Untitled Flashcards Set

Aquaculture

The farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and seaweed.

Arab Spring

A series of pro-democracy uprisings and protests that spread across the Middle East and North Africa beginning in 2010.

Balfour Declaration

A 1917 British statement expressing support for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Belt and Road Initiative

A Chinese global infrastructure development strategy involving investments in transportation, energy, and other projects across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

BRICS

An acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, a group of major emerging economies.

Cash Crops

Agricultural crops grown for sale rather than for local consumption.

Choke Point

A strategic narrow passageway through which transportation must pass, often subject to geopolitical tensions and control.

Diaspora

The dispersion of a people from their original homeland.

Dependency Ratio

The ratio of people typically not in the workforce (young and elderly) to those typically in the workforce (15-64 years old).

Desertification

The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.

Ecosystem Services

The benefits that humans receive from ecosystems, such as clean air and water, pollination of crops, and regulation of climate.

Externalities

Costs or benefits that affect a party who did not choose to incur that cost or benefit.

Flying Geese Model

A theory of economic development in East Asia where less developed countries follow the lead of more advanced economies in terms of industrialization and trade.

Ghost City

A large-scale urban development with low occupancy rates, often built in anticipation of future population growth or investment.

Green Revolution

A series of technological advancements in agriculture, particularly in the developing world, that led to increased crop yields during the mid-20th century.

Hajj

The pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the five pillars of Islam.

Hydropolitics

The politics surrounding the control and distribution of water resources, particularly in areas of water scarcity.

Industrial Policy

Government strategies aimed at promoting the development of specific industries or sectors within an economy.

Informal Economy

Economic activities that are not taxed or regulated by the government, often involving small-scale businesses and self-employment.

Kleptocracy

A government or political system characterized by widespread corruption and the theft of public funds by those in power.

Leapfrog Technology

The adoption of advanced technologies by developing countries, bypassing older, less efficient technologies.

Maglev Train

A high-speed train that uses magnetic levitation to eliminate friction with the track.

Monsoons

Seasonal wind patterns that bring heavy rainfall to South Asia and other regions.

Neo-colonialism

The continuation of economic and political control over former colonies through indirect means, such as trade and investment.

OPEC

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, a cartel of oil-producing nations that seeks to influence global oil prices.

Petro-state

A country whose economy is heavily reliant on oil exports.

Physiologic Density

The number of people per unit area of arable land.

Primate City

A city that is disproportionately larger and more dominant than any other city in a country.

Rare Earth Elements

A group of 17 metallic elements with unique magnetic and conductive properties, essential for many high-tech applications.

Remittances

Money sent by migrants working abroad back to their home countries.

Russification

The policy of promoting Russian language and culture in non-Russian regions within the Russian Empire and Soviet Union.

Salinization

The process of salt accumulation in soil, often caused by irrigation practices in arid regions, leading to reduced agricultural productivity.

Sharia

Islamic law, derived from the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.

Shock Therapy

A rapid transition from a centrally planned economy to a market-based economy.

Special Economic Zones

Designated areas within a country that offer tax incentives and other benefits to attract foreign investment and promote economic growth.

Sunshine Policy

A South Korean policy aimed at improving relations with North Korea through engagement and cooperation.

TFR (Total Fertility Rate)

The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime.

Three Gorges Dam

The world's largest hydroelectric dam, located on the Yangtze River in China.

Two China Policy

The diplomatic acknowledgment of both the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (Taiwan) by some countries.

Zionism

A movement advocating for the establishment and support of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.