APHUG Unit 4 Vocab

political geography

the study of the political organization of the planet (a constantly changing collage of countries that once were kingdoms or parts of empires, or perhaps scatterings of independent tribes)

government

reference to the leadership and institutions that make policy decisions for a country

politics

Power; who has it, how they got it, challenges in keeping the power both internal and external)

territoriality

efforts to control pieces of the earth's surface for political and social ends; In political geography, a country's or more local community's sense of property and attachment toward its territory, as expressed by its determination to keep it inviolable and strongly defended.

political culture

the collection of political beliefs, values, practices, and institutions that the government is based on

boundary

invisible lines that mark the extent of a state's territory and the control its leaders have

frontier

a geographical zone where no state exercises power (ex. France and England fought over frontier areas in N. Amer. in mid-1700s); A zone far from the core of a territory that is difficult to control, and/or claimed by another state.

consequent/cultural boundaries

boundaries set by ethnic differences, especially those based on language and/religion; invisible

Law of the Sea

1983: put boarders 12 miles off the coast and gave rights to sea life within 200 miles

shatter belts

zones of great cultural complexity containing many small cultural groups who find refuge in the isolation created by rough terrain; A region with instability because it is located between two very different regions (Eastern Europe)

geometric boundaries

political boundaries that are straight, imaginary lines that generally have good reasons behind their creation (North and South Korea, Vietnam); sometimes along latitude or longitude

territorial morphology

a term that describes the shapes, sizes, and relative locations of states

compact state

distance from the center to any boundary is about the same, giving it a shape similar to a circle (France, Poland)

prorupted states

otherwise compact state with a large projecting extension (Congo, Thailand)

elongated states

have a long and narrow shape (Chili)

fragmented states

have several discontinuous pieces of territory

perforated states

state that completely surrounds another one (has a hole) (ex: South Africa)

exclave

small bits of territory that are separated from the state by the territory of another state (Cabinda, part of Angola that is separated by Congo; Alaska and the US)

enclave

landlocked within another country, so that the country totally surrounds it (Nagorno-Karabakh is a group of Christians surrounded by Muslims in Armenia; Lesotho surrounded by South Africa)

microstate

land spaces of just a few square miles (Liechtenstein); small in population and size

landlocked state

those lacking an ocean frontage and surrounded by other states (Nepal, Mongolia, Bolivia, Zimbabwe, Niger); affects trade, sea resources, transportation, and Communication

Why is Singapore's relative location important?

it is landlocked, but is located between two large areas, so it is a popular trade center

sovereignty

the ability of the state to carry out actions or policies within its borders independently from interference either from the inside or the outside

nationalism

the shape of the country's territory comes to represent a national consciousness; modern nationalism is a sense of unity with fellow citizens and loyalty to the state to promote its culture and interests over those of other nations

positional/definitional dispute

occur when states argue about where the border actually is (Argentina v. Chili)

Territorial disputes

arise over the ownership/possession/control of a region, usually around mutual borders (Germany and Poland)

irredentism

cultural extension or potential political expansion of a country into a neighboring country; The policy of a state wishing to incorporate within itself territory inhabited by people who have ethnic or linguistic links with the country but that lies within a neighboring state.

Resource/allocational disputes

involve natural resources-- such as mineral deposits, fertile farmland, or rich fishing groups-- that lie in border areas (USA v. Canada/ Iraq v. Kuwait)

Functional/operational disputes

when neighboring states cannot agree on policies that apply in a border area and how the border should be run eco(USA and Mexico)

states

A politically organized territory that is administered by a sovereign government and is recognized by the international community; territorially organized countries

institutions

stable, long-lasting organizations that help to turn political ideas into policy (bureaucracies, legislatures, judicial systems, political parties)

nation

a group of people that are bound together by a common political/cultural identity

nation-state

government corresponds with the political identity of those it represents (country with common culture)

binational/multinational state

a state that contains more than one nation; ex: Soviet Union

stateless nation

a people/nationality without a state; ex: Kurds

core area

early nation-states grew from them, they may be identified on a map by examining population distribution and transport networks; The portion of a country, like a capital city, that contains its economic, political, intellectual, and cultural focus. (Paris, France)

periphery

outlying areas

multicore states

states with more than one core area; A state that has more than one dominant region in terms of economics or politics; ex: Nigeria and USA

primate city

when no other city comes even close to rivaling the capital city in terms of size or influence (Not USA)

forward capital

when the capital city serves as a model for the national objectives, especially for economic development and future hopes (Japan, Brasil)

electoral process

the methods used in a democratic country for selecting leaders

electoral geography

the study of how the spatial configuration of electoral districts and voting patterns reflect and influence social political affairs

gerrymandering

when a political party attempts to redraw boundaries in order to try to improve the chances of its supporters to win seats

majority/minority districting

rearranging districts to allow a minority representative to be elected; can involve reverse discrimination to elect a minority (NC in 1990: ruled that race isn't the MAIN factor in GM)

colonies

dependent areas (a group of people who leave their native country to form in a new land a settlement subject to, or connected with, the parent nation)

imperialism

empire building-a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, socially, and economically; ex: European colonization of Africa and Asia

unitary system

is one that concentrates all policy-making powers in one central geographic place; power to the federal gov (European gov)

confederal system

spread the power among many sub-units (such as states) and has a weak central government; usually don't last long (Confederate States, Switzerland)

Confederation System

A system consisting of a league of independent states, each having essentially sovereign powers. The central government created by such a league has only limited powers over the states.

federal system

divides the power between the central government and sub-units (USA, Canada)

devolution

transfer of some important powers from central governments to sub-governments (like Britain granting Scotland the ability to form a Parliament)

supranational organizations

cooperating groups of nations that operate either on a regional or international level; ex: EU (regional), UN (international), NAFTA (economic goals), NADO (security goals)

centripetal forces

An attitude that tends to unify people and enhance support for a state (nationalism, symbols, flags, institutions, communication)

centrifugal forces

destabilize the government and encourage the country to fall apart (weak gov, can't provide, disorganized, USSR)

separatist movements

movement where nationalities within a country demand independence (Basques of Spain)

What is separatistism encouraged by

peripheral location, social inequality, economic inequality

ethnic group

shares a well-developed sense of belonging to the same culture

Ethnonationalism

the tendency for an ethnic group to see itself as a distinct nation with a right to autonomy or independence; Intense feeling of pride in one's nationality - not necessarily one's country

geopolitics

study of the spatial and territorial dimensions of power relationships within the global political-territorial order (relationship of political power and land)

integration

process that encourages states to pool their sovereignty in order to gain political, economic, and social clout.

monetary policy

Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling the money supply and thus interest rates.

globalization

Actions or processes that involve the entire world and result in making something worldwide in scope

democratization

the spread of representative government to more countries and the process of making governments more representative

marketization

a market in which property, labor, goods, and services can all function in a competitive environment to determine their value (capitalist)

privatization

transfer of state-owned property to private ownership

market economies

a type of economic system where supply and demand regulate the economy, rather than government intervention; less political control

fragmentation

divisions based on ethnic or cultural identity

median-line principle

borders lines are put in the middle, or equidistant from shore or each country, of a physical border such as a river, ocean, or mountain; Lines made to distribute water ways when states are within 200 miles of each other

Balkanization

Process by which a state breaks down through conflicts among its ethnicities

"Ancona Line"

invisible line extending from Rome to the Adriatic Coast

Organic theory

Friedrich Ratzel; states go through a life cycle similar to a cell; Hitler used this to justify the growth of German power through attacking weaker states

Heartland theory

Sir Halford Mackinder; more land= more power (Eurasia and USSR); Hypothesis that any political power (land-based) based in the heart of Eurasia could gain enough strength to eventually dominate the world.

Rimland theory

Nicholas Spykman's theory that the domination of the coastal fringes of Eurasia (sea-based) would provided the base for world conquest; more coast= more power (Eurasian Rim)

Cold War

A conflict that was between the US and the Soviet Union. The nations never directly confronted each other on the battlefield but deadly threats went on for years

U.N Security council

Five permanent members (US, UK, France, China, Russian Federation) with veto power in the UN; Promised to carry out UN decisions with their own forces; responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization; Formed after WWII; 29 North American and European countries; Security purposes

Warsaw Pact

began in 1955. Composed of Soviet Union and six eastern European countries. disbanded with the breakup of the Soviet Union

OAS

created to promote social, cultural, political, and economic links among member states; (Organization of American States)

Arab League

founded to promote the interests and sovereignty of countries in the Middle East

OAU

Organization for African Unity that has promoted the elimination of minority white-ruled governments in Southern Africa.

European Union

An international organization of European countries formed after World War II to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members. Also promises to redefine the meaning of sovereignty.

Maastricht Treaty

created the European Union; gave it authority in monetary policy (money), foreign affairs, national security, transportation, the environment, justice, and tourism.

EU: Three Pillars

spheres of authority that the Maastricht Treaty created:


1. Trade and other economic matters, including economic and monetary union into a single currency, and the creation of the European Central Bank
2. Justice and home affairs, including policy governing asylum, border crossing, immigration, and judicial cooperation on crime and terrorism
3. Common foreign and security policy, including joint positions and actions, and common defense policy

European Constitution

A 2004 European Union document, not yet ratified, which significantly increased the extent of European unity

"third wave of democratization"

\-Samuel Hungtion

\-the third major surge of democracy in history

\-characterized by the defeat of dictatorial or totalitarian rulers from South America to Eastern Europe to some parts of Africa

1st wave of democratization

18th century revolutions (USA, France)

2nd wave of democratization

after WWII- decolonization

Politicization of religion

the use of religious principles to promote political ends and vice versa

Friedrich Ratzel

father of modern political geography. Theorized that a state compares to a biological organism with a life cycle from cycle from birth to death, with a predictable rise and fall of power.

Sir Halford Mackinder

concerned himself with power relationships surrounding Britain's global empire. Naval power was responsible for British power. He believed that a land based power, not a sea power, would ultimately rule the rule the world. Made Heartland Theory

Nicholas Spykman

made The Geography of Peace in 1944. His theory the Rimland theory challenged the heartland theory. Argued that the eurasian rim, not its heart, held the key to global power.

Devolution forces and examples

ethnic- french-Canadians in Quebec

Economic- Italy split between north and south at the "Ancona Line" bc the north is far more prosperous

Spatial- (often occur on the margins) USA and Puerto Rico

Regional/SUPRANATIONAL Organizations examples

NATO- opposing the warsaw pact (16 members)

Warsaw Pact- Soviet Union and 6 allies

OAS- American states

OAU- African states

European Union- European states

Arab league- Middle East states

Illiberal Democracy

"fair" elections but doesn't include the properties of a liberal society (Russia, Nigeria, etc)

Liberal Democracy

1. civil liberties
2. equal treatment laws
3. checks and balances for power
4. Open civil society that allows private, independent lives for citizens
5. civilian control over military

Types of economies

command, mixed, pure

Command economy

Economy of centralized planning and state ownership (North Korea, Kuba)

Mixed economy

Type of economy that have freedom in the market place but also some governmental control or regulation. Most economies today fall into this category; shared control (Germany)

Pure economy

individual control (USA)

Types of boundaries

Frontiers, Physical, Cultural