Human geography - unit 2

State

Another term for country (use this term in geo), recognized by other states, defined boundaries, permanent populations, has its own sovereignty and self determination.

City State

City that has the characteristics of a state.

Nation

Group of people who share a common cultural background and want some self determination.

Nation State

State primarily made up of one nation.

Multinational State

State with more than one nation.

Autonomous Region

Region with some autonomy that exists within a state.

Stateless Nation

Nation without a state (e.g., Kurds).

Multi State Nation

Nation that is spread across more than one state.

Natural Boundary

Boundary that is shaped by natural physical landmarks.

Geometric Boundary

Straight line that doesn't account for physical features.

Antecedent Boundary

Boundary created before many people actually lived in that area.

Subsequent Boundary

Boundaries drawn to accommodate religious, ethnic, political, or any other type of difference.

Relic Boundary

Boundary earlier in history that there is evidence of but is no longer an official boundary.

Superimposed Boundary

Drawn by an outside power and imposed on the inhabitants of the area.

Defined Boundary

Boundary that is established by a legal document such as a treaty.

Delimited Boundary

Boundary that will be drawn on a map to show the limits of a territory.

Demarcated Boundary

Boundary identified by physical objects.

Administered Boundary

Administered and enforced by a government.

Definitional Boundary Dispute

How to interpret legal documents to figure out where the border actually is.

Locational Boundary Dispute

Where the actual physical location of the boundary actually is.

Operational Boundary Dispute

Two countries disagree on how the border should be administered.

Allocational Boundary Dispute

Resources are split along a boundary, the two nations have to figure out who gets it.

Territoriality

Connection of people to the culture, land, etc.

Sovereignty

The ability to decide what is going on in your borders.

Self-Determination

A people's ability to determine their own future.

WWI

Treaty of Versailles - It established new nations in the remains of the German, Ottoman, Austrian, and Russian empires.

WWII Spread of Communism

Eventually led to decolonization.

Heartland Theory

You want to control land as the primary source of power to achieve domination - Mackinder.

Organic Theory

If your state is not expanding, it is most likely going to be consumed by a bigger expanding state, Friedrich Ratzel and is heavily influenced by Darwin.

Rimland Theory

You want to control the coasts because the ocean is the best way to transport goods and people, so you can dominate the economy and trade - Nicholas Spykman.

Neocolonialism

Indirect control through economics, politics, culture.

Shatterbelts

Area between two different groups who do not get along, it is established kind of like a buffer between two enemies.

Chokepoints

Small area that is key for trade or transportation, this can have a huge impact on countries that depend on that trade.

Federal States

States that are going to have power split between a central government and local governments.

Unitary States

Central Government that controls most of or all of the country.

Gerrymandering

Groups in power draw electoral lines in order to advantage one party or group over another.

Devolution

It is a breakdown, power is being split off into smaller and smaller groups and things are less unified.

Nationalism

A deep sense of patriotism in your country and the belief that your country is generally the best.

Ethnic Separatism

One ethnic group feels that its needs are not being met by the central government and they feel more loyal to their ethnic group than to their state (subnationalism).

Irredentism

Annexing or acquiring territory based on a sense of shared cultural identity or history.

Ethnic Cleansing

The act of removing or killing members of an ethnic group.

Terrorism

That the safety of the people are not being cared for by the central government.

Balkanization

The breaking of a state into smaller states who are often hostile to each other.

Globalization

It is the integration of the world's economies into a unified market.

Transnational Corporations

Companies that conduct business across multiple countries on a global scale.

Democratization

Transitioning from an absolute or authoritarian country to a democratic one.

Supranational

Something that transcends state or national boundaries.

Supranational Organizations

Organizations made up of three or more countries that join together for their mutual benefit.