AP Human Geo Study Guide

Countries that have Divided Over Some Sort of Conflict

Korea, Vietnam, Germany, Ireland.

Centripetal Force Examples in Political Geography

Forces that unite, leading to more peaceful cultural interaction; local & national identities.

Nations Without States

Ethnic groups that do not have an established state; example: Kurds.

Examples of Balkanization

Yugoslavia: The fragmentation based on different ethnicities and languages.

Consequent Boundary

A boundary that is drawn according to cultural or ethnic lines; example: Canada creating Nunavut.

Geometric Boundary

A straight-line boundary that does not account for natural features; often seen in Africa.

Relic Boundary

A boundary that no longer functions but has remnants on the landscape; example: Berlin Wall.

Superimposed Boundary

A boundary drawn by outside powers without regard to the existing cultural or ethnic divisions; example: Iraq & Saudi Arabia.

Median Line Principle

A principle for drawing boundaries, applicable only to bodies of water, as stated in UNCLOS.

Autonomous Republics

Ethnic groups with some political control, but must comply with central government laws.

Characteristics of Federal States

Typically feature large land areas and diversity among their populations.

UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)

Defines maritime zones: Zone 1 (territorial waters): 0-12 miles; Zone 2 (contiguous zone): 12-24 miles; Zone 3 (EEZ): 24-200 miles; Zone 4 (International waters): 200+ miles.

Congressional District Boundaries in the US

These are redrawn every 10 years.

Countries that Allow Free Flow of People/Goods When Crossing Borders

Examples include the Netherlands and Belgium.

NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)

Agreement removing taxes and reducing barriers on trade among North America.

Federal Form of Governance

A system where local and national governments work together for common goals.

Unitary Form of Governance

A governance structure with a strong central government with local governments holding no power.

Devolutionary Movements Between Canada and Spain

Quebec seeks independence due to culture; Catalonia wants independence for economic reasons.

Role of the Federal State in Political Organization

The national government oversees smaller states to achieve common objectives.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of district boundaries to favor a political party; includes 'packing' voters.

Impact of Increased Global Communications

Acts as a centrifugal force in state-controlled countries.

Types of Government

Nation-State: corresponds to a particular nation; example: Iceland.

Semiautonomous Regions

Regions that create centripetal forces within a state.

Shatterbelts

Regions characterized by disputes between global powers; examples include Korea & Vietnam.

African Political Boundaries

Originally created during the colonization by European powers.

Nation-States Examples

Iceland and Republic of Ireland.

Stateless Nations

Ethnic groups without a state; examples include Kurds and Basque.

Multinational States

A single state that comprises multiple nations; examples: Russia and Canada.

Arctic Ocean Claims

Countries including Canada, Russia, Norway, Denmark, and the US vie for natural resources.

State-Sanctioned Policy in South Africa

Apartheid, a system that institutionalized racial segregation.

Definition of a State

A political entity with defined territory, permanent population, sovereign government, and organized economy.

Supranationalism

The process of nations joining cooperative organizations; example: European Union (EU).

Threats to State Sovereignty

Participation in supranational organizations like the European Union can lead to loss of state power.