AP Human Geography Unit 4 Flashcards

State vs. Nation

• State: Geographic area with permanent population, defined borders, sovereign government recognized by other states.
  • Sovereign government: Controls domestic and international affairs.
• Nation: Group of people with shared culture, history, homeland, and desire to self-govern.
  • Self-determination: Nation's right/desire to self-govern.
  • Cultural groups seek territorial control to protect heritage.
• State = government and land; Nation = people with shared culture.

Political Entities

• Nation-State: Self-governing with uniform population (common language, culture, history).
  • Examples: Japan, Iceland, South Korea.
• Multinational State: Multiple nations within borders.
  • Example: Canada (English and French).
• Multistate Nation: Nation across multiple states.
  • Examples: Kurds, Basques.
• Stateless Nation: Nation with self-determination history but no recognized state.
  • Lacks control over boundaries, sovereign government, and recognition.
• Autonomous Region: High degree of independence within a state.
  • Example: Native American reservations in the U.S.
• Semi-Autonomous Region: Moderate self-governance, but controlled by another state.
  • Example: Hong Kong.

Colonialism vs. Imperialism

• Colonialism: Acquiring territories; exerting political, economic, and social control via settlement.
• Imperialism: Growing state/empire by exerting force for economic/political power without settlement.
• Colonialism led to diffusion of religion, language, culture but colonizer's culture was often imposed.
• Berlin Conference: European powers colonized Africa, creating boundaries favoring colonizers.
• Colonies lacked infrastructure and were meant to be dependent on European power.
• Decolonization: Colonies gain independence.
  • Newly independent countries remained dependent on colonizers.

Devolution

• Transfer of political power from central to regional government.
  • Example: Creation of Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly in UK.

Territoriality

• Establishing/defending a specific geographic area.
• Expressed via nonverbal communication, boundary control, military intervention, promoting political/economic systems, and regulation.
• Neocolonialism: Indirect use of political, cultural, or economic power to control a country.
  • Exploiting weaker countries for resources.
  • China's investments in African infrastructure in exchange for political influence.

Shatter Belts and Choke Points

• Shatter Belt: Region under political, cultural, and economic pressure from conflicting external powers.
  • Example: Eastern Europe during the Cold War, Korean War.
• Choke Points: Geographic areas needed to reach a destination.
  • Influence exerted via military, infrastructure investment, or treaties.
  • Examples: Panama Canal, Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal.

Political Boundaries

• Defined: Boundary line agreed upon and set.
• Delimited: Boundary line drawn on a map.
• Demarcated: Boundary marked with physical markers.
• Geometric Boundary: Straight lines, latitude/longitude.
  • Example: 49th parallel (Canada/US).
• Antecedent Boundary: Existed before settlement.
  • Example: Argentina/Chile border (mountains).
• Relic Boundary: No longer recognized but affects cultural landscape.
  • Example: Berlin Wall.
• Superimposed Boundary: Created by external power without considering local communities.
  • Example: Berlin Conference in Africa.
• Subsequent Boundary: Develops with cultural landscape.
  • Example: Most of Europe's boundaries.
• Consequent Boundary: Separates ethnic, religious, or linguistic groups.
  • Example: Border between Pakistan and India (religious differences).
• Frontier: Geographic area with no direct state power.

Functions of Boundaries

• International Boundaries: Separate sovereign states.
• Internal Boundaries: Separate regions within a state.
• Definitional Boundary Disputes: Over interpretation of original documents.
• Locational Boundary Disputes: Over location of the boundary.
• Operational Boundary Disputes: Over how to manage a boundary.
• Allocational Boundary Disputes: Over use of resources on/in the boundary.

UNCLOS (Law of the Sea)

• Territorial Waters: 12 nautical miles; state sets laws.
• Contiguous Zone: 12-24 nautical miles; state enforces laws on pollution, taxation, customs, and immigration.
• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): 24-200 nautical miles; state has rights to natural resources.

Internal Boundaries and Redistricting

• Voting Districts: Redrawn after census to reflect population changes.
• Gerrymandering: Redistricting to favor a political party.
  • Cracking: Spreading like-minded voters across many districts.
  • Packing: Stacking like-minded voters into few districts.

Forms of Government

• Unitary State: Power concentrated at national level.
• Federal State: Power distributed between national and regional governments.

Devolutionary Factors

• Physical geography (fragmented states).
• Cultural division (ethnic separatism).
• Political instability (terrorism).
• Economic and social divisions.
• Government corruption and abuse (ethnic cleansing).
• Irredentism: Uniting nation parts in another state's boundary.

Challenges to State Sovereignty

• Technological advancements and globalization.
• Social media and internet influence.
• Dependence on global commodities.
• Supranational organizations: Alliances (political, economic, environmental).

Centrifugal vs. Centripetal Forces

• Centrifugal: Divide people/state.
  • Uneven development, cultural differences, political corruption.
  • Can lead to failed state/ethnic nationalism.
• Centripetal: Unite people/state.
  • Patriotism, economic/social opportunities, shared history/language/religion, strong government.