ap hug formative all terms

Political Entity

A politically organized area with a government.

Nation-state

A state whose population largely shares a common culture and identity. Japan, Iceland, Portugal

Stateless nation

A cultural group without its own sovereign state. Kurds (Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria), Palestinians

Multinational state

A state with more than one nation living within its borders. United Kingdom, Spain, Russia

Multistate nation

A nation spread across more than one state. Koreans (North & South Korea), Germans (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)

Autonomous region

A region with self-rule but under a larger sovereign state. Greenland (Denmark), Hong Kong (China), Catalonia (Spain)

Semiautonomous region

A region with limited self-rule within a state.

Territoriality

A group’s emotional attachment to and control over space.

Shatterbelt

A politically unstable region caught between competing states. Middle East, Balkans

Choke point

A narrow, strategic passage crucial for transportation or trade. Suez Canal (Egypt)

Neocolonialism

Indirect control of a country through economic or political pressure. China in Africa, US influence in Latin America

Political Morphology

The shape and structure of a state.

Fragmented

A state made up of disconnected pieces. Indonesia, Philippines

Protruded/Prorupted

A state with a compact core and a projecting extension.

Perforated

A state that completely surrounds another state.

Compact

A state where distances from the center to borders are roughly equal.

Elongated

A state that is long and narrow in shape.

Landlocked

A state with no access to the ocean.

Enclave

A territory completely surrounded by another state.

Exclave

A portion of a state separated from its main territory.

Boundary

A line that marks the limits of a state’s sovereignty.

Physical boundary

A boundary based on natural features like rivers or mountains.

Cultural boundary

A boundary based on cultural traits such as language or religion. India–Pakistan (religion), North–South Korea (ideology)

Geometric boundary

A boundary drawn using straight lines or arcs.

Relic (Relict) boundary

A former boundary that no longer functions but still exists. Berlin Wall (Germany), Great Wall of China

Superimposed boundary

A boundary imposed by outside powers with little regard for local culture. Iraq, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo

Antecedent boundary

A boundary established before settlement.

Subsequent boundary

A boundary created after settlement that reflects cultural differences.

Consequent boundary

A boundary that results from long-term cultural interaction.

Defined boundary

A boundary established by legal agreement.

Delimited boundary

A boundary drawn on a map.

Demarcated boundary

A boundary marked on the landscape.

Administered boundary

A boundary enforced by a government or authority.

DMZ

A demilitarized zone where military forces are prohibited.

Korean DMZ

The buffer zone separating North and South Korea.

Berlin Conference

1884–1885 meeting where European powers divided Africa.

Internal Boundaries

Borders that divide areas within a state.

Voting districts

Geographic areas created for elections.

Gerrymandering

Redrawing voting districts to favor a political party. United States

Federal state

A system where power is shared between national and regional governments. United States, Germany, Brazil

Unitary state

A system where most power is held by the central government. France, Japan

Devolution

The transfer of power from a central government to regional governments.

Supranational organization

An organization made up of multiple states that works beyond national borders.

United Nations (UN)

International organization promoting peace and cooperation.

European Union (EU)

Economic and political union of European states.

ASEAN

Association of Southeast Asian Nations promoting regional cooperation.

Arctic Council

Organization addressing Arctic environmental and political issues.

African Union

Organization promoting unity and development in Africa.

Centripetal force

A force that unifies and stabilizes a state.

Centrifugal force

A force that divides and destabilizes a state.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one’s own culture is superior.

Core

The central, most developed and powerful area of a state.

Periphery

The outer, less developed areas of a state.