Unit 4 KBAT

Balance of power – When countries or alliances have equal strength to prevent dominance.

Balkanization – When a country splits into smaller, hostile units (like the Balkans).

Boundary – An invisible line that marks the limit of a state’s territory.

Boundary formation:

• Definition – A legal document or treaty that outlines the actual border.

• Delimitation – Drawing the boundary on a map.

• Demarcation – Physically marking the boundary (with signs, fences, etc.).

• Administration – Managing and enforcing the boundary.

Boundary disputes:

• Definitional – Disagreement over the legal language.

• Locational – Dispute over the actual location.

• Operational – Dispute over how a boundary functions.

• Allocational – Dispute over resources located on or near the boundary.

Buffer state – A small neutral country between two larger, conflicting powers.

Capital – The main city where a country's government is located.

Centrifugal forces – Forces that divide a country (like conflict, language differences).

Centripetal forces – Forces that unite a country (like a common language or anthem).

Chokepoint – A narrow passage (like a strait) where movement is limited and easy to block.

City-state – A city that is also an independent country.

Civil divisions – Political subdivisions within a country (like states or provinces).

Colonialism – When a country takes control of foreign lands and governs them.

Colony – A territory controlled by another country.

Core – The most developed, powerful part of the world or a country.

Decolonization – When colonies become independent from colonial powers.

Democratization – The process of becoming a democracy.

Devolution – When power is transferred from the central government to local governments.

Domino Theory – The idea that if one country falls to communism, nearby ones will too.

EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) – A sea zone where a country has rights to marine resources (up to 200 nautical miles).

Electoral geography – Study of how geographic space affects voting and elections.

Enclave / Exclave –

• Enclave – A territory inside another country.

• Exclave – A part of a country separated from the rest.

European Union – A group of European countries that work together economically and politically.

Federal state – A country where power is shared between national and local governments.

Free trade union – Countries that agree to trade without tariffs (like NAFTA).

Frontier – An area where borders are not well-defined or enforced.

High seas – Ocean areas that no country owns.

Geopolitics – How geography affects politics and power.

Gerrymandering – Redrawing voting districts to favor one group or party.

Global commons – Resources that no one country owns (like the atmosphere or Antarctica).

Boundary classification:

• Antecedent – A boundary drawn before people lived there.

• Subsequent – A boundary drawn after people already settled.

• Superimposed – A boundary forced on people by outsiders.

• Relict – A boundary that no longer functions but still visible (like the Berlin Wall).

Heartland / Rimland – Theories about which areas (land or coast) are most powerful in global politics.

Imperialism – Taking control of other areas to build an empire.

International organization – Groups of countries working together (like the UN).

Irredentism – A country’s desire to reunite with a group that shares its culture in another country.

Landlocked state – A country with no access to the ocean.

Microstate – A very small country (like Monaco).

Multinational state – A country with multiple ethnic or cultural groups.

Multi-state nation – A cultural group spread across multiple countries.

Nation-state – A country where most people share the same culture.

Reapportionment – Redistributing seats in government based on population changes.

Redistricting – Redrawing voting district boundaries.

Republic – A government where officials are elected by the people.

Self-determination – The right of a group to govern itself.

Shatterbelt – A region with lots of conflict between different powers.

Sovereignty – The right of a country to govern itself.

State – A country with defined borders and a government.

Stateless nation – A cultural group without its own country (like the Kurds).

Supranationalism – Countries giving up some control to work together in a group.

Supranational organization – A group of countries working together (like the EU, UN).

Territorial morphology:

• Compact – A small, round country(distance from the geographic center to any point on border does not differ greatly)

• Fragmented – A country made of separate parts (like islands).

• Elongated – A long, narrow country.

• Prorupt – A country with a long extension.

• Perforated – A country with another country inside it.

Territorial waters – Sea area close to shore that a country controls (up to 12 nautical miles).

Territoriality – A country or group’s connection to land and control over it.

Terrorism – Using violence to scare people and achieve political goals.

Theocracy – A government controlled by religious leaders.

Unitary state – A country where the central government has all the power.

UNCLOS III – A UN agreement that defines sea laws and zones.

United Nations – An international organization that works for peace, development, and cooperation.