AP Human Geography Unit 4 Vocab

State

A politically organized territory with a permanent population, defined boundaries, a government, and sovereignty.

Nation

A group of people with shared cultural characteristics (such as language, religion, or history) and a sense of common identity.

Nation-State

A sovereign state whose population is overwhelmingly homogeneous in terms of ethnicity, culture, and identity (e.g., Japan).

Multinational State

A state that contains two or more nations or ethnic groups with traditions of self-determination (e.g., Canada).

Stateless nation

A cultural group that lacks a sovereign state (e.g., the Kurds or Palestinians).

Multistate Nation

A nation that is spread across multiple states (e.g., Koreans in North and South Korea).

Autonomous Region

A region within a state that has a high degree of self-government and independence (e.g., Hong Kong in China).

Semiautonomous Region

A region with some degree of political independence but still under the authority of a larger state (e.g., Scotland in the UK).

Centrifugal Forces

Forces that divide a state, such as ethnic conflicts, religious differences, or economic inequality.

Centripetal Forces

Forces that unify a state, such as a shared national identity, strong leadership, or a common language

Regionalism

 A strong connection to one’s own region rather than to the country as a whole.

Nationalism

A strong sense of pride and loyalty to ones nation, which can be unifying or divisive.

Physical Boundaries

Natural boundaries created by physical features like rivers, mountains, or deserts (e.g., the Pyrenees between Spain and France).

Cultural Boundaries

Boundaries based on human traits such as language, religion, or ethnicity (e.g., the border between India and Pakistan).

Antecedent Boundaries

 Boundaries drawn before a large population was present (e.g., the US-Canada border).

Subsequent (Ethnographic/Consequent) Boundaries:

Boundaries that develop along with cultural or ethnic divisions (e.g., the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland).

Superimposed Boundaries

Boundaries forcibly drawn by outside powers without regard for cultural or ethnic divisions (e.g., the Berlin Conference’s division of Africa).

Relic Boundaries

Old boundaries that no longer function but still have an impact on the landscape (e.g., the Berlin Wall).

Geometric Boundaries

Straight-line boundaries often drawn without consideration of cultural or physical features (e.g., the US-Canada border along the 49th parallel).

Open Boundaries

Boundaries where crossing is unregulated (e.g., borders between Schengen Area countries in Europe).

Militarized Boundaries

Heavily guarded and controlled borders (e.g., the DMZ between North and South Korea).

Geopolitics

The study of how geography influences politics, power, and international relations.

Territoriality

The effort to control land and its resources, often tied to nationalism and political power.

Neocolonialism

The economic and political control of developing countries by more powerful states, even after formal independence.

Choke Point

A narrow strategic passageway that is crucial for trade or military control (e.g., the Strait of Hormuz).

Boundary Disputes

Conflicts over the location or control of boundaries (e.g., Kashmir between India and Pakistan).

Irredentism

A political movement advocating the reclaiming of lost or culturally related territories (e.g., Russia’s claim over Crimea).

Shatterbelt

A region caught between external conflicts or pressures from larger competing powers (e.g., Eastern Europe during the Cold War).

Devolution

The transfer of power from a central government to regional governments within a state (e.g., Scotland’s parliament in the UK).

Ethnic Separatism

A movement in which an ethnic group seeks greater autonomy or independence (e.g., Catalonia in Spain)

Ethnic Cleansing

The forced removal or extermination of an ethnic group from a particular area (e.g., the Bosnian Genocide).

Terrorism

The use of violence by non-state actors to instill fear and achieve political or ideological goals

Subnationalism

When people identify with a local or regional group rather than with their state (e.g., Quebecois in Canada).

Balkanization

The process of a state breaking apart due to ethnic or political divisions (e.g., the breakup of Yugoslavia).

Supranationalism

The cooperation of multiple states in political, economic, or military matters for mutual benefit.

Economic Supranational Organizations

Groups of countries working together for economic cooperation (e.g., European Union, NAFTA/USMCA).

Military Strategic Supranational Organizations

Alliances formed for collective security and defense (e.g., NATO).