Huge Vocab Unit 4

Antecedent Boundary

A boundary drawn before a region is well populated or developed.

Autocracy

A system of government where power is concentrated in the hands of a single ruler or small group.

Berlin Conference

A meeting in 1884–1885 where European powers divided Africa into colonies without consulting African leaders. This conference formalized the scramble for Africa, leading to significant geopolitical changes.

Centripetal Force

 A force or factor that unifies and strengthens a state or region.

Centrifugal Force

A force or factor that divides and weakens a state or region.

Colonialism

The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

Compact State

A state in which the distance from the center to any boundary is relatively equal.

Democracy

A form of government in which power is vested in the people through elected representatives.

Devolution

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

Elongated state

A state with a long, narrow shape (e.g., Chile).

EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone)

An area of the ocean where a state has special rights over exploration and resources.

Enclave

A territory entirely surrounded by another territory.

European Union (EU)

A political and economic union of European countries that promotes cooperation and free trade.

Exclave

 A territory separated from the main part of a state by another state.

Fragmented state

 A state divided into several non-contiguous parts (e.g., Indonesia).

Federalism

 A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and regional entities.

Frontier

 A zone where no state exercises complete political control.

Frontier

A zone where no state exercises complete political control.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts to favor a specific political party.

Imperialism

The policy of extending a country's influence through diplomacy or military force.

Irredentism

A political movement to reclaim or integrate a territory considered culturally or historically significant.

Landlocked state

A state with no direct access to the sea.

Law of the Sea

International rules governing the use of the world's oceans and seas.

Microstate

A very small country in terms of population and area (e.g., Monaco).

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

A military alliance of Western countries formed in 1949.

OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries)

An organization of oil-exporting nations coordinating policies.

Perforated state

A state that completely surrounds another (e.g., South Africa around Lesotho).

Prorupted state

A state with an extended arm of territory.

Relic boundary

A boundary that no longer functions but still has cultural or historical significance.

Self-determination

The right of people to govern themselves and make political decisions.

Sovereignty

Supreme authority of a state to govern itself without external interference.

Subsequent boundaries

Boundaries drawn after an area is populated, considering cultural and social factors.

Supranational organization

An entity composed of multiple countries working together for common goals.

Territoriality

A state's sense of property and attachment to its territory.

Unitary state

A state governed as a single entity with centralized power.

United Nations (UN)

An international organization established in 1945 to promote peace and cooperation.

Brandt Line

A visual depiction of the economic divide between wealthy, developed countries in the Global North and poorer, developing countries in the Global South.

Cooperative

An organization or business owned and run by its members who share the benefits and responsibilities.

Core-periphery concept

A model describing how economic, political, and cultural power is distributed between dominant core regions and less-developed periphery regions.

Dependency theory

A theory that suggests developing countries are dependent on developed countries, limiting their growth and development.

Fair trade

A movement promoting sustainable farming practices and equitable trade partnerships, ensuring fair wages and ethical practices.

Foreign direct investment (FDI):

 Investment by a company or individual from one country into business operations in another country.

GDI (Gender Development Index)

 A measure comparing the development of women to men using indicators like life expectancy, education, and income.

GII (Gender Inequality Index)

A measure that reflects gender-based inequalities in reproductive health, empowerment, and labor participation.

GNI (Gross National Income)

The total income earned by a country’s residents and businesses, including income from abroad.

HDI (Human Development Index)

 A composite statistic of life expectancy, education, and per capita income, used to measure human development.

IHDI (Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index)

 A measure that adjusts the HDI for inequality within a country.

Informal sector

Economic activities that are not regulated or taxed by the government, such as street vending or unregistered businesses.

International division of labor

The specialization of tasks and production across countries in the global economy.

Literacy rate

The percentage of people in a population who can read and write.

Maternal mortality rate

The number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in a given period.

Microfinance

 Financial services, such as small loans, offered to low-income individuals or groups who lack access to traditional banking.

Primary sector

The economic sector focused on the extraction of natural resources, such as agriculture, fishing, and mining.

Productivity

The efficiency of production, often measured as output per unit of input (e.g., labor or capital).

Quaternary sector

The knowledge-based economic sector, including services like research, development, and information technology.

Quinary sector

The highest level of decision-making in the economy, involving top executives and government officials.

Secondary sector

The economic sector involving manufacturing and industrial production.

Tertiary sector

The economic sector focused on providing services, such as retail, entertainment, and education.

World Bank

An international financial institution that provides loans and grants to countries for development projects.

World Systems Theory

A framework that categorizes the global economy into core, periphery, and semi-periphery regions, emphasizing economic and political inequalities.