HGAP Unit 4- Political Geography

Political Geography

the study of human political organization of the Earth

Nation

a large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory; NOT defined by borders, but defined by cultural aspects.

State

a nation or defined territory, considered as an organized political community under one government; defined by borders.

Nation-state

sovereign states whose citizens or subjects are relatively homogenous in factors such as language or common descent.

Stateless nation

an ethnic group or nation that does not possess its own state, not the majority population in any state.

Multinational state

state that has 2 or more ethnic groups with traditions of self determination that agree to coexist by peacefully accepting and recognizing each other as distinct nationalities.

Autonomous Region

an area of a country that has a degree of autonomy or has freedom from an external authority.

Semi-Autonomous Region

area within a country that has a degree of self-governance but still remains under control of central government.

Sovereignty

a recognized right to control a territory both politically and militarily.

Self-Determination

the concept that ethnicities have the right to govern themselves.

Colonization

settlement of unclaimed/uninhabited territory

Imperialism

extending of a country’s power through diplomacy and/or military force.