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Political Geography Flashcards

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1
Q

Political Geography

A

Study of political organization in the world. This is constantly moving due to the change in systems of government and the movement of people.

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2
Q

Government

A

Leaderships and organizations that make political decisions for a country.

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3
Q

Politics

A

All about power; Who has the power to make decisions? How is power obtained? What challenges do leaders face inside and outside of the state?

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4
Q

Territoriality

A

Efforts to take power over areas of the Earth; Basic to the field of political geography.

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5
Q

Political Culture

A

Collection of political beliefs, values, practices, and institutions that a specific government is built on.

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6
Q

Boundary

A

(Invisible) Lines that show the extent of a certain state’s control, and can be marked by physical features.

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7
Q

Frontier

A

A geographic zone that is not controlled by any state; Historically used to separate states.

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8
Q

Physical Boundary

A

A physical feature that can be used as a boundary. (Rivers, mountains, etc.)

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9
Q

Median Line Principle

A

Water boundaries that are set in the middle, or median line, of the water. (14 miles and 12 nautical miles)

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10
Q

Cultural Boundary

A

A boundary set by ethnic differences, specifically language and religion.

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11
Q

Consequent Boundary

A

Another name for a Cultural Boundary.

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12
Q

Balkanization

A

The process of Yugoslavia being separated into smaller countries, dividing the Balkans and creating a shatter belt.

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13
Q

Shatter Belts

A

An area with lots of cultural complexity where many small groups find isolation in rough terrain. The tension in these areas can spread and infect other areas.

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14
Q

Geometric Boundaries

A

Straight, imaginary lines that are typically created with good reason. (38th parallel, etc.)

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15
Q

Territorial Morphology

A

Describes the shapes, sizes, and relative location of a state.

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16
Q

Compact State

A

Shape is similar to a circle, where the center of the state is the same distance to the edge of the country all around. This allows for good communication and easy ruling from the government.

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17
Q

Prorupted State

A

A compact state with an extension that is typically used to reach a resource, like water. This can reach across another country or cut another in half.

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18
Q

Elongated State

A

A state with a long and narrow shape, either due to physical features or political/economic reasons. This state typically has problems with communication and control, followed by transportation issues, especially if the capital is not centered.

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19
Q

Fragmented State

A

A state that has multiple pieces of discontinuous, unconnected land. A group of islands is a fragmented state. This state can also occur when a country cuts another in half.

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20
Q

Perforated State

A

A state that completely surrounds another.

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21
Q

Exclave

A

Small pieces of territory that are found on coasts and are separated by another state.

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22
Q

Enclave

A

A territory locked within another state. This can also be a group of people.

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23
Q

Microstate

A

A state with a very small land size (few square miles)

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24
Q

Relative Location

A

Location in relation to a state’s surroundings.

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25
Landlocked State
A state surrounded by other states with no access to the ocean. States typically have trouble with trade, resources, communication, and transportation.
26
Sovereignty
Ability of a state to carry out actions or policies inside a state without interference from either inside or outside the country.
27
Nationalism
National Consciousness or a sense of unity of citizens and loyalty to a state. This promotes cultures and interests of a nation over another state.
28
Internal Boundary
Boundary that divides a state into certain sections, like states or provinces, etc.
29
State
A country that has control over what happens within the borders of the state; A political organization of an area.
30
Institutions
Organizations that are long lasting and stable that help political ideas and beliefs become policy in a state.
31
Nation
A group of people tied together through a certain political, cultural, or ethnic identity.
32
Nation State
A state that is also tied or occupied with a certain nation or people, where the population is united and connected through common values and principles.
33
Binational State
A state with two nations involved.
34
Multinational State
A state with more than one nation within the state.
35
Stateless Nation
A group of people who do not have a state to call home.
36
Core Areas
An area that expands into frontiers and spreads into the surrounding area. These areas are political or economic centers or a state.
37
Periphery
An outlying area of the core that is less developed.
38
Multicore State
A state with more than one core area, where two or more cities are economic or political centers.
39
Primate City
A city where no other city is close to the influence and size that the city has.
40
Forward Capital
A capital that serves as a model for national economic development as well as future progress for the nation.
41
Devolution
The movement of power from a central government to sub-unit powers. (State divisions)
42
Supranational Organization
A group of 3 or more countries that work together on a regional or international scale for a certain purpose.
43
Electoral Process
A method to select leaders in a country.
44
Electoral Geography
Study of how voting patterns and organization of electoral districts influence social and political activity.
45
Gerrymandering
Redrawing boundaries to help the chances of supporters helping win politicians seats.
46
Minority/ Majority District
Changing a district to allow the minority to be elected by making the minority the majority in an area.
47
Colonies
Dependent, separated territories of a state.
48
Imperialism
The building of an empire.
49
Unitary State
A state where all political power and activity is focused in one central area.
50
Confederal State
A state with a weak central government and all the power in the sub unit in the state, like states or provinces.
51
Federal State
A state where the power is divided between sub units and the central government.
52
Centripetal Forces
Forces that bring a people within a state together and strengthen the group.
53
Centrifugal Forces
Forces that push a country to fall apart and weaken government. This can also weaken the loyalty of citizens.
54
Separatist Movement
A nation within a state that wants independence, wants to separate from the state.
55
Ethnic Forces
A force that brings a group together through language, religion, and culture.
56
Ethnonationalism
The likeliness for an ethnic group to see itself as a nation and to see itself as a nation that should be independent.
57
Economic Forces
Forces that can weaken a state if differences in the economy are present.
58
Spatial Forces
Forces that can cause devolution because of distance, remoteness, and periphery areas.
59
Geopolitics
Study if spatial and territorial influences of power relationships within political or territorial order.
60
Friedrich Ratzel
Compared a state to an organism using Darwin's theories of evolution and believed that a state must grow to thrive. This theory contributed to the power of Nazi Germany.
61
Heartland Theory
A theory by Mackinder that focused on Eurasia, or the heartland, and stated that the heartland was key to a world power. (Land-based Power)
62
Rimland Theory
Spykman's theory that the Eurasian rim is crucial to ruling the world power. The rim includes Korea, China, Japan, India, Europe, and South East Asia.
63
Cold War
A war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over control over land and differences in government.
64
Security Council
A group of 5 countries (Russia, U.S., China, Britain, and France) that decide whether or not the U.N. should send troops into areas of turmoil, and can veto policies involving security.
65
European Union
A supranational regional organization that seeks to integrate economies and governments in Europe. It is mostly focused on economic activity, and was founded after WWII.
66
Integration
Process where multiple states combine and exercise sovereignty in order to obtain economic, political, or social benefits.
67
Three Pillars
1. Trade, economic union, and creation of European Central Bank. 2. Justice over asylum, immigration, crime, terrorism, and crossing borders. 3. Common defense, foreign, and security policies with same actions.
68
Monetary Policy
Control over the supply of money.
69
European Monetary Union
A centralized union to unite the EU through a central bank and the Euro. It also takes some responsibility off of governments and national banks.
70
European Constitution
A constitution that sets political and economic policy for the EU.
71
Globalization
Movement of economic, social, and political activity to a global scale, connecting states and nations together.
72
Democratization
Process where a nation moves to a democratic form of government.
73
Third Wave of Democratization
The modern wave of democratization created through the demolishing of dictatorship and totalitarianism.
74
Command Economy
An economy with socialist principles, along with state ownership and planning.
75
Market Economy
An economy without control from the government that functions through economic forces and needs, like supply and demand.
76
Mixed Economy
A market economy with lots of influence from the government.
77
Marketization
Re-making a market so that goods can compete against each other.
78
Privatization
The movement of state owned property to privately owned property.
79
Fragmentation
A division due to cultural or ethnic differences within a state.
80
Politicization of Religion
Use of religion to boost political actions and support.
81
Irridentism
A belief that some territory should be freed or independent due to ethnic differences.
82
Core-Periphery
The "buffer" or difference between core and periphery development in economic and political areas.
83
Disputes (Border)
Positional or definitional disputes are over where the border is located. Territorial disputes argue who owns a specific area or region. Resource, or allocational, disputes argue over resources located near the border. Functional or Operational disputes are arguments over policies involving the border, like immigration.
84
Mercantilism
The process of boosting trade, especially in Europe. This helps promote state economies and move trade along through the world.
85
Territorial Integrity
The right of a government to protect the state and it's borders from attack.
86
Peace of Westphalia
The event that began the idea of a modern state in Europe through negotiation.
87
Multinational State
A state containing multiple nations of people.
88
Multi-State Nation
A nation that is found and spread out in multiple states.
89
Colonialism
A state that rules or governs over a territory from far away for political or economic benefit.
90
Capitalism
People trade and produce for profit in the world economy.
91
Core, Periphery, Semi Periphery
Levels in the 3 tier world structure, with core being the most advanced in social, political, and economic processes, followed by semi periphery and then periphery.
92
Territorial Representation
Representing or speaking for a territory through an elected representative.
93
Reapportionment
Process in which when the population shifts, districts are moved to have equal population numbers.
94
Unilateralism
A dominant state where allies follow yet are not included in political decision making.

Human Geography (1 decks)

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