Unit 4: Politics Flashcards
(46 cards)
Political Geography
the study of the ways in which the world is organized as a reflection of power that different groups hold over territory
State
politically organized independent territory with a government, defined borders, and a permanent population-like a country
Sovereignty
the right of a government to control and defend its territory and determine what happens within its borders
Nations
Cultural entities, made up of individuals who have formed a common identity through a shared language, religion, ethnicity, or heritage
Nation-State
People in a territory that see them as a nation is also politically recognized as a state (an ideal, no state is a pure nation state)
Multi State nation
consists of people who share a cultural or ethnic background but live in more than one country
Multinational-state
A country with various ethnicities and cultures living inside borders
Irredentism
attempts to acquire territories in neighboring states inhabited by people of the same nation (Ex: Russian and Ukraine)
Autonomous regions
given some authority to govern their own territories independently form the national government
Stateless Nation
A people united by culture, language, history, and tradition but not possessing a state
Territoriality
- An attempt by an individual/group to affect, influence, or control people, phenomena,, and relationships by delimiting and asserting control
-Expression of a group’s historic and personal links to a place
-The connection of people, their culture, and their economic systems to the land
(Ex: flags, anthems, citizenship requirements)
Colonialism
The practice of claiming and dominating overseas territories
Neocolonialism
The use of economic, political, cultural, or other pressures to control or influence other countries, especially former dependencies
Chokepoint
a narrow, strategic passageway to another place through which it is difficult to pass. Can be sources of power, influence, and wealth for the countries that control them (Ex: Panama Canal)
-Can play significant role in military
Shatterbelts
areas of lots of violence and conflict because of powerful outside states that form, join, and break up states. Areas of continual violence also
Self-determination
the right of all people to choose their own political status
Imperialism
the push to create an empire by exercising force or influence to control other nations or people
Devolution
When the central power in a state is broken up among regional authorities
Establishing Boundaries
Define: countries explicitly state in legal binding documentation such as a treaty where borders are located, using reference points (natural features, latitude, etc)
Delimit: Drawing boundaries on maps in accordance to legal agreement
Demarcate: Creating physical boundaries such as stones, pillars, walls, or fences
Administer: Manage the way they are maintained and how goods and people cross them
Antecedent Boundary
Established before many people settle into an area (Ex: Boundary between America and Canada) (Mountain)
Consequent Boundary
Take into account differences in a cultural landscape, separating groups with distinct languages, religions, ethnicities, etc
Subsequent Boundary
Drawn in areas that have been settled by people and where cultural landscapes already exist or are in the process of being established
Superimposed
Drawn over existing accepted borders by an outside/conquering force (Berlin conference of Africa)
Geometric
Mathematical and typically follow lines of latitude and longitude, or a straight line between two points, instead of following physical or cultural features
