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.