Human Geography Unit 4

A State

An area organized into a political unit and ruled by an established government with control over its internal and foreign affairs.

Sovereignty

Ability of a state to govern its territory free from control of its internal affairs.

Stateless Nation

A nation of people without a state that it considers home (ex. Kurds, Palestinians).

Nation-States

A state whose territory is occupied by an ethnicity (ex: transformed into a nationality, Japan).

Colony

A territory that is legally tied to a sovereign state rather than completely independent (ex: Puerto Rico).

Colonialism

Attempt by 1 country to establish settlements and to impose its political, economic, and cultural principles on another territory (also called imperialism).

What are the justifications for colonialism/imperialism?

God, gold, and glory.

What was the result of the Berlin Conference in 1884?

Europe partitioning Africa’s colonies into different states (mainly Britain/France)

Neo-colonialism

The use of economic, political, and cultural pressures to control or influence other countries, especially former dependancies.

What are the 4 problems of Neo-colonialism?

Loss of sovereignty, democracy, delays economic growth, and perpetuates poverty.

Devolution

The transfer of power from a centralized government to local government.

Irredentism

A political movement intended to reunite a nation or reclaim a lost territory.

What are characteristics of nations?

Communities, common culture, a group of people with a shared cultural identity to a set of cultural characteristics.

What is a characteristic of nation-states?

A state whose territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular ethnicity transformed into a nationality.

What are 6 bonds that create nation-states?

Culture, history, religion, language, territory, and nationality.

Territoriality

A nation is generally territory-based, meaning a strong connection of a people, their culture, and economic system of a land.

Multi-national State

Created when more than one distinct nation is found together in the same political state

Ethno-nationalism

A strong feeling of belonging to a minority nation that is contained within a state dominated by a more powerful nation (ex. Israel and Palestine)

What does ethno-nationalism lead to?

Leads to separation and secession. Many groups will resort to violence to get their way.

Shatter belt

A geographical region that is endangered by local conflicts within the states or between countries in the region, as well as the involvement of opposing great powers outside the region.

What are 3 types of physical boundaries?

Desert (Sahara Desert), Mountains (the Andes, Himalayas), Water (Rio Grande, Atlantic Ocean)

Boundary

Invisible line that marks the extent of a state's territory.

Geometric Boundary

Political boundaries that are defined and delimited by straight lines (ex. 141 west longitude Alaska/Canda).

Ethnic Boundary

Defined by languages, nationalities, ethnicities (ex. Czechoslovakia).

Superimposed Boundary

Boundary that has been delimited by colonial/supranational power (ex. Africa).

Relic Boundary

A boundary that has ceased to function but can still be detected on the cultural landscape (ex. The Great Wall of China).

Subsequent Boundary

Boundary established after the settlement of an area (ex. The US after the Louisiana Purchase).

Antecedent Boundary

Boundary created prior to any human settlements (ex. US prior to Louisiana Purchase).

Federal States

Split power between central gov. and local govs. Can work well in multi-national states, more suitable for larger states (ex. United States, each state has their own gov.)

Unitary States

Most power is held in the central gov. Works best with few cultural differences, and needs strong communication or compact states.

Gerrymandering

A way to try to ensure politicians will be picked, redrawing district lines for one party to benefit.

5 Benefits of Unitary System

Standard laws across country, patriotism, fewer gov. agencies, potential of local gov. reduced, creation of national identity reduces devolution.

4 Negatives of Unitary System

Central gov. can lead to disconnect of local areas, local cultures lose importance by standardization,

Why do federal states exist?

• For multiple ethnicities, nationalities, and cultures

• Maintain a cohesive unit

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

As established in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, a zone of exploitation extending 200 nautical miles seaward from the a coastal state that has exclusive mineral and fishing rights over it.

Supranational Organization

Supranational organizations represent their members on the world stage and act in the political interests of the member countries.

What are the 3 benefits to supranational organizations?

Political cooperation, economic cooperation, and military cooperation.

The UN & NATO

UN: 193 countries as members. NATO: Includes the US, Canada, and most European countries.

European Union (EU)

Economic and political alliance. Euro is the 2nd largest economy in the world.

African Union (AU)

Economic alliance. Promotes stable economic development and political alliance.

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Economic alliance. Ensures fair and stable prices for oil producers, organized in the Middle East.