APHUGE Unit 4- Political Geo.

Balkanization

Process by which a state breaks down through conflicts among its ethnicities

Antedecent boundary

a political boundary that existed before the cultural landscape emerged and stayed in a place while people moved into occupy the surroundings

Autonomous Regions

Areas of some countries that feel they ought to have a special status partly because of their cultural distinctiveness and are given more autonomy by their government.

Multinational State

State that contains more than one nation (usually no one single dominant ethnic group)

Boundary

invisible line that marks the extent of a state's territory

Centripetal Force

Something that tends to unify people and enhance support for a state

Centrifugal Force

a force that divides people and countries

Cold War

A conflict that was between the US and the Soviet Union. The nations never directly confronted each other on the battlefield but deadly threats went on for years.

Consequent Boundaries

the boundaries between states are set by ethical differences, especially those based on language and/or religion.

Delimited Boundary

A boundary DRAWN and agreed upon; drawing of a boundary

Devolution

the transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states

ethnic cleansing

Process in which more powerful ethnic group forcibly removes a less powerful one in order to create an ethnically homogeneous region

nation-state

A country who's population share a common identity.

Locational Boundary Disputes

Conflict over location, usually associated with physical boundaries.

Allocational Boundary Dispute

disagreements over the control or use of shared resources, such as boundary rivers or jointly claimed fishing grounds

Operational Boundary Dispute

dispute over function of boundary, differing views of enforcement

Enclave

A distinct region or community enclosed within a larger territory

Exclave

A part of a country that is separated from the rest of the country and surrounded by foreign territory.

European Union

An international organization of European countries to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members

Federal Systems

government systems that divide the powers between the national government and state or provincial governments

Geometric Boundary

Political boundaries that are defined and delimited by straight lines.

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.

relic boundary

a former boundary line that is still discernible and marked by some cultural landscape features

Imperialism

A policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, socially, and economically.

Nationalism

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

Nation-State

A country who's population share a common identity.

Physical Boundary

boundary defined by a physical land mark like a river or a lake

Sovereignty

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

State

A politically organized territory that is administered by a sovereign government and is recognized by the international community.

Stateless Nation

a group of people with a common political identity who do not have a territorially defined, sovereign country of their own

Supranational Organization

Organization of three or more states to promote shared objectives.

subsequent boundary

a boundary line that is established after the area in question has been settled and that considers the cultural characteristics of the bounded area

superimposed boundary

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

Berlin Conference

A meeting from 1884-1885 at which representatives of European nations agreed on rules colonization of Africa

Unitary State

A state in which most political power exists at the national level, with limited local authority.

geometric boundary

Political boundaries that are defined and delimited by straight lines.

Genocide

Deliberate extermination of a racial or cultural group

Demarcated Boundary

A boundary marked by some visible means on the ground. Ex. wall posts, fences, etc.

Exclusive Economic Zone

area in which resources found up to 200 nautical miles offshore belong exclusively to the geographically bordering country

Territorial Sea

a belt of coastal waters extending at most 12 nautical miles from the baseline of a coastal state

UNCLOS

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.

Irredentism

The policy of a state wishing to incorporate within itself territory inhabited by people who have ethnic or linguistic links with the country but that lies within a neighboring state.

Shatterbelt

a region caught between stronger colliding external cultural-political forces, under persistent stress, and often fragmented by aggressive rivals (e.g., Israel or Kashmir today; Eastern Europe during the Cold War,...).

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

A 1949 defense alliance initiated by the US, Canada, and 10 Western European nations

United Nations

An international organization formed after WWII to promote international peace, security, and cooperation.