unit 4

State

A geographic area with defined borders and government.

Nation

A group sharing culture, history, and identity.

Self-determination

Right of a nation to govern itself.

Nation-state

Self-governing state with uniform population.

Cultural heritage

Traditions and practices of a cultural group.

Social cohesion

Unity among people due to shared identity.

Multinational state

State with multiple nations within its borders.

Dominant cultural group

Main ethnic group controlling the state.

Multiculturalism

Government policies promoting cultural diversity.

Multi-state nation

Nation existing across multiple states.

Stateless nation

Nation without recognized sovereign state.

Political boundaries

Defined limits of a state's territory.

Sovereign authority

Government's control over its affairs.

Autonomous region

Region with self-rule within a state.

Semi-autonomous region

Region with limited self-governance.

Native American reservations

Example of an autonomous region in the U.S.

Hong Kong

Example of a semi-autonomous region in China.

Ethnic group

Community sharing common cultural identity.

Linguistic group

Group sharing a common language.

National identity

Sense of belonging to a nation.

Geographically compact

State with a concentrated population area.

Cultural uniqueness

Distinctive characteristics of a cultural group.

Political system

Structure governing a state's political affairs.

Colonialism

Acquiring territories for political and economic control.

Imperialism

Expanding a state by exerting force over nations.

Diffusion

Spread of cultures, languages, and ideas globally.

Cultural Imposition

Colonizers impose their culture on colonized populations.

Political Boundaries

Lines established favoring colonial rulers over locals.

Berlin Conference

1884 meeting to divide Africa among European powers.

Natural Resource Extraction

Taking resources from colonies for European benefit.

Infrastructure Deficiency

Lack of development in newly formed states.

Decolonization

Process of colonies gaining independence from colonizers.

Post-WWII Decolonization

Independence movements surged after World War II.

Ethnic Conflict

Struggles arising from diverse groups in new states.

Civil Wars

Internal conflicts often resulting from colonial boundaries.

Genocide

Deliberate extermination of a particular ethnic group.

Spheres of Influence

Divided control over a region by foreign powers.

Devolution

Transfer of power from central to regional governments.

Regional Government

Local governance established through devolution processes.

Scottish Parliament

Established as a result of devolution in the UK.

Welsh Assembly

Regional government formed through devolution in Wales.

Territoriality

Establishing and defending a specific geographic area.

Non-verbal Communication

Indicating ownership through actions rather than words.

Military Interventions

Use of armed forces to assert territorial claims.

Regulation of Activities

Controlling actions within a defined geographic area.

Political Power

Authority to govern and influence political decisions.

Territoriality

The expression of control over a geographical area.

Neocolonialism

Indirect control of less developed countries by powerful states.

Multinational Corporations

Companies operating in multiple countries, often exploiting labor.

Economic Influence

Using economic power to affect other countries' policies.

Cultural Influence

Promoting one's culture to assert dominance over others.

Infrastructure Investment

Funding projects to gain political and economic leverage.

Debt Diplomacy

Using loans to create dependency on a lending country.

Shatter Belt

Regions caught between conflicting external powers.

Cold War

A period of geopolitical tension between the US and USSR.

Korean War

Conflict over control of the Korean Peninsula.

Choke Points

Strategic geographic areas crucial for control and access.

Military Presence

Stationing forces to exert influence over a region.

Diplomatic Pressure

Using negotiations to influence another country's decisions.

Political Alliances

Agreements between countries to support each other's interests.

Demographic Transition Model

Stages of population growth and economic development.

Urbanization

The process of populations moving to urban areas.

Boundary Definition

The initial agreement on a boundary line.

Boundary Delimitation

Drawing and marking the boundary on a map.

Boundary Demarcation

Physical marking of a boundary with permanent markers.

Low Interest Loans

Loans with reduced rates to encourage borrowing.

Political Power

The ability to influence or control political outcomes.

Resource Extraction

The process of removing natural resources from a region.

Economic Exploitation

Taking advantage of lower costs in developing countries.

Geometric Boundary

Uses straight lines based on latitude and longitude.

Anacan Boundary

Established before human settlement, based on geography.

Relic Boundary

No longer officially recognized but still impacts culture.

Superimposed Boundary

Created by external powers without local input.

Subsequent Boundary

Develops alongside cultural landscape and local characteristics.

Consequent Boundary

Separates ethnic, religious, or linguistic groups.

International Boundary

Separates sovereign states, established by treaties.

Internal Boundary

Divides regions within a single state.

Berlin Wall

Example of a relic boundary affecting cultural landscape.

49th Parallel

Geometric boundary between Canada and the United States.

Argentina-Chile Boundary

Natural boundary formed by a mountain range.

Berlin Conference

Established African boundaries without local consultation.

Cultural Landscape

Physical and cultural features influencing boundary formation.

Ethnic Groups

Communities defined by shared cultural characteristics.

Linguistic Characteristics

Language-based traits influencing boundary creation.

Power Negotiation

Process of establishing boundaries through discussions.

Legal Connections

Political ties established by international boundaries.

State Sovereignty

Authority of a state over its territory.

Geographic Area

Region defined by specific physical or cultural features.

Cultural Characteristics

Attributes reflecting the identity of a community.

Forcibly Created Boundaries

Boundaries imposed by external forces on a region.

Political Boundaries

Divisions that reflect power dynamics in geography.

Definitional Boundary Disputes

Disputes over interpretation of boundary documents.

Locational Boundary Disputes

Disputes regarding actual location of boundaries.

Operational Boundary Disputes

Disputes on management and enforcement of boundaries.

Allocational Boundary Disputes

Disputes over resource usage at boundaries.

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

1985 conference addressing maritime boundary disputes.

Territorial Waters

Zone extending 12 nautical miles from shore.

Contiguous Zone

Zone between 12 and 24 nautical miles from shore.

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

Zone from 24 to 200 nautical miles with resource rights.

International Waters

Areas beyond national jurisdiction and control.