UNIT 4: POLITICS

State

A defined territory with its own government, recognized by other states.

Sovereignty

The ability for individual states to make policies without influence from other countries.

Self Determination

The ability of an ethnic group to have a strong sense of connection and control over their own affairs.

Nation-State

A state in which the majority of people share the same ethnicity.

Stateless Nation

A group of people that desire their own land but lack international recognition.

Multinational State

A state that contains multiple ethnic groups that agree to coexist peacefully.

Centripetal Forces

Political actions or policies that unify a group or state.

Centrifugal Forces

Political actions or influences that separate or divide people.

Colonialism

The practice of conquering and controlling regions and imposing customs on native populations.

Superimposed Boundaries

Boundaries that are imposed on the landscape by outside forces.

Irredentism

A political claim to territory based on ethnicity or historical borders.

Ethnic Cleansing

The forceful removal of an ethnic group to create an ethnically homogenous territory.

Choke Points

Narrow areas that significantly impact global trade and logistics.

Balkanization

The process of breaking a country into smaller, often hostile, units.

Shatterbelts

Regions characterized by persistent fragmentation and conflict.

Neocolonialism

Control by wealthy countries over less wealthy countries through indirect means.

Ethnonationalism

A belief that nations are defined by a common heritage including faith, language, and ancestry.