AP Human Geography Unit 4 Review (Everything You Need To Know!)

State

A geographic area with a permanent population, defined borders, a sovereign government, and recognized by other states.

Nation

A group of people with shared culture, history, homeland, and a desire to govern themselves.

Semi-autonomous region

A region controlled by another state but granted a moderate degree of self-governance.

Colonialism

The practice of acquiring territories and settling there to exert political, economic, and social control.

Imperialism

Growing a state or empire by exerting force over other nations to gain economic and political power without establishing settlements.

Devolution

The transfer of political power from a central government to a regional government.

Territoriality

The tendency to establish and defend a specific geographic area, involving the use of space to indicate ownership or occupation of an area.

Neocolonialism

The indirect use of political, cultural, or economic power by more economically developed countries or multinational corporations to influence or control less economically developed countries for their own benefit.

Shatter belt

An area subject to political, cultural, and economic pressure from external powers in conflict with each other, leading to instability and uncertainty for those living in the region.

Anachronistic boundary

Boundaries that existed before human settlement or the creation of the cultural landscape, often determined by local geography, not influenced by cultural groups.

Relic boundary

A boundary no longer officially recognized but still affecting the cultural landscape, like the remnants of the Berlin Wall separating East and West Germany.

Superimposed boundary

Created by an external power without consideration for local communities, prioritizing foreign interests over local needs, such as the boundaries established in Africa by the Berlin Conference.

Buffer state

A geographic area where no state has direct power or control, serving as a neutral zone between neighboring states.

International Boundaries

Boundaries that separate one sovereign state from another, established through treaties and agreements between neighboring states.

Internal Boundaries

Boundaries that separate different regions within a single state, often established by the state's government to distribute power and ensure representation.

Definitional Boundary Disputes

Disputes over the interpretation of the original documents defining a boundary, often resolved through third-party intervention.

Locational Boundary Disputes

Disputes over the location of a boundary and ownership of the land, can arise due to natural changes like river shifts.

Operational Boundary Disputes

Disputes over how to manage a boundary and handle issues that occur on it, differing ideas on boundary operation.

Allocational Boundary Disputes

Disputes over the use of resources on or within a boundary, often involving natural resources like oil.

UNCLOS

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, aims to help countries deal with allocational boundary disputes in the sea, established in 1982.

Contiguous Zone

Zone between 12 and 24 nautical miles from shore, where states can enforce laws concerning pollution, taxation, customs, and immigration.

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

Zone allowing a state to explore and use marine resources up to 200 nautical miles from its shore, states have sole rights to resources in the area.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing voting districts after population changes, often done to reflect the area's population better.

Gerrymandering

The process of redistricting to favor one political party over another, can be done through methods like cracking and packing.

Unitary States

States where power is centralized at the national level, laws and policies are created for the entire state by the national government.

Federal States

States where power is distributed between the national government and regional governments, often used in large geographic areas with diverse populations.

Devolution

The transfer of political power from a central government to a regional government.

Cultural Devolution

The process where distinct cultural groups within a state seek more local power and control over policies impacting them, leading to pressure on the national government to decentralize power.

Ethnic Separatism

When a group within a state identifies more with their own ethnic group than as citizens of the state, seeking more political power or even separation, leading to devolutionary pressures.

Stateless Nation

A group with a history of self-determination but lacking their own state, such as the Basques, Catalans, and Kurds.

Terrorism

The use of violence and intimidation against civilians for political purposes, which can lead to devolutionary pressures in politically unstable states.

Irredentism

A movement by a nation to unite parts of its nation located in another state's boundaries, potentially leading to devolution as split nations seek reunification.

Government Corruption

Abuse of power by governments, such as ethnic cleansing, can increase pressure for devolution as citizens and the international community demand change.

Economic and Social Inequalities

Disparities in job opportunities, resources, and growth within a state can lead to devolutionary pressures as citizens seek greater control and equality.

State Disintegration

The process in which a state breaks up into smaller parts, essentially ceasing to exist in its current form, and new states are created.