one nation

stateless nation

cultural groups that have no independent political entity

multistate nations

a nation has a state of its own but stretches across borders of other states

autonomous region

A defined area within a state that has a high degree of self-government and freedom from its parent state

heartland theory

Mackinder's theory that land based power was essential to world domination

organic theory

Ratzel's theory that states are living organisms, and they need living space and growth to not only survive but remain strong

rimland theory

Spykman's theory that controlling key maritime areas of the world leads to world domination, as it provides varied resources, including the sea.

antecedent boundary

a boundary created before an area is known or populated

geometric boundary

political border drawn as a straight line on a map, often following lines of latitude and longitude, without regard to physical or cultural features on the ground

militarized boundary

a political border that is heavily guarded and controlled by military forces, often featuring armed personnel, checkpoints, and surveillance systems to strictly monitor movement across the border line

unitary state

states with this kind of government allow little to no power/sovereignty for their sub-units; most states of this kind are located in Europe

territorial sea

a state has sovereignty up to 12 miles off their coast; commercial vessels pass, non-commercial can be challenged

census

in the United States, redistricting and assigning of seats in the House of Representatives to states is guided by this

federal state

states with this kind of government allow powers/sovereignty for their sub-units; examples would include Canada and the United States

EEZ

the 200 mile radius off the coast where a country has exclusive rights to harvest resources

frontier

an area at the edge of any type of effective political control or at the edge of a settlement

subsequent boundary

a boundary created after settlement, usually meant to separate existing cultural groups

devolution

the process in which power moves from the central government to subnational units

Balkanization

an explosion of conflict between ethnic groups in a region or country

centrifugal forces

a factor that divides or pulls people apart, potentially leading to fragmentation within a state or society

centripetal forces

a factor that unites and strengthens a state or region, promoting stability and a sense of community among its people

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country

Colonialism

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

Geopolitics

study of government and its policies as affected by physical geography

sovereignty

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

municipality

A city, town, etc. having its own incorporated government for local affairs.

Irredentism

a policy of cultural extension and potential political expansion by a country aimed at a group of its nationals living in a neighboring country

Democratization

the process of creating a government elected by the people

Ethnic exclaves

an area populated by an ethnic group separated from the main territory occupied by the same ethnic group

Ethnic enclaves

neighborhoods where people from similar cultures live together and assert cultural distinction from the dominant group

Ethnic separatism

desired regional autonomy expressed by a culturally distinctive group within a larger, politically dominant culture

Terrorism

the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an alliance made to defend one another if they were attacked by any other country; US, England, France, Canada, Western European countries

United Nations (UN)

an organization of independent states formed in 1945 to promote international peace and security

OPEC

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Gerrymandering

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

Redistricting

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.

UNCLOS (Law of the Sea)

A code of maritime law approved by the United Nations in 1982 that authorizes, among other provisions, territorial waters extending 12 nautical miles (22km) from shore and 200-nautical-mile-wide (370-km-wide) exclusive economic zones.

open borders

An open border is a border that enables free movement of people between different jurisdictions with limited or no restrictions on movement.

Ethnographic border

a cultural boundary that runs along differences in ethnicity, such as language and religion.

superimposed border

a political boundary/border placed by powerful outsiders on a developed human landscape

Relic boundary/border

A boundary no longer observed but that still affects the present-day area (e.g. border between West and East Germany in Berlin)

Allocational Boundary Dispute

A boundary dispute that involves conflicting claims to the natural resources of a border region.

Operational Boundary Dispute

Conflict over the way a boundary should operate or function, such as the conflict over allowing migration across the border

Locational Boundary Dispute

Conflict over the location or place of a boundary

Definitional boundary dispute

focus on the legal language of the boundary agreement

Defined Boundary

one established by a legal

document, such as a treaty.

Demarcated Boundary

identified by physical objects placed on the landscape, such as a sign, wall, or fence.

administered boundary

The enforcement and maintaining of a boundary by a government

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

political map

A map showing units such as countries, states, provinces, districts, etc. Each is normally a different color

chokepoint

A strategic narrow passageway on land or sea that may be closed off by force or threat of force.

political power

expressed geographically as control over people, land, and resources

shatterbelt

an area of instability between regions with opposing political and cultural values

reapportionment

the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census

self-determination

the right of people to choose their own form of government

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.

territorialty

is the sense of personal ownership we attach to a particular space.

supranationalism

term applied to associations created by three or more states for their mutual benefit and achievement of shared objectives

electoral college

A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

majority-minority district

A congressional district created to include a majority of minority voters; ruled constitutional so long as race is not the main factor in redistricting.

How do historical and current events influence political structures around the world?

through processes like colonialism, decolonization, wars, and economic shifts, influencing boundaries, power dynamics, and the rise and fall of political systems

How are balances of power reflected in political boundaries and government power structures?

through historical and ongoing power dynamics, whether negotiated or imposed, shaping territorial control, resource distribution, and legal frameworks

How can political,economic, cultural, or technological changeschallenge state sovereignty?

by diminishing a state's ability to control its internal affairs and resist external influence, through mechanisms like international organizations, globalization, cultural shifts, and technological advancements