Political Geography Review

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 sharing culture, history, homeland, and desire for self-governance.
Self-determination: Right or desire to self-govern.

Nation-State: Self-governing state with a uniform population sharing common language, culture, and history (e.g., Japan, Iceland, South Korea).
Multinational State: Contains multiple nations within its borders (e.g., Canada).
Multistate Nation: Nation existing across multiple states (e.g., Kurds, Basques).
Stateless Nation: Nation with a history of self-determination but no recognized state (e.g., Kurds, Basques).
Autonomous Region: Region within a state with a high degree of self-rule (e.g., Native American reservations in the U.S.).
Semi-Autonomous Region: Region controlled by another state but granted moderate self-governance (e.g., Hong Kong).

Colonialism: Acquiring territories and settling there to exert control.
Imperialism: Exerting force over other nations for economic and political power without settlement.
Colonialism led to the diffusion of religions, languages, cultures, and resources.
The Berlin Conference in Africa created boundaries favoring colonial rulers without regard for local cultures.
Decolonization: Colonies gaining independence, often post-World War II.

Devolution: Transfer of political power from central to regional government (e.g., Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly).

Territoriality: Establishing and defending control over a specific geographic area.
Expressed through nonverbal communication, boundary control, military intervention, and regulation of activities.
Neocolonialism: Indirect use of political, cultural, or economic power to control another country.
Shatterbelt: Region caught between conflicting external powers (e.g., Eastern Europe during Cold War).
Chokepoints: Geographic areas that must be passed to reach a destination (e.g., Panama Canal, Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal).

Defining: Boundary line agreed upon and set.
Delimiting: Boundary line drawn on a map.
Demarcating: Boundary marked with a physical marker.
Geometric Boundary: Straight lines, latitude/longitude (e.g., 49th parallel between Canada and U.S.).
Antecedent Boundary: Existed before human settlement (e.g., boundary between Argentina and Chile).
Relic Boundary: No longer officially recognized but still affects the landscape (e.g., Berlin Wall).
Superimposed Boundary: Created by external power without considering local communities (e.g., Berlin Conference boundaries in Africa).
Subsequent Boundary: Develops along with the cultural landscape (e.g., most of Europe's boundaries).
Consequent Boundary: Separates ethnic, religious, or linguistic groups (e.g., border between Pakistan and India).
Frontier: Geographic area where no state has direct control.

Territorial Waters: 12 nautical miles from shore; states set laws regulating passage.
Contiguous Zone: 12-24 nautical miles; states enforce laws on pollution, taxation, customs, and immigration.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): 24-200 nautical miles; states have sole rights to natural resources.

Physical geography, cultural divisions, political instability, economic/social divisions, government abuse, and irredentism can lead to devolution.
Ethnic Separatism: Ethnic/national groups wanting more autonomy.
Irredentism: Movement to unite parts of a nation across different state boundaries.

Technological advancements and globalization challenge state sovereignty.
Supranational Organizations: Alliances of multiple countries working together (e.g., United Nations, European Union).

Centrifugal Forces: Divide people or states (e.g., uneven development, cultural differences).
Centripetal Forces: Unite people or states (e.g., patriotism, economic opportunities, shared history).
Failed State: State with a non-functioning government.
Ethnonationalism: Cultural group seeking separation or control based on ethnicity.