Choke points
A strategic strait or canal which is narrow, hard to pass through and has competition for use
Shatterbelt Regions
Instability within a region that is geographically located between states with overlapping territoriality and political power
Territorial Seas
12 nautical miles from the coast line
Complete sovereignty over the water and airspace
Permission of “innocent passage” of foreign ships
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
A state has special rights over the exploitation and use of marine resources such as fishing, whaling, as well as natural gas, oil and energy
200 nautical miles
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
International treaty to define the rights and responsibilities of nations related to the sea
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Initially founded in 1949 by non-communist countries as a political alliance agreeing to defend against communist advances. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the organization evolved into more of a complete military organization with a central command. Thus NATO grew to rival the Warsaw Pact and its post-communist successor.
European Union (EU)
Has its own currency and mandates trade agreements. Countries that are apart of this super nationalist organization are allowed to freely travel amongst member countries without the need for a passport.
African Union
Established to promote the unity and solidarity of 55 African countries, defend state sovereignty, eradicate colonialism, promote international cooperation, and coordinate and harmonize Member States’ policies.
United Nations (UN)
Was established in 1945-1946, shortly after the end of the Second World War. They are tasked with persevering peace, deterring conflict, and promoting prosperity and equality in the world. It has a peacekeeping force comprised of forces from its various member states that is often sent to conflicts (particularly civil wars) around the world to try and restore peace.
Arctic Council
The leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, Arctic Indigenous Peoples and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues, in particular on issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Promotes peace and economic cooperation amongst the 27 Southeast Asian nations
Redistricting
State’s internal political boundaries that determine voting districts for the US House of Representatives and the state legislature. Redrawn to accurately reflect the new census data
Voting Districts
A geographical term used by state and local governments to organize elections
Maritime Boundaries
Legally recognized divisions of ocean space between different countries, establishing the limits of their territorial waters and exclusive economic zones.
Trade and Shipping Routes
Oil Reserves
Fishing Rights
Defense
Landlocked countries at a disadvantage
Highly disputed like land boundaries
Gerrymandering
Redistricting for a political advantage, when the political party that controls a majority of seats in the state legislature draws political district boundaries to maintain or extend their political power.
Federal States
A style of government in which power is shared between central, regional and local governments.
Unitary States
A style of government in which the power is located centrally and the purpose of regional or local units is to carry out policy.
Ethnic Separatism
People of a particular ethnicity in a multinational state identify more strongly with their ethnic group than as citizens of the state
Ethnic Cleansing
State governments attack an ethnic group in an attempt to try to eliminate them through expulsion, imprisonment or mass murder
Terrorism
Organized violence aimed at civilian targets intended to create fear in order to accomplish political aims
American Indian Reservations
An area of land reserved for a tribe or tribes under treaty or other agreement with the United States, executive, or federal statute or administrative action as permanent to the land in trust on behalf of the tribe
Demilitarized Zones
A regional where military forces, equipment, or operations are prohibited
Democratization
The process of moving a nation’s government from an authoritarian, meaning dictatorship system, to a democratic system
Ethnonationalism
A political ideology that emphasizes the interests and culture of a specific ethnic group, often advocating for the establishment of a nation-state based on shared ethnicity, language, and cultural identity.
Supranationalism
The process of nation states organizing politically and economically into one organization or alliance
Supranational organizations
Where three or more countries form an alliance for cultural, economic, or military reasons