State
The largest political unit, the formal term for a country. It has a defined boundary, contains a permanent population, maintains sovereignty, and is recognized by other states. Ex. Canada
Nation
A group of people who have certain things in common. These include cultural heritage, centripetal values and beliefs, a term-0traditional claim for homeland, and a desire to establish their own state/self-rule Ex. Maasai, Scots, French, Mexicans (last 2 might be wrong)
Nation-state
A nation of people who fulfill the qualifications of a state Ex. Japan, Iceland, France (no real example)
Multinational State
A country that contains more than one nation. Usually contains a dominant one and other smaller ones. Ex. Canada
Autonomous Region
A defined area within a state that has a high degree of self-government and freedom from its parent state Ex. Hong Kong, Aland
Semiautonomous Region
A state that has a degree of, but not complete self-rule Ex. Navajo, Other Native American Indian Reserves
Stateless Nation
A cultural group that has no independent political entity Ex. Kurds, Palestinians (i think LMAO)
Multistate Nation
When a nation has a state of its own but stretches across borders of other states Ex. Hungarians, Koreans (???)
Sovereignty
The power of a political unit, or government, to rule over its own affairs Ex. US being independent
Berlin Conference
In 1884 & 1885, reps from the major European empires met in Berlin to make claims on Africa. These claims formed state boundaries in Africa and showed little regard to existing boundaries. It's sometimes called the Congo Conference btw
Self-determination
The right to choose their own sovereign government without external influence Ex. Scots (not rlly sure on this one tbh)
Decolonization
The undoing of colonization, in which indigenous people reclaim sovereignty over their territory Ex. European colonial territories finally getting independence yayayay
Devolution
This process in which one of more regions are given increased autonomy by the central political unit Ex. Soviet Union collapse
Territoriality
A willingness by a person or a group of people to defend the space they claim No example rlly, but its expressed when ppl influence others or shape events by asserting control
Neocolonialism
The use of economic, political, cultural, or other pressures in order to control or influence other countries Ex. Kenya built that expensive aah railroad from a Chinese govt. owned company put them into debt, which let the Chinese gain control over it
Shatterbelts
A place located between two very different and contentious regions. They are under consistent stress, and may sufffer instability due to external aggression Ex. Yugoslavia, Germany during Cold War
Balkanization
The fragmentation of a state or region into smaller, often hostile units along ethno-linguistic lines. Areas that suffer from this are also known as shatterbelts. Ex. Sudan
Choke Point
A place of physical congestion between wider regions of movement and interactions. It narrow, hard to pass through, and has competition for use. Ex. Suez Canal, other straits
Antecedent
A boundary established before a large population was present Ex. The border between Malaysia and Indonesia was negotiated between English & Dutch settlers before large-scale inhabitation
Subsequent
A boundary drawn to accommodate religious, ethnic, linguistic, or economic differences. Ex. Boundary between North Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, European boundaries constantly changing throughout history
Consequent
A type of subsequent boundary that takes into account existing cultural or physical landscapes Ex. Boundary between India and Pakistan made for religious purposes, Nunavut and Canada
Superimposed
A boundary drawn by outside powers Ex. haha berlin conference boundaries
Geometric
A straight line or drawn arc by people that does not closely follow any physical feature Ex. 49th parallel that separates the US and Canada
Relic
A boundary that no longer exists, but is still evident on the landscape Ex. Berlin wall between East and West Germany, Great Wall of China
Defined Boundary
A boundary established by a legal document, such as treaty, that divides on entity from another (invisible line) Ex. Countries where points of longitude and latitude are specified, Plot of real estate where points in the landscape or described
Delimited Boundary
A boundary drawn on a map by a cartographer to show the limits of a space Ex. idk sorry
Demarcated Boundary
A boundary identified by physical objects placed on the landscaped Ex. Fences, Walls, A Sign
Administered Boundary
How a boundary will be maintained, how it will function, and what goods and people will be allowed to cross Ex. Israel and Palestinians (I'm not that sure on this one tee bee hayche!!)
Definitional Boundary Dispute
Occurs when two or more parties disagree over how to interpret the legal documents or maps that identify the boundary Ex. Chile and Argentina boundary where the southern lands are in dispute
Locational Boundary/Territorial Disputes
Boundary disputes that center on where a boundary should be, how it is delimited, or demarcated. Basically argues of who possessess the land. Ex. Post-WWI boundary between Germany and Poland
Operational Boundary/Functional Disputes
Boundary disputes that center not on where a boundary is, but how it functions. Disagreements can arise related to trade, transportation, or migration. Ex. Refugees fleeing Syria and European countries arguing on which ones should stop them (I think)
Allocational Boundary/Resource Disputes
When a boundary separates natural resources that may be used by both countries Ex. Iraq and Kuwait oil conflict oooh
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
An international treaty that defines the rights and responsibilities of nations related to the sea. It covers four zones
Territorial Sea
One of the four UNCLOS zones; this area extends up to 12 nautical miles of sovereignty where commercial vessels may pass, but noncommercial vessels may be challenged
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
One of the four UNCLOS zones; coastal states can explore, extract minerals, and manage natural resources up to 200 nautical miles
Electoral College
Using spatial thinking techniques and tool sot analyze elections and voting patterns
Census
A count of the population every 10 years Ex. no example but the US does it
Reapportionment
Changing the number of representatives granted to each state so it reflects the state's population
Redistricting
Redrawing of district boundaries so each district contains roughly the same number of people according to the census
Voting District
Internal boundaries that divide a country's electorate into subnational regions
Gerrymandering
The drawing of boundaries for political districts by the party in power to protect or increase its power Ex. North Carolina District 12 redrawn to follow the I-85 corridor to give an advantage to the party in power (not the img btw)
Packing
Combining like=minded voters into one district to prevent them from affecting elections in other districts
Cracking
Dispersing a group into several districts to prevent a majority
Representative Districts
The ideal, in which the voting districts are equal in population, contiguous, and compact. Truly representative of the people living in the district
Federal
Unites separate political entities into an overarching system that allows each entity to maintain some degree of sovereignty Ex. Germany, US, Nigeria
Unitary
Most or all of the governing power is held by the national government Ex. France, Japan, Kenya
Ethnic Separatism
The advocacy of full political separation from the larger group along cultural, ethnic, tribal, or governmental lines Ex. Basques and Catalans fighting for separation from Spain
Ethnic Cleansing
A purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means the civilian population of another ethnic or religious group from certain geographic areas. Ex. Hitler's attempt to eliminate Jews in Germany
Terrorism
Organized violence aimed at government and civilian targets to create fear for the advancement of political goals Ex. Al Qaeda's attack on the US on 9/11 due to the US supporting Saudi Arabia and Israel
Irredentism
A movement to unite people who share a language or other cultural elements but are divided by a national boundary Ex. Nagorno-Karabakh region after the Soviet Union collapsed
Supranational Organization
Multiple countries form this for the benefit of all members often to promote trade, create a military alliance, etc. Ex. United Nations
United Nations (UN)
Created to promote peace, security, and human rights. Contains 193 member states, which is most countries of the world. Located in NYC.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Created to provide mutual defense of member states. It contains 30 member states such as the US, Canada, Iceland, most countries in western and central Europe, and Turkey. Located in Brussels, Belgium.
European Union (EU)
Created to integrate member states politically and economically. It contains 27 member states, which mostly include countries in central and western Europe. Located in Brussels, Belgium.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Created to advance economic growth, peace, social progress, and cultural and economic development in the region. It contains 10 countries from SE Asia. Located in Jakarta, Indonesia.
World Trade Organization (WTO)
One of the largest and most influential supranational organizations. Created to have countries agree to a set of fair and non-discriminatory guidelines for international trade. They also ensure trade flows smoothly, freely, and predictibly.
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
Created to coordinate and unify its members' petroleum policies in order to stabilize oil market. It focuses on the production of oil, or petroleum, and includes countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Venezuela, Indonesia, etc.
Regionalism
When loyalty to a distinct portion of a country is more important than loyalty to the entire country Ex. Canada's French-speaking population in Quebec
Ethnonationalism
Support for the political interests of a particular ethnic group within a state, especially its national independence of self-determination Ex. Fragmentation in Syria and Iraq letting a Kurdish independence movement rise