APHUG Unit4 Vocab

African Union

Regional organization that promotes socio-political economic cooperation & unity across Africa

Antecedent boundary

A physical boundary (oftentimes a natural physical feature) that existed before human settlement

Arctic Council

Regional organization that promotes socio-political economic cooperation among the arctic countries & indigenous communities, environmental protection, and sustainable development.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Regional organization that promotes economic growth, political stability, & cultural cooperation among southeast Asian states

Autonomous region

Area within a state that has some degree of self-authority/independence from the state’s central government

Berlin Conference

A meeting in 1884-1885 where European powers divided Africa into colonies without any African representation present

Centrifugal force

Anything that divides a country’s unity

Centripetal force

Anything that strengthens a country’s unity

Choke point

Narrow nautical geographic feature that is strategically important because it can restrict or control movement/trade | ex: panama canal

Colonialism

When a country controls another country, AND creates settlements there

Consequent boundary

Border that is based on an existing cultural, ethnic, or linguistic differences

Cultural cohesion

The degree to which people in a society share common beliefs, values, and cultural practices that unify them

Defined boundary

A border that is officially, legally established on official documentation and agreed upon.

Delimited boundary

A boundary that is drawn/defined/marked on a map to show the official limits of a territory

Demarcated boundary

A boundary that is physically marked on the landscape with signs, fences, walls, etc.

Demilitarized zone

An area where military forces are prohibited

Democratization

When a country changes from an authoritative governmental structure to a democratic governmental structure.

Devolution

Transfer of power from a central government to a local government within a state

Economies of scale

When a company or country produces goods more efficiently at a larger scale, so the avg cost decreases as production increases

Ethnic cleansing

Forced removal or killing of an ethnic group from a particular area with the intention of making the area homogenous

Ethnic nationalist movement

When an ethnic group wants to govern themselves/create their own country

Ethnic separatism

When an ethnic group wants to be separate from a larger country to form its own state

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one’s own culture/ethnicity is superior and therefore judging other cultures by one’s own cultural standards

European Union

Political and economic organization of the European states that allied and cooperate together for shared laws, trade, etc.

Exclusive economic zone (EEZ)

Sea area up to 200 nautical miles from a country’s coast where it has special rights to exploration and resources

Failed state

Country in which the government cannot function properly or meet the needs of the people

Federal state

Country where power is shared between a central government and regional governments

Geometric boundary

Border drawn using straight lines or coordinates without regard to existing cultural or physical boundaries

Gerrymandering

The practice of drawing political district boundaries to gain advantage in an election

Imperialism

When a state takes control of another state WITHOUT creating settlements

Independence movement

A group’s effort to gain political freedom and create their own state

Infrastructure development

Building of infrastructure to support a state and its economy

International waters

Ocean areas beyond any country’s jurisdiction, where nobody has authority.

Irridentism

When a country seeks to reclaim territory because it believes the territory rightfully belongs to it based on history or ethnicity.

Land boundary

Border separating 2 countries on land

Maritime boundary

Border that divides the EEZ zones between two states evenly if there is not enough space for both states to have 200 miles.

Military alliances

Agreements between countries to support each other militarily

Multinational state

A state that consists of multiple nations of people

Multistate nation

A nation that resides in multiple states

Nation

A group of people who share the same culture

Nation-state

A state that (predominantly) has one nation that resides there; the nation and state borders align

Neocolonialism

When powerful countries indirectly control other countries through ESPN influence and pressure; contemporary versions of imperialism

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Military alliance of a bunch of countries that have agreed to help each other if any country is under attack

Redistricting

Process of redrawing political district boundaries to better reflect population

Relic boundary

An ancient boundary that no longer exists, but has left some kind of footprint

Self-determination

The right for a group of people to govern themselves (often causing conflict)

Semi-autonomous region

A region within a state that can partially self govern, but still operates under the central government of the state

Shatterbelt

An area of land that has been broken up into multiple countries, previously being one country; region caught between stronger competing powers

Sovereignty

State’s power to fully govern itself

State

Area of land that has a population and a central government with full sovereignty over the land

Stateless nation

A nation without a singular state to reside in; kurds and palestinians

Subsequent boundary

A border based off of something else like culture, ethnicity, or linguistic patterns

Superimposed boundary

Border drawn by people who dont live in the region; ignores existing cultural/ethnic borders

Supranationalism

Multiple countries coming together and coopering to work together, make sacrifices, and solve problems

Supranational organization

Group of countries working together and making collective decisions, sometimes limiting the power of some countries

Territoriality

Attempt to control a specific geographic area

Territorial sea

The area up to 12 nautical miles of a country’s coast where the state has sovereignty

Terrorism

The use of violence or threats to cause fear

Trade agreements

Deals and set rules between two countries concerning trade

Unitary state

Country where most power is held by one central government

United Nations

Largest supranational organization in the world internationally, promotes peace, security, and cooperation among all participating countries

UNCLOS

International treaty that set rules for the oceans and seas

Voting district

Specific area where people vote for their representatives

Reapportionment

the process of redistributing seats in a legislature based on population changes

Balkanization

The process of a region breaking into smaller, often hostile, independent states

Electoral college

The system used in the U.S. where electors, not the public directly, formally vote to choose the president.

Georgia Assembly

Georgia’s version of congress