Political Geography Flashcards T71

Flashcards relating to political geography, focusing on key concepts, types of boundaries, and country formation.

State

Specific territory with defined boundaries, permanent population, a government with supreme authority, and recognition by other states.

Territory

The delimited area over which a state exercises control and is recognized by other states.

Geopolitics

The state's power to control space or territory and shape international political relations.

Sovereignty

Supreme authority of a territory over its own affairs and freedom from control by outside forces.

Nation

A significant grouping of people sharing certain elements of culture, such as religion, language, history legacy, or political identity.

Nation-State

A politically organized area in which nation and state occupy the same space (rare today).

Devolution

Regions within a state demand and gain political strength and growing autonomy at the expense of the central government.

Multinational States

States with more than one nation within their borders.

Multistate Nations

Nations that exist across multiple states (e.g., The Koreas).

Stateless Nations

Nations without a state (e.g., Roma (Gypsy), Kurds).

Centripetal Forces

A strong common culture, a popular national hero, a common outside threat, expression of national pride, effective welfare systems.

Centrifugal Forces

Cultural differences, ethnicities/separatist movements, weak national government, physical barriers.

Balkanization

To break up into smaller and often hostile units.

Definition (Boundaries)

Vertical implications of a boundary.

Territorial Seas

By international convention, rarely exceeds 12 nautical miles; 'Full Sovereignty'.

Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ)

Up to 200 nautical miles from shore; 'Sovereign Right' to marine resources.

Physiographic Boundary

Follows a natural feature, e.g., a river or mountain range.

Geometric Boundary

Drawn as straight lines and sometimes follow lines of latitude or longitude.

Ethnographic Boundary

Based on cultural traits, such as religion, language, or ethnicity.

Relic Boundary

Used to exist but no longer formal boundaries.