Boundaries & Boundary Disputes

Question 1

Physical/Natural

Answer 1

Based on physical features like mountains or rivers (e.g., Rio Grande between the U.S. & Mexico).

Question 2

Geometric/Artificial

Answer 2

Straight-line boundaries, often based on latitude/longitude (e.g., U.S.-Canada border).

Question 3

Antecedent

Answer 3

Established before population settlement (e.g., Malaysia-Indonesia).

Question 4

Subsequent

Answer 4

Developed after settlement (e.g., China-Vietnam).

Question 5

Consequent

Answer 5

Drawn to separate cultural groups (e.g., partition of India & Pakistan).

Question 6

Superimposed

Answer 6

Forced upon an area by outsiders, often ignoring cultural divisions (e.g., Africa’s colonial borders).

Question 7

Relic

Answer 7

No longer functioning but still visible (e.g., Berlin Wall).

Question 8

Positional (Definitional)

Answer 8

Disagreement on the wording of a boundary treaty.

Question 9

Territorial (Locational)

Answer 9

Dispute over the location of a border.

Question 10

Functional (Operational)

Answer 10

Disagreement over how a border should function.

Question 11

Resources (Allocational)

Answer 11

Dispute over resources near or across borders (e.g., oil reserves).