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State

An area organized into a political unit and ruled by an established government with control over its internal, foreign affairs, and recognized by other states (countries).

Sovereignty

Ability of a state (country) to govern its territory free from control of its internal affairs by other states.

Nation

A group of people with a common culture living in a territory and having a strong sense of unity. Have a desire to establish their own state (country) or express self-rule in another way. (Ex: Scots, Kurds, & Catalans)

Nation-State

A state (country) whose territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular ethnicity that has been transformed into a nationality. (Ex: Japan, France, & Egypt)

Multinational State

State (country) that contains two or more ethnic groups with traditions of self-determination that agree to coexist peacefully by recognizing each other as distinct nationalities.

Autonomous Region

A defined area within a state (country) that has a high degree of self-government and freedom from its parent state.

Semiautonomous Region

An area inside of a country that has some power to control itself more than other areas in the country. (Ex: Native American Reservations in the U.S.)

Stateless Nation

A cultural group that has no independent political entity. (Ex: Kurds)

Multistate Nation

when a nation stretches across borders and across states (countries). (Ex: Korea- North Korea & South Korea)

Centripetal Force

An attitude that tends to unify people and enhance support for a state (Country) (Ex: shared religion, external threats, common language)

Centrifugal Force

A force that divides people and states (Countries)

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through direct conquest, economic control, or cultural dominance.

Colonialism

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

Berlin Conference

This was a meeting of European countries in 1884 to divide up Africa without asking African people. Also called "the scramble for Africa".

Self-Determination

the right of people to choose their own form of government without external influence.

Decolonization

The collapse of colonial empires. Between 1947 and 1962, practically all former colonies in Asia and Africa gained independence (sovereignty).

Genocide

organized killing of an entire people because of their race, religion, ethnicity, or nationality. (Ex: Holocaust & Rwanda)

Cold War

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

Satellite States

A state dominated by another politically and economically. (Ex: East Germany and capital east Berlin)

Geopolitics

The study of the effects of geography on politics and relations

among states.

Territoriality

A willingness by one person or a group of people to defend space they claim.

Neocolonialism

A new system of colonialism where economic, political, or even cultural control was indirectly exerted over developing countries. (Ex: control or extraction of natural resources through mining and exports like coffee, cacao, and bananas.

Choke Point

A strategic, narrow waterway between two larger bodies of water. (EX: Panama & Suez Canal, Straight of Malacca)

Physical Geographic Boundaries

natural barriers between areas such as oceans, deserts, and mountains.

Cultural Boundaries

borders based on culture traits, like language and religion.

Antecedent Boundary

A boundary line established before the area in question is well populated. Uses physical obstacles such as oceans or mountains.

Subsequent Boundary

a boundary line that is established after the area in question has been settled and that considers the cultural characteristics of the bounded area.

Ethnographic

Boundaries that are usually related to cultural phenomena. Ethnic, religious, linguistic, or economic differences among groups.

Superimposed Boundary

Boundary dawn by outside powers and may have ignored existing cultural patterns. (Ex: Berlin Conference)

Landlocked States

A state that does not have a direct outlet to the sea.

Relic Boundary

A boundary no longer observed but that still affects the present-day area (e.g. border between West and East Germany in Berlin AKA the Berlin Wall)

Geometric Boundary

Political boundaries that are defined and delimited by straight lines. Does not follow any physical features. (Ex: US/Canada border using the 49th Parallel, North/South Korea using 38th Parallel)

Consequent Boundary

A type of subsequent border that takes into account already-existing cultural or physical landscapes

Cultural Consequent Boundary

a border that is drawn taking into account language, ethnicity, religion, or other cultural traits

Physical Consequent Boundary

Borders that division using already-existing natural features that divide a territory such as rivers, deserts, or mountains

Open Boundary

a boundary where crossing is unimpeded

Militarized Boundary

A boundary that is heavily guarded and discourages crossing and movement. (Ex: Korean DMZ demilitarized zone that separated North and South Korea)

Defined Boundary

is established by a legal document such as a treat that divided one entity from another (invisible line) the entity could range from a country to a single plot of real estate.

Delimited Boundary

is a line drawn on a map

to show the limits of a space.

Demarcated Boundary

A boundary demarcated (marked) by some visible means on the ground. Ex. wall posts, fences, etc.

Definitional Boundary Dispute

When two or more parties disagree over how to interpret the legal documents or maps that identify the boundary.

Locational Boundary Disputes (Territorial Disputes)

Boundary disputes that center on were a boundary should be, how it is delimited (mapped), or demarcated.

Irredentism

when one country seeks to annex territory in another because it has ties to part of the population that lives there

Operational Boundary Dispute (Functional Dispute)

Conflict over the way a boundary should operate or function, such as the conflict over allowing migration across the border

Allocational Boundary Dispute (Resource Dispute)

when a boundary separates natural resources that may be used by both countries

Administered Boundary

how a boundary will be maintained, how it will function, and what goods and people will be allowed to cross.

Controlled Borders

Borders that have checkpoints where a passport or visa are requires to enter the country

Exclaves

A segment of land that is apart from the mainland of its country ( Ex: Hawaii and Alaska)

Political Enclaves

When a state (country) is completely surrounded by another.