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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.