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Political Geography
A branch of human geography concerned with the spatial analysis of political systems.
Peace of Westphalia
A series of treaties that ended the Thirty Years' War in Europe, establishing the principle of state sovereignty.
Political Map
A map that shows the spatial organization of the countries and territories on the entire globe at a given point in time.
Independent State
A state that rules itself and is not subject to the authority of another state.
Sovereign State
A state that possesses the sole authority over the land and people within its boundaries.
Nation
A community of people bound to a homeland and possessing a common identity based on shared cultural traits.
Nation-State
The ideal political geographical unit; a state that coincides with the territorial boundaries of a nation.
Nationalism
A sense of belonging to and self-identifying with a national culture.
Stateless Nation
An ethnic group or nation that does not possess its own state.
Multinational State
A country containing multiple national, ethnic, and religious groups within its boundaries.
Multistate Nations
Ethnic groups territorially divided by one or more international boundaries.
Autonomous Region
A subdivision or dependent territory of a country that has a degree of self-government.
Semiautonomous Region
A subdivision or dependent territory of a country with some degree of self-government.
Self-Determination
A nation’s ability to determine its own statehood and form its own government.
Core Area
A small territorial nucleus from which a country grows over time.
Escarpments
Abrupt slopes that break up the general continuity of the terrain.
Effective Sovereignty
The power of a state to enforce its sovereignty may extend beyond its territory.
Devolution
The movement of power from the central government to regional governments within the state.
Ethnonationalism
A form of nationalism where the nation is defined in terms of ethnic identity.
Neocolonialism
Strategies by which wealthy countries maintain or extend their influences over less wealthy areas.
Peripheral States
States with relatively little industrial development focused mostly on agriculture and raw materials.
Core State
States that have the most advanced industrial and military technologies.
Shatterbelt
A region of continuing fragmentation due to devolution and centrifugal forces.
Choke Point
A narrow passage that restricts traffic to another region.
Strait
A narrow body of water connecting two larger bodies of water.
Boundary
A clearly demarcated line that marks the limits of a territory.
Median Line Principle
An approach to dividing and creating boundaries at the midpoint between two places.
Borderland
A region straddling both sides of an international boundary where national cultures overlap.
Frontier
A region at the margins of state control and settlement.
Enclave
A territory surrounded by a country but not ruled by it.
Exclave
Part of a national territory separated from the main body of the country.
Delimited
Describing how boundaries are fixed or defined to identify their limits.
Demarcated
Describing how boundaries are set apart to distinguish their limits.
Relic Boundary
A boundary that no longer functions as an international border.
Superimposed Boundary
A boundary placed on an area without regard to existing boundaries.
Subsequent Boundary
A political boundary that developed with the cultural landscape.
Antecedent Boundary
A boundary that was identified before an area was settled.
Geometric Boundary
A boundary with regular, often straight lines drawn without regard for physical or cultural features.
Consequent Boundary
A boundary drawn to accommodate existing cultural differences.
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)
An area where military activities are forbidden by treaties or agreements.
Buffer State
A politically and economically weak independent country lying between two powerful states.
Satellite State
A nominally independent country controlled by a more powerful state.
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
A conference organized to define territorial boundaries and rights to the sea.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
Zone extending 200 nautical miles from shoreline for coastal states to exploit resources.
Arctic Circle
Area defined by the 66 degrees, 34 minutes north latitude line.
Electoral Geography
A subfield of political geography analyzing the geography of political preferences.
Voting District
A territorial division for casting votes in public elections.
Electoral College
A body of electors in the U.S. required to elect the president.
Reapportionment
The division of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the states.
Redistricting
The process of drawing new boundaries for U.S. congressional districts.
Gerrymandering
The manipulation of voting district boundaries for political advantage.
Packing
Gerrymandering by concentrating opposition voters into one district.
Cracking
Gerrymandering by dividing opposition votes into many districts.
Subnational Units
Smaller areas into which a larger state is divided.
Unitary State
An independent state concentrating power in the central government.
Federal State
An independent country dispersing significant authority among subnational units.
Irredentism
The political claim to territory in another country based on ethnic affiliations.
Terrorism
The calculated use of violent acts against civilians to publicize a cause.
International Terrorism
Terrorism that transcends national boundaries.
Domestic Terrorism
Acts by individuals or groups against their own government.
State Terrorism
Terrorism committed by government agents against perceived enemies.
Subnational Terrorism
Terrorism committed by non-government groups feeling wronged.
Democratization
When a sovereign state moves from a non-democracy to a democracy.
Supranationalism
A collection of nation states relinquishing some sovereign rights to a larger body.
Supranational Organization
An international body that nation-states establish for mutual gain.
United Nations (UN)
International organization responsible for maintaining peace and cooperation.
European Union (EU)
Union of independent European countries promoting free movement among members.
African Union (AU)
Continental organization of African states promoting growth and development.
Arctic Council
International forum promoting interaction among Arctic states and communities.
Regional Trading Bloc
Multi-country agreement that reduces taxes to promote free trade.
Economies of Scale
Cost advantages that come with a larger scale of operations.
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA-USMCA)
Trade agreement promoting free trade between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Regional organization promoting cooperation and economic growth in Southeast Asia.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Military alliance among North American and European countries.
Failed State
A state whose political or economic system has become so weak that it’s no longer controlled.
Uneven Development
Core states have advanced economies while peripheral states have less industrial development.
Allegiance
Loyalty or commitment to a country.
Equitable Infrastructure
Construction and improvement of foundational services across the country.
Cultural Cohesion
Cultural unity occurs when the members of a society are culturally united.
Iconography
A set of traditional symbols or symbolic forms associated with a country and its citizens.
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