Political Geography Unit 4 Topic 1

Flashcards covering key concepts from Political Geography Unit 4 Topic 1, including definitions of terms related to political units, sovereignty, nationalism, and types of states.

Political Geography

The study of how the world is divided and spatially organized by the exercise of political power and boundaries.

State

A political unit that possesses power over a geographic territory, defined by borders and containing a population.

Sovereignty

The right of a state to determine what happens within its borders and to defend its territory if necessary.

Nationalism

A sense of commonality among a people based on shared language, religion, social customs, often linked with a desire for territory.

Nation

A group of people who share a common language, history, and culture.

Nation-State

A state made up of a single, unified nation, ideally with state boundaries drawn around a single nation.

Stateless Nation

A group of people sharing common cultural values and history but lacking a formal state.

Multistate Nation

A group of people who share a common identity and culture but live in more than one state.

Multinational State

A state that contains multiple cultures and ethnicities within its boundaries.

Autonomous Regions

Regions within a state that have a significant degree of authority to operate independently of their national government.

Semi-autonomous Regions

Regions within a state that have limited authority granted by the national government.