Key Concepts in Cultural and Political Geography

Culture

Shared beliefs, values, and practices of a group.

Cultural trait

Specific characteristic of a culture.

Artifacts

Physical objects created by a culture.

Sociofacts

Social structures and organization in culture.

Mentifacts

Ideas, values, and beliefs in culture.

Popular culture

Mainstream trends and practices in society.

Traditional culture

Long-standing customs and practices of a group.

Cultural norms

Rules guiding behavior within a culture.

Ethnocentrism

Belief in the superiority of one's own culture.

Cultural relativism

Understanding cultures on their own terms.

Cultural landscape

Geographical area shaped by cultural practices.

Identity

Sense of self shaped by culture and society.

Sequent occupance

Successive societies leaving their cultural imprint.

Ethnicity

Shared cultural identity based on heritage.

Ethnic neighborhoods

Areas predominantly inhabited by specific ethnic groups.

Traditional architecture

Building styles reflecting cultural heritage.

Postmodern architecture

Diverse architectural styles rejecting traditional norms.

Religion

System of beliefs and practices regarding the sacred.

Pilgrimage

Journey to a sacred place for religious reasons.

Language

System of communication using symbols and sounds.

Toponyms

Place names reflecting cultural or historical significance.

Gendered spaces

Areas designated for specific genders.

Gender identity

Personal sense of one's gender.

Safe spaces

Environments promoting safety and acceptance.

Gentrification

Revitalization of urban areas displacing original residents.

Third place

Social environment separate from home or work.

Sense of place

Emotional connection to a specific location.

Placemaking

Creating quality public spaces for community use.

Dialects

Regional variations of a language.

Adherents

Individuals who follow a particular belief system.

Denominations

Subgroups within a larger religious tradition.

Sect

A smaller, often radical group within a religion.

Centripetal force

Factors that unify people within a state.

Centrifugal force

Factors that divide or fragment a state.

Diffusion

Spread of cultural elements from one area to another.

Cultural hearth

Origin point of a culture's traits and practices.

Expansion diffusion

Spread of culture outward from a central point.

Contagious diffusion

Rapid spread of cultural traits through direct contact.

Hierarchical diffusion

Spread of culture through established social structures.

Stimulus diffusion

Cultural adaptation of ideas from another culture.

Lingua Franca

Common language used for communication between speakers.

Creolization

Blending of cultures to form new cultural identities.

Cultural convergence

Cultures becoming more similar due to interaction.

Cultural divergence

Cultures becoming distinct due to separation.

Acculturation

Cultural change resulting from contact with another culture.

Assimilation

Process of adopting the traits of another culture.

Syncretism

Combining different beliefs into a new system.

Multiculturalism

Coexistence of diverse cultures in a society.

Cultural appropriation

Adoption of elements from one culture by another.

Collectivist cultures

Cultures prioritizing group over individual needs.

Language family

Group of related languages with a common ancestor.

Isolate (language)

Language with no known relatives.

Language branch

Subgroup within a language family.

Language groups

Similar languages within a branch.

Universalizing religions

Religions seeking to convert non-adherents.

Sikhism

Monotheistic religion founded in the Punjab region.

Ethnic religions

Religions closely tied to specific ethnic groups.

Secularized

Reduced influence of religion in society.

Political geography

Study of spatial organization of political phenomena.

State

Political entity with defined territory and government.

Sovereignty

Supreme authority over a territory.

Nations

Groups sharing common identity and culture.

Nation-state

State primarily associated with a specific nation.

Multistate nation

Nation spread across multiple states.

Irrendentism

Political movement to reclaim lost territory.

Multinational state

State with multiple national groups.

Autonomous (Semiautonomous)

Self-governing regions within a larger state.

Stateless nation

Nation without a sovereign state.

Territoriality

Behavior of defending a territory.

Colonialism

Control of one nation over another's territory.

Neocolonialism

Indirect control of a nation through economic means.

Choke point

Strategic narrow passage controlling movement.

Shatterbelts

Regions caught between conflicting geopolitical forces.

Self-determination

Right of people to govern themselves.

Imperialism

Policy of extending a country's power and influence.

Federal state

Political entity with shared power between levels.

Unitary state

Centralized government with little local authority.

Concurrent

Simultaneous actions or powers in governance.

Reapportionment

Redistribution of representation based on population changes.

Electoral college

Body electing the president in the U.S.

Redistricting

Redrawing electoral district boundaries.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating district boundaries for political advantage.

Majority-minority districts

Electoral districts where minorities comprise the majority.

Ethnic separatism

Movement for independence by an ethnic group.

Ethnic cleansing

Systematic removal of an ethnic group.

Supranational organization

Entity transcending national boundaries for cooperation.

Economies of scale

Cost advantages from increased production.

Ethnonationalism/Ethnic Nationalism

Nationalism based on shared ethnicity.