AP Human Geography Unit 4 Flashcards

State vs. Nation

  • State: Geographic area with
    • Permanent defined borders.
    • Sovereign government (controls domestic & international affairs).
    • Recognition by other states.
  • Nation: Group of people with:
    • Shared culture.
    • History.
    • Homeland.
    • Desire to self-govern (self-determination).
  • Self-determination: Right/desire to self-govern.
  • States reference government and land; nations reference people with shared culture/history.

Political Entities

  • Nation-State: Self-governing state with relatively uniform population (common language, culture, history).
    • Strong national identity & social cohesion.
    • Geographically compact, history of isolation.
    • Examples: Japan, Iceland, South Korea.
  • Multinational State: Multiple nations within borders.
    • Diverse ethnic, linguistic, cultural groups.
    • Dominant cultural group often controls political/economic systems.
    • Example: Canada (English & French linguistic groups).
  • Multistate Nation: Nation across multiple states.
    • Examples: Kurds (Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, etc.), Basques (Spain & France).
  • Stateless Nation: Nation with a history of self-determination, but no recognized state.
    • Lacks control over political boundaries, sovereign government, control over affairs, recognition.
    • Examples: Kurds, Basques.
  • Autonomous Region: Region within a state with independence.
    • Own government, self-rule, control over internal affairs.
    • State has limited involvement.
    • Example: Native American reservations in the United States.
  • Semi-Autonomous Region: Region controlled by another state with moderate self-governance.
    • Some control over internal affairs, controlling state can intervene.
    • Example: Hong Kong (subject to China's central government).

Historical Events Shaping Political Processes

  • Colonialism: Acquiring territories and settling there to exert political, economic, social control.
  • Imperialism: Growing a state/empire by exerting force over other nations for economic/political power.
  • Colonial era: Diffusion of religions, languages, cultures, resources, people and ideas.
    • Colonizer's culture often imposed on colonized population.
      political boundaries established favoring colonial ruler.
    • Example: Berlin Conference (European powers colonized Africa, boundaries based on longitude/latitude instead of ethnic/cultural groups).
    • Goal: States benefiting Europeans, extraction of African natural resources.
    • Result: Colonies lacked infrastructure, education, designed dependent on European power. Newly formed states had diverse ethnic/linguistic groups leading to conflict.
    • European powers exerted power over countries in Asia like China, dividing it into different spheres of influence.
  • Decolonization: Colonies gain independence.
    • Occurred in Africa post-World War II.
    • Former colonies often remained dependent on former rulers.
    • Conflicts over land, resources, power due to colonial boundaries.
  • Devolution: Transfer of political power from central government to regional governments.
    • Example: United Kingdom - creation of Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly.

Political Power and Territoriality

  • Territoriality: Tendency to establish and defend a specific geographic area.
    • Involves use of space to indicate ownership/occupation.
    • Expressed through nonverbal communication, boundary control, military intervention, promotion of political/economic systems, regulation of activities.
  • States promote interests by exerting political/economic influence.
  • Neocolonialism: Indirect use of political, cultural, economic power to influence/control another country.
    • Dominant countries/companies exploit weaker countries, extract resources/wealth.
    • Multinational companies exploit low-cost labor, seek lax regulations.
    • Example: China investing in African infrastructure (loans, Chinese companies), creating political alliances, gaining influence.
  • Shatter Belt: Region caught between larger powers in conflict, subject to political, cultural, economic pressures.
    • Creates instability.
    • Examples: Eastern Europe during Cold War, Korean War (split of North/South Korea).
  • Choke Points: Geographic areas that must be passed to reach a destination.
    • Countries exert power by stationing forces, investing in infrastructure, creating treaties.
    • Influence through diplomatic pressures.
    • Examples: Panama Canal, Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal.

Political Boundaries

  • Boundary Definition, Delimitation, and Demarcation
    • Define: Agreed upon boundary line
    • Delimit: Boundary line drawn on a map
    • Demarcate: Boundary marked with physical markers (wall sign, etc)
  • Types of Boundaries
    • Geometric Boundary: Straight lines, latitude/longitude (e.g., 49th parallel between Canada & US).
    • Antecedent Boundaries: Existed before human settlement/cultural landscape; determined by geography (e.g., Argentina/Chile).
    • Relic Boundary: No longer officially recognized, but affects cultural landscape (e.g., Berlin Wall).
    • Superimposed Boundary: Created by external power without considering local communities (e.g., Berlin Conference & African states).
    • Subsequent Boundaries: Develop along with the development of cultural landscape (e.g., the majority of Europe's boundaries).
    • Consequent boundary: Separates ethnic, religious, linguistic groups (e.g., Pakistan/India, boundaries after Yugoslavia collapse).
    • Frontier: Geographic area where no state has direct power/control.

Functions of Boundaries

  • International vs. Internal Boundaries
    • International Boundaries: Separate sovereign states; established by treaties, agreements.
    • Internal Boundaries: Separate regions within a state; established by the state's government.
  • Boundary Disputes
    • Definitional boundary disputes: Interpretation of original documents.
    • Locational boundary disputes: Location of boundary, ownership of land (e.g., Mississippi River shifting).
    • Operational boundary disputes: Disagreement on boundary management (e.g., India/Pakistan over line of control).
    • Allocational boundary disputes: Disputes over use of resources on/in the boundary (e.g., oil).

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

  • Adopted in 1983; international law of the sea.
    • Territorial Waters: 12 nautical miles from shore; states set laws regulating passage; political and economic control.
    • Contiguous Zone: 12-24 nautical miles; states enforce laws on pollution, taxation, customs, immigration.
    • Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): 24-200 nautical miles; states have sole right to natural resources.
    • International waters beyond.
  • Disputes go to International Court of Justice.
  • South China Sea: Biggest dispute; multiple countries claiming; China ignores law, claims historical rights.

Internal Boundaries & Redistricting

  • Voting districts established for administering elections.
  • Redistricting: Redrawing districts after census due to population changes.
  • Gerrymandering: Redistricting to favor one political party.
    • Cracking: Spreading like-minded voters across districts to dilute their impact.
    • Packing: Stacking like-minded voters into a few districts.
  • Gerrymandering leads to unfair representation, decreased competition, weakens democratic process. Both parties participate in gerrymandering.

Forms of Government

  • Unitary State: Power concentrated with national government.
    • Strong national identity; quick law implementation.
    • May not address local needs efficiently.
    • Traditionally geographically smaller and homogeneous.
    • Many nation-states are unitary states.
  • Federal State: Power distributed between national and regional governments.
    • Used by geographically large, diverse, or isolated states.
    • Responds to local issues quickly; caters to minorities.
    • Slower policy changes, inefficiencies, devolution.
    • Multinational states often use federalism.

Devolution

  • Transfer of political power from central to regional government.
  • Can involve creating new regional governments.
  • Factors leading to devolution:
    • Physical geography (fragmented states, isolation).
    • Cultural divisions (ethnic groups with self-determination).
    • Ethnic Separatism: Identifying more with ethnic group than state.
    • Basques(Spain):Seperated by mountains and distinct non-indo European language.
    • Catalans(Spain): Autonomous region seeking independence.
    • Kurds(Middle East): Stateless nation with distinct language, religion, and culture.
    • Political instability (crime, terrorism).
    • Economic/social divisions (inequality, lack of opportunities).
    • Government corruption/abuse (ethnic cleansing Myanmar).
    • Irredentism: Movement to unite parts of a nation in another state (Ukraine/Russia).
  • Devolutionary factors challenge state sovereignty.

Challenges to State Sovereignty

  • States Desintegrate (break into smaller parts).
  • Sudan and South Sudan are an example.
  • Technological Advancements & Globalization
    • Easier to share information, challenge autocratic governments.
    • Arab Spring revolutions (Facebook, Twitter used).
    • Internet: Greater citizen role in democratization.
    • Countries need to consider the impact of decisions on the global community.
  • Supernational Organizations
    • Alliance of multiple countries working together.
    • Goals: Political aspirations, economic factors, the environment, or the military.
      • Political supernational organizations: United Nations and African Union.
      • Military supernational organizations: North Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO).
      • Economic supernational organizations: European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
      • Environmental supernational organizations: Arctic Council.
    • Members abide by rules, surrender autonomy/sovereignty.
    • Benefits: Increased economic/political power.

Centrifugal and Centripetal Forces

  • Centrifugal Forces: Divide people, state, group.
    • Uneven economic/social development.
    • Cultural differences (language barriers, conflicting beliefs, negative stereotypes).
    • Political corrupt governments.
    • Leads to failed states (no functioning government). Ethnic Nationalist Movements.
  • Centripetal Forces: Unite people, state, group.
    • Patriotism.
    • Economic/social opportunities.
    • Lack of corruption/discrimination.
    • Shared history, language, religion.
    • Strong national government.