nation
a people who share a common heritage, are unified by shared values and heritage, and typically claim a specific location as their homeland based on tradition
state
synonymous with country
nation-state
A singular nation of people who fulfill the qualifications of a state
Japan
an example of a nation-state
multinational state
a country that contains more than one nation
Canada
example of a multinational state
stateless nation
cultural groups that have no independent political entity
multistate nations
a nation has a state of its own but stretches across borders of other states
autonomous region
A defined area within a state that has a high degree of self-government and freedom from its parent state
Nunavut
an example of an autonomous region
Treaty of Westphalia
the origin of the modern concept of the nation-state
Fall of communism
This has changed the balance of world power, including the formation of new states
heartland theory
Mackinder's theory that land based power was essential to world domination
organic theory
Ratzel's theory that states are living organisms, and they need living space and growth to not only survive but remain strong
rimland theory
Spykman's theory that controlling key maritime areas of the world leads to world domination, as it provides varied resources, including the sea.
prorupted state
this country is an example of a(n)
antecedent boundary
a boundary created before an area is known or populated
geometric boundary
the 49th parallel is a good example of this
militarized boundary
the Berlin Wall is an example of this
unitary state
states with this kind of government allow little to no power/sovereignty for their sub-units; most states of this kind are located in Europe
territorial sea
a state has sovereignty up to 12 miles off their coast; commercial vessels pass, non-commercial can be challenged
census
in the United States, redistricting and assigning of seats in the House of Representatives to states is guided by this
territoriality
a willingness by one person or a group of people to defend space they claim
federal state
states with this kind of government allow powers/sovereignty for their sub-units; examples would include Canada and the United States
EEZ
the 200 mile radius off the coast where a country has exclusive rights to harvest resources
frontier
an area at the edge of any type of effective political control or at the edge of a settlement
perforated state
this country is an example of a(n)
subsequent boundary
a boundary created after settlement, usually meant to separate existing cultural groups
compact state
this country is an example of a(n)
natural boundary
the Sadra River is an example of this
NAFTA; European Union
regional trade blocs that can challenge state sovereignty
devolution
the process in which power moves from the central government to subnational units
Balkanization
an explosion of conflict between ethnic groups in a region or country
subnationalist
people who have a primary allegiance to a traditional group or ethnicity, rather than their central state
Quebec
an example of a place where subnationalism is present
centrifugal forces
armed conflicts, uneven economic development, stateless nations, ethnic movements
centripetal forces
national identity; equitable infrastructure development; linguistic, cultural, ethnic homogeneity
Nationalism
A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country
Colonialism
Attempt by one country to establish settlements and to impose its political, economic, and cultural principles in another territory.
Geopolitics
study of government and its policies as affected by physical geography
soverignty
Ability of a state to govern its territory free from control of its internal affairs by other states.
State Morphology
study of states' shapes and their effects
municipality
A city, town, etc. having its own incorporated government for local affairs.
Supranationalism
three or more countries agree to give up a degree of autonomy in order to pursue common goals. (ex. European Union)
Irredentism
a policy of cultural extension and potential political expansion by a country aimed at a group of its nationals living in a neighboring country
Democratization
the process of creating a government elected by the people
Ethnic exclaves
an area populated by an ethnic group separated from the main territory occupied by the same ethnic group
Ethnic enclaves
neighborhoods where people from similar cultures live together and assert cultural distinction from the dominant group
Ethnic separatism
desired regional autonomy expressed by a culturally distinctive group within a larger, politically dominant culture
Terrorism
the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an alliance made to defend one another if they were attacked by any other country; US, England, France, Canada, Western European countries
United Nations (UN)
an organization of independent states formed in 1945 to promote international peace and security
OPEC
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
Gerrymandering
Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.
Redistricting
The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.
UNCLOS (Law of the Sea)
A code of maritime law approved by the United Nations in 1982 that authorizes, among other provisions, territorial waters extending 12 nautical miles (22km) from shore and 200-nautical-mile-wide (370-km-wide) exclusive economic zones.
open borders
An open border is a border that enables free movement of people between different jurisdictions with limited or no restrictions on movement.
Ethnographic border
a cultural boundary that runs along differences in ethnicity, such as language and religion.
superimposed border
a political boundary/border placed by powerful outsiders on a developed human landscape
Relic boundary/border
A boundary no longer observed but that still affects the present-day area (e.g. border between West and East Germany in Berlin)
Allocational Boundary Dispute
A boundary dispute that involves conflicting claims to the natural resources of a border region.
Operational Boundary Dispute
Conflict over the way a boundary should operate or function, such as the conflict over allowing migration across the border
Locational Boundary Dispute
Conflict over the location or place of a boundary
Definitional boundary dispute
focus on the legal language of the boundary agreement
Defined Boundary
one established by a legal document, such as a treaty.
Demarcated Boundary
identified by physical objects place on the landscape, such as a sign, wall, or fence.
administered boundary
The enforcement and maintaining of a boundary by a government
internal boundaries
physical, cultural, or geometric boundaries within a country (such as provinces or states)
Imperialism
A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.
political map
A map showing units such as countries, states, provinces, districts, etc. Each is normally a different color