ap hug unit 4

African Union (AU)

Organization of African countries promoting cooperation and development.

allegiance

Loyalty to a state, group, or leader.

antecedent boundary

A boundary drawn before people settled the area.

Arctic Circle

A major line of latitude near the North Pole.

Arctic Council

Cooperation group of countries with territory in the Arctic.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Regional group that promotes economic and political cooperation in SE Asia.

autonomous region

Area with some self-rule inside a larger state.

borderland

Area near a boundary where cultures mix.

boundary

A line marking the limits of a state’s territory.

buffer state

A weaker state between two stronger, rival states.

choke point

Narrow passage (water or land) that limits movement.

consequent boundary

Boundary drawn to match cultural patterns.

core areas

Centers of population, business, and power.

core states

Wealthy, powerful countries in the world system.

cracking

Gerrymandering by splitting voters to weaken their power.

cultural cohesion

A shared sense of identity and unity.

delimited

Boundary drawn on a map.

demarcated

Boundary marked on the ground with signs, fences, etc.

demilitarized zone (DMZ)

Area where military forces are banned.

democratization

Process of becoming more democratic.

devolution

Power shifting from central government to regional units.

domestic terrorism

Terrorism committed within one’s own country.

economies of scale

Lower costs when producing things in large amounts.

effective sovereignty

How much control a government actually has.

Electoral College

U.S. system where electors vote for president.

electoral geography

Study of how geography affects voting.

enclave

Territory fully surrounded by another state.

equitable infrastructure

Fair access to services and resources.

escarpments

Steep slopes or cliffs separating land levels.

ETA

Basque separatist group seeking independence from Spain.

ethnonationalism

Loyalty to a nation defined by shared ethnicity.

European Union (EU)

Supranational group promoting European integration.

exclave

Part of a state separated from the main territory.

exclusive economic zone (EEZ)

Ocean zone where a state controls resources (200 miles).

failed state

State that cannot provide order or basic services.

federal state

State with power shared between central and regional governments.

frontier

Weakly controlled area between states.

geometric boundary

Straight-line or grid-based border.

gerrymandering

Redrawing voting districts to favor a party.

iconography

Symbols used to represent a country or idea.

independent state

State with full sovereignty and recognized boundaries.

international terrorism

Terrorism crossing national borders.

irredentism

Desire to unite a nation’s people by reclaiming “lost” land.

median line principle

Splitting maritime space equally when zones overlap.

multinational state

State with multiple ethnic/national groups.

multistate nations

A nation spread across several states.

nation

Group with shared culture, history, and identity.

nationalism

Strong loyalty to one’s nation.

nation-state ideal

Concept that each nation should have its own state.

nation-state

State with one dominant nation.

neocolonialism

Indirect control of another country through economics or politics.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA-USMCA)

Trade bloc for U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Military alliance of many Western countries.

packing

Gerrymandering by concentrating one group into a few districts.

peripheral states

Poorer, less powerful countries in the world system.

political geography

Study of spatial aspects of politics.

political map

Map showing borders, states, and cities.

reapportionment

Reassigning seats in the House based on population.

redistricting

Redrawing voting district boundaries.

regional trading bloc

Group of countries that reduce trade barriers.

relic boundary

Old boundary that no longer functions but leaves marks.

satellite state

State heavily influenced by a stronger one.

self-determination

Right of people to choose their own government.

semiautonomous region

Area with limited self-rule.

shatterbelt

Region caught between stronger political forces.

sovereign state

Independent state with full control inside its borders.

state or country

Political unit with territory, population, and government.

state terrorism

Terror by a government against its own people.

stateless nation

Nation without its own state.

strait

Narrow waterway connecting two larger bodies.

subnational terrorism

Terrorism by groups within a country.

subnational units

Smaller divisions within a state (provinces, states, etc.).

subsequent boundary

Boundary drawn after settlement.

superimposed boundary

Boundary forced by an outside power.

supranational organization

Group of states working together for shared goals.

supranationalism

Process of states cooperating at a higher level.

terrorism

Violence meant to create fear for political goals.

uneven development

Unequal economic growth across places.

unitary state

State with power concentrated in central government.

United Nations (UN)

Global organization for peace and cooperation.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

Rules governing oceans and maritime boundaries.

voting district

Area represented by one elected official