Aphug unit 4 vocab

Definitions of Political Geography Concepts

• State: A politically organized territory with a permanent population, defined boundaries, and a government.

• Boundary: A vertical plane between states that cuts through the air, water, and land.

• Sovereignty: The authority of a state to govern itself and make its own decisions.

• City-State: A sovereign entity that consists of a city and its dependent territories.

• Nation: A group of people with common cultural characteristics, such as language and ethnicity.

• Nationality: The identity of a group of people who share a common language, culture, or ancestry, typically tied to a specific nation.

• Nationalism: A political ideology that emphasizes loyalty, devotion, or allegiance to a nation or nation-state.

• Nation-State: A political unit where the boundaries of a state coincide with the territory of a particular nation.

• Multinational State: A state that contains multiple nations within its borders.

• Stateless Nation: A nation that does not have a state of its own.

• Multistate Nation: A nation that exists across multiple states.

• Autonomous Region: A region that has some degree of self-governance but is not fully independent.

• Semi-Autonomous Region: A region that has limited autonomy but is governed or controlled by another entity.

• Self-Determination: The right of a people to determine their political status and pursue their economic, social, and cultural development.

• Devolution: The transfer of powers from a central government to regional or local governments.

• Balkanization: The fragmentation of a territory into smaller, often hostile units.

• Colonialism: The practice of acquiring control over another country and exploiting its resources.

• Imperialism: The policy of extending a country's influence or authority beyond its borders.

• Scramble for Africa: The rapid invasion, colonization, and annexation of Africa by European powers during the late 19th century.

• Independence Movement: A movement for a group to gain independence from an existing state.

• Territoriality: The connection of people, their culture, and their economic systems to a specific location.

• Political Power: The ability to influence or control the actions of others and decision-making processes.

• Neocolonialism: The practice of using capitalism or cultural imperialism to influence a country, rather than direct military control.

• Choke Point: A strategic location that is critical in controlling or restricting movement.

• Shatterbelt: A region caught between stronger forces that is characterized by instability.

• Cultural Shatterbelt: Areas where multiple cultural groups coexist, often leading to conflict.

• Physical Boundary: A naturally occurring barrier that separates geographic areas.

• Geometric Boundary: A boundary defined by straight lines, often based on latitude and longitude.

• Cultural Boundary: A boundary that follows the distribution of cultural features.

• Antecedent Boundary: A boundary drawn before the area is populated.

• Subsequent Boundary: A boundary drawn after the settlement of a region, reflecting social and cultural characteristics.

• Consequent Boundary: A boundary drawn to accommodate existing cultural differences.

• Superimposed Boundary: A boundary imposed on the cultural landscapes without consideration for pre-existing cultural or social patterns.

• Relic Boundary: A boundary that no longer functions but can still be recognized.

• Defined Boundary: A legally documented boundary established by a treaty or other legal agreement.

• Delimited Boundary: A boundary marked on a map to show the limits of the area.

• Demarcated Boundary: A boundary marked on the ground by physical barriers or signs.

• Demilitarized Zone: An area where military forces are not permitted, often established by treaty.

• Definitional Boundary Dispute: A conflict over the legal language of a boundary agreement.

• Locational (Territorial) Boundary Dispute: A dispute over where the boundary is located.

• Operational (Functional) Boundary Dispute: A disagreement on how a border should function.

• Allocational (Resource) Boundary Dispute: A conflict over resources that lie in border areas.

• UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea): A treaty that outlines nations’ rights and responsibilities in ocean use and management.

• Territorial Waters: Waters under the jurisdiction of a state.

• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): A sea zone in which a state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources.

• Median Line Principle: A principle used to determine maritime boundaries based on the equidistance of neighboring states.

• High Seas: Areas of the ocean not under the jurisdiction of any state.

• Voting District: A geographical area where voters elect a representative.

• Census: A systematic process for collecting and recording information about the population.

• Reapportionment: The process of redistributing seats in a legislative body.

• Redistricting: The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries.

• Gerrymandering: The manipulation of electoral district boundaries for political advantage.

• Cracking: A gerrymandering technique that dilutes the voting power of a particular group.

• Packing: A gerrymandering technique that concentrates voters of one type into a single district.

• Unitary State: A state governed as a single entity with central power.

• Federal State: A political entity where multiple entities share control with a central authority.

• Ethnic Separatism: The advocacy for the separation of a specific ethnic group from a larger political unit.

• Ethnic Cleansing: The deliberate removal or extermination of an ethnic group.

• Terrorism: The unlawful use of violence, especially against civilians, to achieve political goals.

• State-Sponsored Terrorism: Terrorism conducted by a state against foreign targets or approve of actions against its own citizens.

• Irredentism: A political movement that seeks to reclaim and reoccupy a lost or unredeemed area.

• Subnationalism: Nationalism within a smaller subdivision of a nation-state.

• Supranationalism: A political entity where power is delegated from member states to a higher authority.

• Centrifugal Forces: Forces that pull apart a state or nation.

• Centripetal Forces: Forces that unify a state or nation.

• Failed State: A state that cannot perform its basic functions.

• Ethnic Nationalist Movement: A political movement centered on a specific ethnic group.

• Ethnonationalism: A form of nationalism where the nation is defined in terms of ethnicity.

• Cultural Cohesion: The extent to which cultural traits unite a group or society.

Additional Vocabulary:

• Frontier: A zone where no state exercises complete political control.

• Compact State: A state where the distance from the center to any boundary is relatively equal.

• Prorupted State: A state with a long extension or protrusion.

• Elongated State: A state with a long and narrow shape.

• Perforated State: A state that completely surrounds another state.

• Landlocked State: A state without coastline.

• Fragmented State: A state that consists of several discontinuous pieces of territory.

• Exclave: A portion of territory that is separated from the main part and surrounded by another state.

• Enclave: A territory completely surrounded by another state.

• Confederate State: A union of sovereign states with a weak central authority.

• Democracy: A system of government by the whole population through elected representatives.

• Autocracy: A system of government by one person with absolute power.

• Theocracy: A system of government where priests rule in the name of God.

• Forward Capital: A capital city that is relocated to a less developed region.

• Buffer Zone (State): A neutral area between conflicting parties.

• Apartheid: A policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race.