Unit 4: Political Patterns and Processes

Question 1

state

Answer 1

a political unit with a permanent population, defined boundaries, sovereignty over domestic and internal affairs, recognized by other states

Question 2

nation

Answer 2

a group of people with a shared cultural heritage, unified beliefs/values, a distinct homeland, ability/desire to govern oneself (self-determination)

Question 3

nation-state

Answer 3

a state made up of mostly one ethnic group and is considered the most cohesive type of state because of the homogeneousness within the population
ex: Japan, Iceland

Question 4

stateless nation

Answer 4

a nation without sovereignty over its homeland (but would want this sovereignty)
ex: the Kurds, Jews before the creation of Israel

Question 5

multinational state

Answer 5

state with 2 or more ethnic groups which sometimes leads to conflict
ex: US, Russia, UK

Question 6

multistate nation

Answer 6

a national group that lives in 2 or more states
ex: the Kurds spread across Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran

Question 7

autonomous/semiautonomous region

Answer 7

an area within a state that has some ability of self-government from the parent government; usually geographically, ethnically, or culturally distinct areas
ex: Hong Kong (China), Gaza Strip/West Bank (Israel), American Indian Reservation (US)

Question 8

sovereignty

Answer 8

power of a political unit to rule over its own affairs domestically and internationally

Question 9

self-determination

Answer 9

the idea of separate ethnicities having the right to govern themselves

Question 10

imperialism

Answer 10

the idea of extending a nation’s power or dominion, especially through direct territorial acquisition or by gaining political or economic control of other territories and people

Question 11

colonialism

Answer 11

a specific type of imperialism that involves direct control and governance of a territory (usually with settlement)

Question 12

devolution

Answer 12

when a central government gives power to a lower level of government

Question 13

shatterbelts

Answer 13

a culturally diverse, conflict-prone region where weak, fragmented states are caught between the influence of powerful global rivals often containing strategically important resources and locations
ex: the Middle East, Eastern Europe (during the Cold War), West Bank/Gaza Strip

Question 14

relic(t) boundary

Answer 14

a formal political boundary that doesn’t exist anymore, but still holds a significant influence on present-day cultural or social practices
ex: Hadrian’s Wall, North/South Vietnam, East/West Germany

Question 14

neocolonialism

Answer 14

the indirect control or influence exerted by developed countries over developed countries over developing countries through economic, political, or cultural means as opposed to extensive military and political ways

Question 15

choke points

Answer 15

a georgraphic feature that forces people, goods, or military forces into narrow areas that are easy to block, control, or disrupt
ex: Strait of Hormuz

Question 16

territoriality

Answer 16

how people use space to claim ownership; a basic form of political power; shows the connection of people, their culture, and their economic systems to the land; the willingness of people to defend the space they own

Question 17

superimposed boundary

Answer 17

a boundary imposed on an area by an outside or conquering power
ex: most African and Middle Eastern borders

Question 18

antecedent boundary

Answer 18

a boundary that is created before states were established–usually coincides with a physical feature
ex: Malaysia and Indonesia were “pre-separated” by the Borneo rainforest

Question 18

geometric boundary

Answer 18

a “manmade” straight-line boundary
ex: Canada and US on the 49th parallel

Question 18

subsequent boundary

Answer 18

a boundary that is drawn after a region is settled
ex: Berlin Wall

Question 19

consequent boundary

Answer 19

a boundary that coincides with some cultural divide such as religion or language
ex: Pakistan and India

Question 20

defined boundary

Answer 20

a boundary that is describes, negotiated, and/or documented

Question 21

delimited boundary

Answer 21

a boundary that is labeled on a map

Question 22

administered boundary

Answer 22

how each country controls the boundary created

Question 23

demarcated boundary

Answer 23

a boundary that has official markers placed on the land

Question 24

berlin conference (plus results)

Answer 24

the berlin conference was an event where European nations collectively decided how to divide up Africa for their own benefits this lead to never-ending ethnic disputes in Africa due to poorly drawn state lines

Question 25

UNCLOS (different levels included)

Answer 25

the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; defines the rights and responsibilities of nations in the use of local and international waters

Question 26

reapportionment

Answer 26

redrawing boundaries of voting districts

Question 27

redistricting

Answer 27

redrawing boundaries of voting districts

Question 28

gerrymandering

Answer 28

redrawing voting districts to favor one political party

Question 29

federal state

Answer 29

power is shared by different levels of government; a larger land area allows for more differences culturally ex: US, Canada, Brazil, India

Question 29

unitary state

Answer 29

most power is held by the central government; a smaller land area which leads to fewer differences culturally ex: Ireland, UK, Japan, China

Question 30

reasons for devolution

Answer 30

- division by physical geography (causes isolation because of separation) - ethnic separatism: ethnic groups/minorities are concentrated in specific regions which can lead to independence movements - ethnic cleansing: genocide - terrorism - economic and social problems (control of natural resources; cultural differences)

Question 31

irredentism

Answer 31

a factor of devolution; when a group wants to annex land because it is their homeland/has a population that is ethnically similar but a different country controls the territory

Question 32

results of devolution

Answer 32

autonomous regions (Native American reservations), substate units (Catalonia, Spain), states disintegrating and fragmenting usually along regional and ethnic lines

Question 33

Spain as an example of devolution

Answer 33

Catalonia is a nationless state within Spain whose people already have a separate police force and control over some public resources, but wish to signify a distinct Catalan identity.

Question 34

Belgium as an example of devolution

Answer 34

Flanders is a portion of Belgium that is closely related to the Netherlands (primarily because of proximity), as they share the same language and indistinguishable cultures. The same is true for Wallonia and France, so each portion of Belgium wishes to become its own or a part of the Netherlands or France.

Question 34

Canada as an example of devolution

Answer 34

The region of Nunavut wishes to become its own country not only because of the vastly different political system, but also because of cultural differences from and the rest of Canada.

Question 35

Nigeria as an example of devolution

Answer 35

The Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo people (and regions) of Nigeria are culturally distinct, especially in regard to religion and religious tolerance amongst the people.

Question 36

supranational organization

Answer 36

multiple countries form an organization for the collective good of all members

Question 37

economic supranational organization

Answer 37

European Union (EU), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), World Trade Organization (WTO)

Question 38

military supranational organization

Answer 38

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Warsaw Pact

Question 39

political supranational organization

Answer 39

United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), Olympics

Question 40

centripetal forces

Answer 40

force that unites and brings a country together ex: similar language, currency, and customs

Question 41

centrifugal forces

Answer 41

forces that separate or divide a country ex: different religions, cultures, and customs