Essential Vocabulary Unit 4

Defined Boundary

Boundaries established by a legal document.

Delimited Boundary

Boundaries drawn on a map.

Demarcated Boundary

Boundaries defined by physical objects (walls, signs, fences).

Administered Boundary

Government administered/maintained boundary.

Supranationalism

The process of nation states organizing politically or economically into an alliance/organization.

UN

United Nations. An intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security.

Permanent council members of the UN

China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, and United States.

EU

European Union. A political and economic union of 27 European countries promoting integration.

NAFTA

North American Free Trade Agreement. Established a free-trade zone in North America.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A political and military alliance of countries from Europe and North America.

Autonomous Regions

Areas within a country with self-governance and independence.

Chokepoints

Geographic locations constricting the flow of people and goods during conflict.

Democratization

The process of establishing representative government led by popularly elected officials.

Devolution

Delegation of legal authority from a central government to lower levels.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor a political party or group.

Law of the Sea

Coastal nations have sovereignty over 12 miles off their coast and economic rights over 200 miles.

Federal States

A country where governmental authority is shared among a central government and regional authorities.

Unitary States

A state where laws are administered uniformly by one central government.

Shatterbelts

Regions that are politically fragmented and subject to external pressures.

Multinational States

A state comprised of more than one nationality.

Multistate Nations

Ethnic groups existing across multiple state boundaries with a cohesive identity.

Municipalities

A city or town with corporate status and local government.

Nations

A group of people bound by common culture, ethnicity, language, and history.

Nation-states

A state where cultural borders of a nation correspond with state borders.

Stateless Nations

A nation of people without a state considered home.

Sovereign State

A state with total control over its internal and foreign affairs.

Sovereignty

The political authority of a state to govern itself.

Apartheid

Physical separation of different races into separate geographic areas.

Balkanization

Breakup of a larger country into smaller, often hostile, independent states.

Centrifugal Force

A force that brings people apart in a nation.

Centripetal Force

A force that brings people together in a nation.

Ethnic Cleansing

Forcibly removing a less powerful ethnic group to create a nation.

Ethnic Enclave

An area where a particular ethnic group is spatially clustered and distinct.

Ethnicity

Identity with a group of people sharing a common identity and homeland.

Genocide

Deliberate destruction of a group of people based on ethnicity, nationality, or religion.

Ghetto

An area where people of an ethnic minority are confined due to policies or obstacles.

Nationality

Identity with a group sharing legal attachment and allegiance to a country.

Race

Categorization of humans based on physical characteristics or ancestry.

Segregation

Enforced separation of different groups within society, resulting in unequal access.