APHG Unit 4 Vocab

Autonomous Regions

A region that exists within another larger entity and has the power to govern itself. Typically these regions are geographically distinct from the larger entity (Greenland and Denmark) or is populated by the state's ethnic minority.

Choke Points

Geographic features on land or sea that is much narrower than the overall landscape and causes decreased combat power militarily; as such, these are strategic targets for terrorism or colonial control.

Democratization

The introduction of democratic systems or principles within a society.

Devolution

The process whereby regions within a state demand and gain political strength and political autonomy at the expense of the central government.

Ethnic Cleansing

The attempt to create an ethnically homogeneous geographic area through expulsion, imprisonment, or killing of an ethnic minority.

Ethnic Nationalism (Ethnonationalism)

The right of a group of people who considered themselves separate and distinct from others to determine for themselves the state in which they will live and the form of government it will have.

Ethnic Separatism

Movements calling for greater independence or autonomy from a larger territorial unit.

Federal States

Governing systems that operate with a division of power that is shared among various levels of governance. (For example: state and federal levels).

Independence Movements

Regions and people who are attempting to seek control over their internal political affairs through devolution, balkanization, etc.

Irredentism

A policy of attempting to establish cultural cohesion and potential political expansion by a country aimed at a group of nationals living in a neighboring country.

Multinational State

A country whose people derive from many different national backgrounds.

Multistate Nation

A group of nationals who are living within two separate states.

Nation

A group of people who share a common ethnic background (history, language, culture, hearth), and who seek or hold political self-determination - not just ethnic togetherness, but implies political togetherness as well.

Nation-State

A state whose borders coincide with the current distribution of the nationals of that state.

Relic Boundary (Relict)

A boundary that no longer serves a purpose, but that once did.

Semiautonomous Region

The ability of a region to govern itself in certain agreed upon areas, but without full/complete power to govern.

Shatterbelt

A region whose internal geographical, cultural, religious, and political fragmentation is compounded by pressures from external powers attracted to the regions strategic location and/or economic resources.

Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself or another state.

State

A politcally organized body of people that occupies a defined territory and includes sovereignty, circulation of money, permanent populations, and international recognition.

Stateless Nation

An ethnic group that is potentially dispersed between multiple state and that does not have a state of their own.

Terrorism

The unlawful use of violence and intimidation especially against civilians in the pursuit of political aims.

Unitary State

A country whose governing power is rested in a central body.