APHUG 4

State

sovereign territory ethnic clearly defined borders,governs itself and is politically autonomous , independent government, and other states acknowledge it as a state

Sovereignty

power and authority of a state to govern itself without outside interference.

Self-determination

Ability for a group of people to form their own independent state.

Nation

cultural group of people who share common traits such as religion or beliefs, language, and heritage. Strong connection to a particular homeland. more politically oriented than an ethic group, and is described as a cultural-political community

Nation-state

sovereign state in which the population is largely homogeneous, people share same nation or ethnicity

Multinational state

A country that contains more than one nation.

Multistate nation

a nation that cross multiple states borders

Stateless nation

nation that have no states / does not have their own sovereign state/ seeks for self-determination/ not represented in international organizations

Autonomous region

Areas of a country that have a degree of self-governance and independence allowing them to manage their own affairs while still being part of the larger state.

Semiautonomous region

Area where a group has some type of political autonomy, with some power and self-determination, but not fully like autonomous regions.

Peace of Westphalia

The event marking the creation of the concept of a country, stating that independent states should have the right to govern themselves without interference from others.

Berlin Conference

The division of Africa by European colonialist countries with no regard for tribal or ethnic differences.

Decolonization

The process of achieving independence from a colonial power.

Geopolitics

The study of the effects of geography on international politics and international relations.

Colonialism

Attempt by one country to establish settlements and impose its political, economic, and cultural principles in another territory.

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Neocolonialism

A new form of colonialism and imperialism, characterized by the use of economic, political, and cultural pressures to control or influence countries without direct intervention.

Territoriality

The connection of people, their culture, and economic systems to the land, leading to a willingness to defend that land.

Devolution

The transfer of political power from a central government to a subnational level of government within an independent state.

Ethnic separatism

The desire of an ethnic group to promote devolution along ethnic lines.

Irredentism

A movement to unite people with similar cultural elements who are part of two different countries.

Terrorism

Violence against innocent civilians for a political purpose.

Ethnic cleansing

The forced removal of a particular ethnic group from a society.

Supranationalism

The process of independent states forming an organization for a common purpose (e.g., UN).

Balkanization

The fragmentation or division of a state into smaller, often hostile, regions or states.

Democratization

The process by which a state transitions from a non-democratic government to a democratic one, involving increased participation, transparency, and representation.

Regionalism

A sense of regional pride and loyalty to a specific geographic area, often leading to demands for greater autonomy or political representation.

Nationalism

A strong identification with and devotion to one's nation.

Ethnonationalism

A form of nationalism where a specific ethnic group seeks self-determination.

Failed State

A state where the central government loses authority, often relying on violence to maintain control.

Definitional Boundary Dispute

Conflicts over the legal language or interpretation of a boundary agreement.

Locational Boundary Dispute

Disputes over the exact location or demarcation of a boundary on the ground.

Operational Boundary Dispute

Disputes over how a boundary functions, such as management, policies, or enforcement.

Allocational Boundary Dispute

Conflicts over resources that cross or are located along a boundary.

Exclave

A portion of a state that is geographically separated from the main part by surrounding territory.

Political Enclave

A territory completely surrounded by another political entity and politically distinct.

Physical (Natural) Boundaries

Boundaries based on natural features of the landscape that separate political or cultural areas.

Geometric boundaries

Political boundaries defined and delimited by straight lines.

Cultural boundaries

Boundaries established based on cultural characteristics.

Antecedent boundaries

A boundary line established before an area is well populated.

Subsequent boundaries

A boundary line established after an area is settled, considering cultural characteristics.

Consequent boundaries

A boundary that coincides with some cultural divide, such as religion or language.

Superimposed boundaries

A boundary line placed over ignoring existing cultural patterns.

Relic boundaries

A boundary no longer observed but that still affects the present-day area.

Defined boundaries

A boundary established by a legal document, such as a treaty.

Delimited boundaries

A line drawn on a map to show the limits of a space.

Demarcated boundaries

A boundary marked by visible means such as walls or fences.

Administered boundaries

Boundaries managed by a government or authority.

Demilitarized zone (DMZ)

A zone from which military forces or operations are prohibited.

Shatterbelt

A region caught between stronger colliding external cultural-political forces, often fragmented by aggressive rivals.

Choke point

A strategic area where narrow passages are vulnerable to military blockade or disruption.

United Nations Conference on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS)

An international treaty that outlines the rights and responsibilities of nations regarding the use of the world's oceans.

Territorial sea

The area within 12 nautical miles of shore where a country has complete sovereignty.

Contiguous zone

The area within 24 nautical miles of the shore where a country can enforce laws on customs and immigration.

Exclusive economic zone (EEZ)

The area within 200 nautical miles of shore where a state controls resources.

High seas

Waters beyond 200 nautical miles of shore, accessible by any country.

Voting districts

Regions represented by elected officials in the legislative assembly.

Census

A complete enumeration of a population.

Reapportionment

The process of reallocating electoral seats based on changes in population.

Redistricting

The redrawing of electoral district boundaries following a census.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries for political gain.

Packing

Concentrating opposing voters in one district to win other districts.

Cracking

Dividing opposing voters into smaller groups across multiple districts.

Unitary states

An internal organization of a state that places most power in the hands of central officials.

Federal states

An internal organization of a state that allocates most powers to local governments.