Unit 4

Unit 4

antecedent boundary

the name of a boundary between two states that is created before the area is populated with human society

Berlin Conference

dividing up the continent of Africa among the various European imperial powers

centrifugal force

a cultural value that tends to pull people apart

centripetal force

a cultural value that tends to unify people

choke point

geographic locations where the flow of people and goods can be constricted and choked off in the event of a conflict

demilitarized zone

an area in which treaties or agreements between nations, military powers or contending groups forbid military installations, activities or personnel

democratization

the process of moving a nation's government from an authoritarian, meaning dictatorship system, to a democratic system

devolution

the transfer of power from a central government to a lower level of government, such as a regional or local government

ethnic cleansing

a purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means he civilian population of another ethnic or religious group from certain geographic areas

ethnic separatism

the political process of an ethnic nation breaking away or attempting to break away from a state, to gain grater autonomy, form its own state, or join a neighboring state

failed state

a country where the government has lost the ability to effectively control its territory and provide basic services to its citizens

federal state

an internal organization of a state that allocates most powers to units of local government

geometric boundary

boundaries defined by straight lines or arcs, often established by physical or natural features without regard to cultural or ethnic divisions

gerrymandering

the process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power

imperialism

a policy or ideology where a country extends its power and influence over other nations or territories

maritime boundary

a legal line that defines the limits of a country's jurisdiction over the sea areas that border it

multinational state

a state that contains two or more ethnic groups with traditions of self-determination that agree to coexist peacefully by recognizing each other as distinct nationalities.

shatterbelt

a region caught between stronger colliding external cultural-political forces, under persistent stress, and often fragmented by aggressive rivals

sovereignty

ability of a state to govern its territory free from control of its internal affairs by other states.

stateless nation

a group of people with a shared culture and identity who do not have their own sovereign state

subsequent boundary

a political border that is established after a region has been settled

supranational organizations

where three or more countries form an alliance for cultural, economic, or military reasons. These alliances are created so states can reach cultural, economic, or military goals they

trade agreements

designated group of countries that have agreed to eliminate tariffs, quotas, and preferences on most (if not all) goods and services between them

unitary state

a state where laws are administered uniformly by one central government

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

an international treaty that establishes a legal framework for all maritime activities