Untitled Flashcards Set

Aquaculture: The farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and seaweed.

Arab Spring: A series of pro-democracy uprisings and protests that spread across the Middle East and North Africa beginning in 2010.

Balfour Declaration: A 1917 British statement expressing support for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Belt and Road Initiative: A Chinese global infrastructure development strategy involving investments in transportation, energy, and other projects across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

BRICS: An acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, a group of major emerging economies.

Cash Crops: Agricultural crops grown for sale rather than for local consumption.

Choke Point: A strategic narrow passageway through which transportation must pass, often subject to geopolitical tensions and control.

Diaspora: The dispersion of a people from their original homeland.

Dependency Ratio: The ratio of people typically not in the workforce (young and elderly) to those typically in the workforce (15-64 years old).

Desertification: The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.

Ecosystem Services: The benefits that humans receive from ecosystems, such as clean air and water, pollination of crops, and regulation of climate.

Externalities: Costs or benefits that affect a party who did not choose to incur that cost or benefit.

Flying Geese Model: A theory of economic development in East Asia where less developed countries follow the lead of more advanced economies in terms of industrialization and trade.

Ghost City: A large-scale urban development with low occupancy rates, often built in anticipation of future population growth or investment.

Green Revolution: A series of technological advancements in agriculture, particularly in the developing world, that led to increased crop yields during the mid-20th century.

Hajj: The pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the five pillars of Islam.

Hydropolitics: The politics surrounding the control and distribution of water resources, particularly in areas of water scarcity.

Industrial Policy: Government strategies aimed at promoting the development of specific industries or sectors within an economy.

Informal Economy: Economic activities that are not taxed or regulated by the government, often involving small-scale businesses and self-employment.

Kleptocracy: A government or political system characterized by widespread corruption and the theft of public funds by those in power.

Leapfrog Technology: The adoption of advanced technologies by developing countries, bypassing older, less efficient technologies.

Maglev Train: A high-speed train that uses magnetic levitation to eliminate friction with the track.

Monsoons: Seasonal wind patterns that bring heavy rainfall to South Asia and other regions.

Neo-colonialism: The continuation of economic and political control over former colonies through indirect means, such as trade and investment.

OPEC: The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, a cartel of oil-producing nations that seeks to influence global oil prices.

Petro-state: A country whose economy is heavily reliant on oil exports.

Physiologic Density: The number of people per unit area of arable land.

Primate City: A city that is disproportionately larger and more dominant than any other city in a country.

Rare Earth Elements: A group of 17 metallic elements with unique magnetic and conductive properties, essential for many high-tech applications.

Remittances: Money sent by migrants working abroad back to their home countries.

Russification: The policy of promoting Russian language and culture in non-Russian regions within the Russian Empire and Soviet Union.

Salinization: The process of salt accumulation in soil, often caused by irrigation practices in arid regions, leading to reduced agricultural productivity.

Sharia: Islamic law, derived from the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.

Shock Therapy: A rapid transition from a centrally planned economy to a market-based economy.

Special Economic Zones: Designated areas within a country that offer tax incentives and other benefits to attract foreign investment and promote economic growth.

Sunshine Policy: A South Korean policy aimed at improving relations with North Korea through engagement and cooperation.

TFR (Total Fertility Rate): The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime.

Three Gorges Dam: The world's largest hydroelectric dam, located on the Yangtze River in China.

Two China Policy: The diplomatic acknowledgment of both the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (Taiwan) by some countries.

Zionism: A movement advocating for the establishment and support of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.