AP Human Geo: Unit 4

African Union (AU)

African leaders hoped that by forming this organization integrating the entire continent's political and economic systems, they could reach a level of unity similar to the EU.

Antecendent Boundary

a boundary made before the land is cultured or significantly populated Ex. Ohio River

Arctic Council

The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum for the 8 Arctic states: Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden, and the United States. Ever since its establishment, environmental protection has been at the core of the work of the Arctic Council

Association of Southeast Asian Nations

political and economic organization of ten Southeast Asian countries.

Autonomous Regions

regions that are granted autonomy, or the ability for a region to be ruled by only its own laws; the basque region in spain is an example of this.

Balkanization

the process by which a state breaks down through conflicts among its ethnicities. EX: Yugoslavia

Berlin Conference

a meeting from 1884-1885 where representatives from European countries got together and drew lines to divide up Africa between them

Centrifugal force

centrifugal forces BREAK a nation apart (ethnic conflicts, multiple languages or religions, fragmented state etc.)

Centripetal force

Centripetal forces UNIFY a region (Same history, shared language, history, sports team, threat from an outside region/country etc.)

Colonialism

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

Consequent boundary

"drawn to accomodate existing religious, linguistic, ethnic, or economic differences between countries~ Ex. Vatican City ~ Ex. Palestine ~ Ex. Pakistan ~ Ex. (former) Yugoslavia"

Decolonization

the action of changing from colonial to independent status

Defined boundary

the exact location of a boundary is leagally described and negotiated and has been defined by treaty or legal document EX: Native American Treaties

Delimited boundary

A boundary is drawn on the map in agreement

• a boundary that has been formally defined and drawn, usually on a map or in a legal document, but not yet physically marked on the ground

Demarcated boundary

boundary is visibly marked on the landscape by a fence, line, sign, wall or other means

Demilitarized zone (DMZ)

An area in which treaties or agreements between nations, military powers or contending groups forbid military installations, activities or personnel.

Democratization

the process by which a political system transitions from a non-democratic, typically authoritarian, form of government to a more democratic one.

Devolution

the process of moving powers from a central government to smaller, subnational (regional, state, or local) governments. Ex: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland exercise authority over their own lands, but remain part of the United Kingdom

EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone)

a sea zone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources. This is significant, for example, in the Caspian Sea. There has been much conflict over the debate of who has control of the resources in the sea.

Enclave

a country or part of a country mostly surrounded by the territory of another country or wholly lying within the boundaries of another country (there are also ethnic enclaves)

Ethnic cleansing

the attempt to get rid of (through deportation, displacement or even mass killing) members of an unwanted ethnic group in order to establish an ethnically homogenous geographic area

Ethnic separatism

When an ethnic group desires to separate from larger group. Ex. Quebec, Belgium, the Basques in Spain

Ethnonationalism

a form of nationalism in which the "nation" is defined in terms of ethnicity

European Union (EU)

an organization of 28 European nations whose members cooperate on economic, social, and political issues

Exclave

a country which is geographically separated from the main part by surrounding territory (there are also ethnic exclaves)

Failed state

a state whose political or economic status is so weak, the government loses control. EX: States like Libya, Iraq, Pakistan and Siberia are in danger of failing because of rebellion.

Federal state

a state whose government that divides the powers of government between the national government and state or provincial governments

Geometric Boundary

"political boundaries based on geometric shapes (usually straight lines, latitude/longitude) ~ Not natural boundaries (don't use existing features) ~ Ex. Korea (38th parallel) ~ Ex. Canada and U.S. ~ Ex. Africa"

Gerrymandering

the process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the political party in power

Imperialism

Control of territory already occupied and organized by an indigenous society.

Independent States

states that exercise self-government, and usually hold sovereignty

Irredentism

any position advocating annexation of territories administered by another state on the grounds of common ethnicity or prior historical possession, actually or alleged. EX: Russia Annexation of Crimea, formerly apart of Ukraine, on the claims that the inhabitants were Russian

Supranational Organizations

where three or more countries form an alliance for cultural, economic, or military reasons. ex. UN, NATO, EU, ASEAN, NAFTA

Multistate Nations

A Nation that stretches across borders and acorss states

Multinational State

a state with more that one nation inside its borders. EX: Russia being the largest with 39 ethnicities, many of which are eager for independence

Nation

a group of people who share language, history, ethnicity, religion, and other traits

Nation-state

a politically organized area in which nation and state occupy the same space Ex. Japan and Iceland

Nationality

identity with a group of people who share legal attachment and personal allegiance to a particular country

Nationalism

Loyalty and devotion to a particular nationality.

Neocolonialism

control by a powerful country of its former colonies (or other less developed countries) by economic pressures

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

a military alliance of western democracies begun in 1949 with 28 member states today; its members agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party.

Redistricting

The drawing of new electoral district boundary lines in response to population changes

Relic Boundary

no longer functions as a boundary but shows on the cultural landscape EX. Berlin Wall separating East and West Germany or DMZ in Vietnam

Self-determination

the concept that ethnicities have the right to govern themselves

Shatterbelt

a region caught between stronger colliding external cultural-political forces, under persistent stress, and often fragmented by aggressive rivals

Sovereignty

having the last say (having control) over and territory-politically and militarily

State

a political territory with defined borders, stable population, organizational structure/government, sovereignty, and international recognition (a country)

Stateless nation

a cultural group that doesn't have a state of its own. Ex. Kurds, Palestinians.

Subsequent Boundary

boundaries made after an area has been settled. Ex. the US/Mexican border

Superimposed Boundary

a boundary that has been imposed on an area by an outside or conquering power. Ex: Africa

Supranationalism

is the process of nation states organizing politically and economically into one organization or alliance

Territorial sea

Part of UNCLOS that says 12 miles from shore, belongs to territory

Territoriality

The process by which individuals or groups claim, control, and defend a specific area of land or space

Terrorism

the use of violence by non-governmental groups against civilians to achieve a political goal by instilling fear and frightening governments into changing policies

UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)

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

Unitary State

A state governed constitutionally as a unity, without internal divisions or a federalist delegation of powers (One Central government) EX. France

United Nations

A global supranational organization of 193 countries/nations established at the end of World War II to foster international security and cooperation.

United Nations purpose

"1. perserve international peace and security 2. develop countries 3. protect human rights 4. provide relief for natural disasters 5. International laws"

Choke Point

a strategic strait or canal which could be closed or blocked to stop sea traffic (especially oil).