Studied by 50 peoplePolitical Geography
a branch of human geography concerned with the spatial analysis of political systems
Political Map
A map that shows the spatial oragnization of the countries and territories on the entire globe at a given point in time
State/Country
independent political unit with a centralized authority that makes claim to legal, political, and economic jurisdiction over a region
Independent State
a state that rules itself and is not subject to the authority of another state
sovereign state
State the possesses the soel authority over the land and people within its boundaries
Nation
Community of people bound to homeland and possessing a common identity based on shared culsu
Nation-State
The ideal political geographical unit; one in which the nations geographic boundaries (a people & its culture) exactly match the states territorial boundaries (government & authority)
nation-state ideal
the idea that political authorities govern in the name of all a country's citizens, modern mass
communications link all residents, and state-based citizenship rights reinforce the idea of a national identity
Nationalism
Sene of beloning to and self-identifying with a national culture; people with a strong sense of nationalism derive a significant part of their social idenitty. Some forms of it seek to block the flow of immigrants and refugees to countries' borders
Stateless Nation
An ethnic group or nation that does not possess its own state and is not the majority in any nation-state
Multinational State
a country containing multiple national, ethnic, and religious groups within its boundaries
Autonomous Region
a subdivision or dependent territory of a country that has a degree of self-governance, or autonomy in its decision making
Semiautonomous region
a subdivision or dependent territory of a country that has some degree of, but not complete, self-government
Self Determination
A nationas ability to determine its own statehood and form its own allegiances and government; the freedom of culturally distinct groups to govern themselves in their own territories and form their own states
Core Area
A small territorial nucleus from which a country grows in area and over time
Escarpments
abrupt slopes that break up the general continuity of the terrain
effective sovereignty
The idea that a state's power to enforce its sovereignty may extend beyond its territory and varies over time and from country to country
Devolution
the movement of power from the central government to regional governments within the state
Ethnonationalism
a form of nationalism in which the nation is defined in terms of ethnicity
Territoriality
The control and influence over a specific geographic space
Political Power
control over people, land, and resources
Neocolonialism
The use of economic, political, cultural, or other pressures in order to control or influence other countries
Shatterbelts
instability within a region that is geographically located between states with overlapping territoriality and political power
Choke Point
A strategic strait or canal which is narrow, hard to pass through, and has competition for use.
Antecedent political boundary
Borders that are established before there has been major settlement by people in a territory
Subqequent political boundary
Borders that are drawn in areas that have been settled by people, typically due to changes that have occured over time
Consequent Political Boundary
Type of subsequent boundary - takes into account the existing cultural distribution of the people living in the territory and redevelops boundary lines to more closely align with cultural boundaries.
Superimposed political boundary
A border that is drawn over existing and accepted borders by an outside force
Geometric political boundary
Borders that are established on straight lines or lines of latitude and longitude instead of physical or cultural boundaries.
Relic political boundary
Border that no longer exists, but has left some imprint on the local cultural or environmental geography.
Defined Boundary
Countries legally define and agree to where borders are located through an agreement or treaty
delimited boundary
Identifying the location of the defined boundaries on a map. Usually at the same time that boundaries are defined and done through a legal designation.
demarcated boundary
Visible marking of the landscape with objects, such as fences or signs.
administered boundary
Legal management of the border through laws, immigration regulation, documentation, and prosecution.
Buffer State
A politically and economically weak and independent state that lies between the borders of two powers
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