Unit 4 vocab

Administered boundaries

Borders that are established and maintained through political or administrative policies.

Annexation

The process of legally adding territory to a state.

Antecedent boundaries

Boundaries that existed before the cultural landscape emerged.

Autonomous region

An area that has a degree of independence and self-governance from a central authority.

Balkanization

The fragmentation of a region into smaller, often hostile, units.

Centripetal forces

Forces that unify and strengthen a state or nation.

Centrifugal forces

Forces that divide and weaken a state or nation.

Choke points

Strategically narrow passages that are critical for transportation and military movement.

Cold War

A period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States from the late 1940s to 1991.

Colonialism

The practice of acquiring full or partial control over another country and exploiting its resources.

Consequent boundaries

Boundaries drawn based on existing cultural or social differences.

Decolonization

The process of colonies gaining independence from colonial powers.

Defined boundaries

Boundaries that are clearly established through legal documents.

Delimited boundaries

Boundaries established through the drawing of lines on a map.

Demarcating boundaries

The physical marking of boundaries on the landscape.

Demilitarized zones

Areas in which military forces are prohibited.

Devolution

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

Ethnicity

Shared cultural, linguistic, or ancestral heritage among a group of people.

Ethnic cleansing

The forced removal or extermination of an ethnic group from a territory.

Ethnonationalism

A nationalism based on an ethnic group's shared identity.

European Union

A political and economic union of 27 member states located in Europe.

Failed State

A state with weak institutions and a lack of control over its territory.

Federal states

States that divide powers between a central government and regional governments.

Geometric boundaries

Boundaries defined by straight lines, often based on latitude and longitude.

Genocide

The deliberate and systematic extermination of a large group of people.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party over another.

Imperialism

The extension of a country's power and influence through colonization or military force.

Independence movements

Efforts by groups within a country to achieve self-governance or independence.

Irredentism

The policy or practice of claiming territory based on ethnicity or historical ties.

Land boundaries

Borders that define the territorial limits of land.

Maritime boundaries

Boundaries that define territorial waters and responsibilities at sea.

Military alliances

Agreements between countries to support each other in case of conflict.

Multiethnic State

A state with multiple ethnic groups living within its territory.

Multinational state

A state consisting of multiple nations or cultural groups.

Multi-state nation

A nation that exists across multiple states.

Nation

A group of people with a common culture, language, or history.

Nation-state

A political entity characterized by a defined territory and a sense of national identity.

Neocolonialism

The practice of using economic, political, and cultural pressures to control or influence countries.

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance of member states from Europe and North America.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries.

Relict boundaries

Boundaries that have ceased to function but still have an impact on the cultural landscape.

Satellite states

Countries that are politically and economically dependent on another, more powerful state.

Self-determination

The right of a people to determine their own political status and govern themselves.

Semi-Autonomous region

A region that has limited self-governance but is not fully independent.

Shatterbelts

Regions that are politically fragmented and often subject to external pressures.

Sovereignty

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

State

A defined area with a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.

Stateless nation

A nation without a recognized state or political entity.

Subsequent boundaries

Boundaries drawn after the establishment of a cultural landscape.

Superimposed boundaries

Boundaries imposed on a region without regard for existing cultural or social patterns.

Supranationalism

The process of transcending national boundaries to create a collective decision-making structure.

Territoriality

The connection of people to a specific location or territory.

Terrorism

The use of violence or threats to intimidate or coerce societies for political purposes.

Unitary states

States that are governed as a single entity with centralized authority.

UN

The United Nations, an international organization formed to promote peace and cooperation among countries.

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

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

Voting districts

Geographical areas from which representatives are elected.