Mod 25 Intro to Political Geography

State(Country)

An independent political unit with a centralized authority that makes claim to sole legal, political, economic jurisdiction over a region with defined boundaries

Independent State

A political entity that has a defined territory, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. It is recognized by other states and has sovereignty over its affairs.

Sovereign State

State that posses sole authority over the land/people in the boundary. Emphasizes full extend of independence and self-governance

Nation

A community of people bound to a homeland and possesses a common identity based on shared cultural traits such as language, ethnicity, and religion

Nation-state

The ideal political geographic unit; one in which the nation’s geogrpahic boundaries exactly match the states territorial boundary.

Nation-state ideal

The idea that political authorities govern in the name of all a country’s citizen, modern mass communications link all residents and state-based citizenship rights reinforce the idea of national identity.

Stateless nation

An ethnic group or nation that does not possess its own state and is not the majority population in any nation-state but retains its distinct cultural identity, often seeking autonomy or recognition within larger states.

Multi-state nation

Ethnic group territorially divided by one or more international boundaries.

Autonomous region

A subdivision or dependent territory of a country that has a degree of self- governance or autonomy in its decision making.

Semiautonomous region

A subdivision or dependent territory of a country that has some degree of, but not complete, self-governance

Sovereignty

A principle of international law that codifies an individual state’s right to control its political and economic affairs with the state’s boundaries without external interference.