Vocab for AP Human Geography Unit 4

vocabulary terms for unit 4 of ap human geography

Ethnicity

A group of people (often of the same race) who have a shared culture; the cultural component of race.

Ethnonationalism

The desire of an ethnic community to have absolute authority over its own political, economic, and social affairs.

Failed state

A country where the government has become so weak it has lost control and can no longer provide basic government functions.

Multinational state

A country that has two or more nations of people inside of it.

Multi-state nation

a nation of people that are separated across multiple states or countries.

Nation

A group of people who share common cultural characteristics, such as language, ethnicity, or history, and often have a sense of shared identity.

Nationalism

A political ideology that emphasizes the interests and culture of a particular nation, often leading to a desire for self-governance and independence.

Nation-state

A political entity characterized by a defined territory and a population that shares a common identity, typically through language, culture, or ethnicity.

semiautonomous region

A region that has some degree of independence and self-governance while still being subject to the authority of a larger political entity.

state

A political unit with a defined territory, permanent population, and a government that is recognized by other states.

stateless nation

A group of people who share a common identity, culture, or ethnicity but do not possess their own sovereign state or government.

colonialism

The practice of acquiring and maintaining colonies or territories by a foreign power, often involving the subjugation and exploitation of local populations.

devolution

The transfer of power or authority from a central government to regional or local governments, often to accommodate diversity or improve governance.

imperialism

The policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force, often resulting in the domination of one nation over another.

independence movement

A campaign or effort by a group or nation to gain political freedom and sovereignty from colonial or foreign rule, often involving protests, revolutions, or negotiations.

Self-determination

The process by which a group of people assert their right to govern themselves and seek political independence from a larger governing body.

Separatist movement

A social and political effort by a group to gain independence and establish their own governance, often based on ethnic, cultural, or regional identity.

sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself or another state, free from external interference.

Choke point

A strategic narrow passageway that can be easily blocked or controlled, often critical for trade and military movement.

Neocolonialism

The practice of using economic, political, or cultural pressures to control or influence countries, particularly former colonies, often perpetuating dependency.

Shatterbelt

A region that is politically fragmented and often characterized by conflicts due to its geopolitical significance, often caught between larger powers.

Territoraltiy

The willingness of individuals or groups to defend a space they claim as their own, often leading to the establishment of boundaries and control over resources.

Antecedent Boundary

A boundary that was established before the area was populated, often reflecting physical features like rivers or mountains.

Balance of Power

A political theory that suggests that national security is enhanced when military capabilities are distributed so that no one nation is strong enough to dominate all others.

Boundary

A line that marks the limits of an area, often established by legal or political means, and can be either natural or artificial.

Consequent Boundary

A boundary that is established based on the cultural characteristics of a population, such as language, religion, or ethnicity.

Geometric Boundary

A boundary that is defined by straight lines or geometric shapes, often without regard to the physical or cultural features of the landscape.

Relic Boundary

A boundary that no longer functions but can still be observed in the cultural landscape, often reflecting historical divisions.

Subsequent Boundary

A boundary that is established after a population has settled in an area, often reflecting the evolving cultural landscape and accommodating changes over time.

Superimposed Boundary

A boundary that is imposed on a region or its people by an outside or colonial power, often disregarding existing cultural or ethnic divisions.

Demilitarized zone

An area in which military forces are prohibited, often established by treaty to reduce tensions between conflicting parties.

Maritime boundary

A boundary that defines the maritime limits of a state, typically extending from its coastline into the ocean, governing rights to resources and navigation.

Electoral college

A body of representatives established by the Constitution to elect the President and Vice President of the United States, consisting of electors from each state.

Gerrymandering

The practice of manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor one political party over another, often resulting in distorted representation.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries to reflect changes in population and ensure fair representation.

Democracy

A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives.

Federal State

A political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions under a central federal government.

Monarchy

A form of government where a single person, the monarch, rules the state, often for life and by hereditary right.

Rebublic

A form of government in which the country is considered a "public matter" and is not the private concern or property of the rulers, where officials are accountable to the public and must govern according to existing constitutional law.

Theocracy

A system of government in which priests or religious leaders control the government, claiming to rule on behalf of a deity.

Unitary state

A form of government where power is concentrated in a central authority, with little to no autonomy granted to subnational units.

Ethnic cleansing

The systematic removal or extermination of an ethnic group from a given territory, often involving violence and forced displacement.

Genocide

The deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, ethnic, national, or cultural group, often involving mass killings and severe persecution.

Irredentism

The political movement that seeks to reclaim and reoccupy a lost territory considered "historically" or "ethnically" related to a nation.

Terriorism

Using violence and intimidation, especially against civillians, in the pursuit of political aims.

Autonomous region

An area inside of a country that has considerable power to control itself more than other areas.

Democratization

When a government makes a change to give all citizens a greater voice in the country’s goverance.

Supernationalism

Tow or more cou tries joining together for a common purpose such as economics or defense.

Centrifugal forces

forces that divide people within a country

Centripetal forces

forces that add to the unity of a country and bring people together

Apartheid

A harsh system of racial segregation enforced in South Africa from 1948-1994.

Balkanization

The process of a country breaking up into smaller more hostile countries/regions because of centrifugal forces or other.

Frontier

A zone that separates two states with neither state having control

Ghetto

A neighborhood where an ethnic majority is forced to live by law or circumstances

Race

A social construct based on the physical differences between groups of people, especially their skin color.