Unit 4 Full Guide

State

A politically recognized territory with sovereignty.

Nation

A cultural group with shared identity.

Sovereignty

The ability of a state to govern itself.

Nation-State

A state with one dominant national identity.

Geometric Boundary

Straight-line political border.

Superimposed Boundary

Borders created by external forces.

Federal State

Power is shared between central and regional governments.

Unitary State

A centralized government with little regional autonomy.

Geopolitics

The study of how geography influences politics.

Political Geography

The study of how political processes and spatial structures interact.

Territoriality

The connection of people, culture, and economic systems to a specific land.

Multinational State

A state with multiple ethnic groups who recognize different national identities.

Stateless Nation

A nation without an official state.

Physical Boundary

Natural features like rivers, mountains, or deserts.

Cultural Boundary

Borders based on ethnic, linguistic, or religious differences.

Relic Boundary

Former boundaries that still impact cultural landscapes.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating district boundaries for political advantage.

Devolution

Transfer of power to regional governments.

Political Processes

Ways in which governments interact to create policies and maintain territorial integrity.

Hard Power

Use of military or economic force.

Soft Power

Influence through culture, diplomacy, or media.

Economic Power

Control over trade, resources, and investments.

Confederation

A loose alliance of states with limited central authority.

Supranational Organizations

Groups of states cooperating for political, economic, or military reasons.

Irredentism

The desire to reclaim territory based on historical or ethnic claims.

Globalization

The interconnectedness of economies, cultures, and politics across the world.

Centrifugal Forces

Factors that divide or destabilize a state or region.

Centripetal Forces

Factors that unite or stabilize a state.

Secession

The action of formally withdrawing from a state to form a new independent entity.

National Identity

The shared sense of belonging that binds people together within a state.

Territorial Integrity

The principle that borders should not be altered by external forces.

Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs)

Areas where countries control resources 200 nautical miles from their coast.

Political Power

The ability of a government to influence decisions and control land.

Boundary Dispute

A disagreement over a political border.