Political Geography Vocabulary

4.1 Introduction to Political Geography

Learning Intentions

• Understand the concept of sovereignty.
• Explain the difference between a nation and a state.
• Define and give an example of the following political entities:
  • Nation-State
  • Stateless Nation
  • Multi-State Nation
  • Multinational State
  • Autonomous/Semi-Autonomous Region

Key Questions in Political Geography

• How does the world organize itself politically?
• What factors can change and challenge political boundaries?

What is a Political Entity?

• People often use country, state, and nation interchangeably, but they have different meanings.

State

• Has a defined boundary.
• Contains a permanent population.
• Maintains sovereignty (the power of a political unit to rule over its own affairs) over its domestic and international affairs.
• Is recognized by other states.
• Example: Belgium, Nigeria

Nation

• Share a common cultural heritage.
• Have beliefs and values that help unify them.
• Claim a particular space based on tradition as their homeland.
• Desire to establish their own state or express self-determination in another way.
• Example: Catalans

Nation-State

• A nation with politically recognized boundaries.
• Territory occupied by the group is the SAME as its political borders.
• Examples: Japan, France, Egypt

Stateless Nation

• A nation without a state.
• Historical Example: the Jewish people from the 1st Century CE until 1948.
• Contemporary Example: The Kurds

Multistate Nation

• A nation living in more than one country.
• Historical Example: Germans before 1871.
• Contemporary Example: The Koreas

Multinational State

• A state with multiple nations within its borders.
• Contemporary Example: Canada (First Nations, French Canadians, British Canadians).
• Historical Example: Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Autonomous/Semi-Autonomous Region

• A region with some authority to govern itself, but ultimately answerable to a national government.
• Historical Example: Grand Duchy of Finland in the Russian Empire until 1918.
• Contemporary Example: American Indian Reservations.

Types of Political Entities Summary

• Sovereignty: Power of a political unit to rule over its own affairs.
• Nation: Group with shared culture (and a sense of togetherness).
• Nation-State: A nation with politically recognized boundaries.
• Stateless Nation: A nation without a state.
• Multistate Nation: A nation living in more than one country.
• Multinational State: A state with multiple nations within its borders.
• Autonomous/Semi-autonomous Region: A region with some authority to govern itself.