APHG Vocabulary Unit 4 Political Patterns and Processes (copy)

State

A politically organized territory with a permanent population, sovereign government, and recognized boundaries.

Nation

A group of people who share a common culture, history, language, or ethnic origin.

Nation-State

A state whose boundaries coincide with a particular nation; both political and cultural unit.

Stateless Nation

A nation that does not possess its own state and is not the majority population in any nation.

Multinational State

A state that contains two or more nations or nationalities within its borders.

Multi State Nation

A nation that stretches across borders and states.

Autonomous Region

A subdivision of a country that has a degree of autonomy, or self-governance, from the central authority.

Semi-Autonomous Region

A region with partial autonomy but still under the control of a central authority.

Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself without outside interference.

Self-Determination

The right of people to determine their own political status and to pursue their economic, social, and cultural development.

Colonialism

The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial control over another country and exploiting it economically.

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Independence Movement

A social and political movement in which a group of people seeks independence from collective control.

Devolution

The transfer of powers from a central government to subnational (regional or local) authorities.

Neocolonialism

The use of economic, political, cultural, or other pressures to control or influence other countries, especially former dependencies.

Shatterbelt

A region that is politically fragmented and often contested.

Choke Point

A geographical feature that is important for control over movement and can be easily blocked.

Territoriality

The connection of people, their culture, and their economic systems to the land.

Relic Boundary

A boundary that no longer functions but is still recognized as a significant marker.

Superimposed Boundary

A boundary that has been imposed on the cultural landscape without regard to prior existing patterns.

Subsequent Boundary

A boundary that is established after the settlement of an area and considers the cultural landscape.

Antecedent Boundary

A boundary that existed before the cultural landscape emerged.

Geometric Boundary

A straight line boundary defined by latitude and longitude.

Consequent Boundary

A boundary that takes into account the existing cultural or ethnic divisions.

Defined Boundary

A boundary defined by legal documents or treaties.

Delimited Boundary

A boundary that has been drawn on a map.

Demarcated Boundary

A boundary that is physically marked in the landscape.

Demilitarized Zone

An area in which military forces are prohibited or restricted.

Berlin Conference

A meeting held in 1884-1885 to regulate European colonization and trade in Africa.

Land Boundary

The physical boundary that separates land areas.

Maritime Boundary

A boundary that defines a relationship between marine areas.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

An international agreement that defines the rights and responsibilities of nations regarding the use of the world’s oceans.

International Waters

Areas of the sea not under the jurisdiction of any country.

Territorial Sea

The area of the sea measured from a baseline to a limit set by law, where a state has sovereignty.

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

A sea zone prescribed by UNCLOS in which a state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources.

Voting District

A region from which members of a legislative body are elected.

Redistricting

The process of drawing new electoral district boundaries.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party over another.

Unitary State

A state governed as a single entity; central government holds primary authority.

Federal State

A state with a distribution of power between a central government and various regional governments.

Ethnic Separatism

The advocacy for the separation of a particular ethnic group from a larger voting population.

Ethnic Cleansing

The practice of removing or eliminating an ethnic group from a certain area or country.

Terrorism

The use of violence or threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.

Irredentism

A political or popular movement intended to reclaim and reoccupy a lost territory.

Supranationalism

A type of multi-national political union in which negotiated power is delegated to an authority by governments of member states.

Democratization

The transition to a more democratic political regime, including substantive political changes.

Economies of Scale

The cost advantage that arises with increased output of a product.

Trade Agreements

Treaties between two or more countries outlining the terms of trade between them.

Military Alliances

Agreements between nations for mutual protection and defense support.

Supranational Organizations

Organizations formed to promote cooperation among nations and to address issues that transcend national borders.

United Nations

An intergovernmental organization established to promote world peace, security, and cooperation.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Military alliance formed for mutual defense against aggression.

European Union (EU)

A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

A regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten countries in Southeast Asia.

Arctic Council

An intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation in the Arctic region.

African Union

A continental union consisting of 55 African states, aiming to promote unity and cooperation among African countries.

Centrifugal Force

Factors that divide or pull people apart within a state.

Failed State

A state perceived as having failed at some of the basic conditions and responsibilities of a sovereign government.

Ethnic Nationalist Movement

A social movement aimed at promoting the interests and culture of a specific ethnic group.

Centripetal Force

Factors that unify people within a state and promote national cohesion.

Ethnonationalism

A form of nationalism where the nation is defined in terms of ethnicity.

Cultural Cohesion

The degree to which cultural groups within a state accept and adhere to shared values and norms.