APHG Unit 4

State: Area with a defined territory exercising sovereign control over its borders; around 200 countries exist today.
Territorial Organization: Hierarchy of local government agencies to enhance efficiency and resource allocation while providing autonomy.
Commonwealth: Territory with a mutual agreement for mutual benefit between states.
Colony: Territory legally tied to a sovereign state, varying in degrees of control.
Colonialism: Establishing political, economic, and cultural dominance over territories.

European Colonization: Motivated by three factors, summarized as "God, Gold, and Glory":
1. Promotion of Christianity by missionaries.
2. Resource acquisition benefitting European economies.
3. Expansion of national power through colonies.
Imperialism: Control over territories already occupied by indigenous populations.
British Empire: Exported colonial tactics across various regions; many colonies achieved independence peacefully.

Assimilation: Efforts by France to integrate colonies culturally, showcasing varied success.
Decentralized Governance: British approach adapting to local cultures while maintaining relationships with colonies.
Remaining Colonies: Examples include Puerto Rico and various territories of France and the Netherlands.

Organic Theory: Proposed by Friedrich Ratzel; states require growth to thrive.
Religious Colonialism: Highlighting the efforts by religions like Christianity and Islam in colonial expansions.
Economic Colonialism: Focused on wealth acquisition through resource exploitation from colonies.

Importance of self-governance in former colonies, preferring local chaos to colonial rule.

Land Empire: Conquest through military force, exemplified by Spanish colonization in Mexico.
Sea Empire: Control expanded through naval power, establishing coastal settlements.
Settlement Empire: Long-term presence aimed at developing colonies for eventual independence.

Unitary State: Centralized control in the hands of a central government, often imposing cultural hegemony.
Federal State: Decentralized power allowing local governments autonomy to manage regional laws and resources.

Boundaries of legislative districts are redrawn periodically to ensure population equality.
Gerrymandering: Manipulating district boundaries for political advantage, with methods including wasted, excess, and stacked votes.

Nation: Citizens sharing cultural ties, often prioritizing national allegiance over state loyalty.
- Examples include Kurds, Basques, and Hmong.
Nation-State: Political unit where the nation's boundaries coincide with the state's borders (e.g., Japan).

The concept of states regulating their internal and external affairs, with groups like the Kurds seeking autonomy.

Embassies and Consulates: Represent state interests abroad, handling diplomatic relations and economic issues.
Supranational Organizations: Associations of multiple states aiming for mutual goals (e.g., European Union).

Heartland Theory: Control of Eastern Europe equates to global power.
Rimland Theory: Alliances critical in containing the Heartland; reliant on sea power.
Domino Theory: Political instability in one country leads to similar upheaval in neighboring states.
Irredentism: Efforts to support national groups across borders within a foreign state.

Centripetal Forces: Promote unity within a state through shared history and institutions.
Centrifugal Forces: Create division through regionalism and ethnic differences, threatening national integrity.

Balkanization: Breakdown of a state into smaller, ethnically distinct entities (historically seen in the former Yugoslavia).
Devolution: Central government granting power to regional authorities, potentially leading to increased autonomy or balkanization.
Supranationalism: Collaboration among states to achieve collective goals, e.g., through the European Union.

Capitalism: Production and exchange of goods aiming for profit.
Commodification: The act of pricing goods to facilitate trade.
World-Systems Theory: Proposed by Immanuel Wallerstein, involving core, semi-periphery, and periphery states with varying economic status.

Core: High levels of education, technology, and wealth generation.
Semi-periphery: Transitional areas between core and periphery, involved in exploitation dynamics.
Periphery: Low educational levels and economic return but rich in resources.