APHUG

Devolution

the transfer of power from a central government to regional governments within a state

Formal region

geographically defined area characterized by relatively uniform physical or cultural attributes.

nation

a group of people united by shared cultural, historical, linguistic, and/or ethnic characteristics, who may or may not have a territory and government of their own

Superimposed boundary

a political boundary that has been imposed on a region by an external authority, often without regard for the existing cultural or ethnic divisions among the local populations

Shatterbelt

a strategically positioned area marked by a high degree of internal political instability and conflict, often due to the presence of competing external powers vying for influence

Ecumene

permanently inhabited land of the Earth

Physiological density

measures population density based on the amount of arable land

Neo-colonialism

the continued influence and exploitation of developing countries by more developed countries

Transhumance

seasonal migration of livestock (herds) between different grazing areas, often between mountains and lowlands

Sovereignty

a state's supreme authority to govern itself within its territory, free from external control

Mercator Projection

a conformal cylindrical map projection that was originally created to display accurate compass bearings for sea travel. An additional feature of this projection is that all local shapes are accurate and correctly defined at infinitesimal scale.

Centripetal forces

elements that unify a population and reinforce state sovereignty

Centrifugal forces

those that divide or weaken a state, pushing people apart rather than uniting them

Irridentism

a political movement that seeks to unite or reclaim territory based on shared ethnicity, culture, or historical ties

Lingua franca

a language that is widely understood and used for communication between people who have different native languages, particularly for trade, business, or diplomacy