Fouberg, Human Geography for the AP Course, Chapter 8

multistate nation

Nation (people) that stretches across states (countries).

stateless nation

A nation that does not have a state.

World-Systems Theory

Theory originated by Immanuel Wallerstein and illuminated by his three-tier structure, proposing that social change in and economic wealth in the periphery is inextricably linked to the core.

centripetal force

in nationalism, attributes of a nation that can be activated or manipulated to unite the nation, such as national iconography, patriotism, shared culture and history, or common religion or ideology.

centrifugal force

In nationalism, attributes of a nation that can be activated or manipulated to divide the nation, such as unequal distribution of wealth, or religious, linguistic, ethnic, and ideological differences.

unitary state

A state that has a centralized government and administration that exercises power equally over all parts of the state.

federal state

A state that allocates strong power to units of local and regional government

devolution

Transfer of power from central government to regional or local government within a state (country).

democracy

Government by the people where the people are sovereign and have the final say over what happens within a state.

reapportionment

Redistribution of representatives based on population change. For example seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are reapportioned across states after each census before each state redistricts.

gerrymandering

Manipulating electoral districts to give one political party unfair advantage.

geometric boundary

Political boundary defined and delimited (and occasionally demarcated) as a straight line or an arc.

state

a politically organized territory with a permanent population a defined territory, and a government

territoriality

efforts to control pieces of the earth's surface for political and social ends

sovereignty

a government's legal right to control its own territory

colonialism

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

nation

a group of people with a sense of cultural connection and a shared identity that is attached to a territory

nation-state

A nation (people) and a state (country) who share the same borders.

multinational state

State (country) with more than one nation (people).

physical-political boundary

Political boundary defined by a prominent physical feature in the physical landscape, such as a riverbank or the crest of a mountain range.

heartland theory

Theory that a political power based in the heart of Eurasia could gain enough strength to eventually dominate the world.

deterritorialization

Movement of economic, social, and cultural processes out of the hands of states (countries).

supranational organization

An organization of three or more states involving formal political, economic, and/or cultural cooperation to promote shared objectives. For example, the European Union is one such organization.