UNIT 4 REVIEW

WHAT IS POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY

Political Geography Study of human political organization of the earth at various geographic levels.Study of human political organization of the earth at various geographic levels.

KEY TERMS

Territoriality Control over a space and the assumption of ownership to that space.Control over a space and the assumption of ownership to that space.

Sovereignty Internationally recognized control of a state over the people and territory within its boundaries.Internationally recognized control of a state over the people and territory within its boundaries.

State Political unit with a permanent population, territorial boundaries recognized by other states, an effective government, a working economy, and sovereignty.Political unit with a permanent population, territorial boundaries recognized by other states, an effective government, a working economy, and sovereignty.

Nation Group of people who share a common culture and identify as a cohesive group.Group of people who share a common culture and identify as a cohesive group.

Stateless Nation Nation without territory to call its ownNation without territory to call its own

Nation-state State containing one nation, a cohesive group of people linked to their territory through a shared government and common goals.State containing one nation, a cohesive group of people linked to their territory through a shared government and common goals.

Satellite State Country controlled by a more powerful state.Country controlled by a more powerful state.

Centripetal Force Force that unifies a state’s people and regions.Force that unifies a state’s people and regions.

Centrifugal Force Force that divides a state’s people and regions.Force that divides a state’s people and regions.

Federal Government Structure Organizational structure with a central government that shares power with strong regional governments.Organizational structure with a central government that shares power with strong regional governments.

Unitary Governmental Structure Organizational structure in which one main governmental decision-making body exists for the entire state. Regions within the country may have their own local governments, but they are weak and usually serve only as administrative organs of the primary government based in the country’s capital.Organizational structure in which one main governmental decision-making body exists for the entire state. Regions within the country may have their own local governments, but they are weak and usually serve only as administrative organs of the primary government based in the country’s capital.

Gerrymandering Redrawing electoral boundaries to give one political party an advantage over others.Redrawing electoral boundaries to give one political party an advantage over others.

BOUNDARIES

Physical (or natural) political boundary Political boundary that separates territories according to natural features in the landscape, such as mountains, deserts, or rivers.Political boundary that separates territories according to natural features in the landscape, such as mountains, deserts, or rivers.

Superimposed Boundary Boundary forcibly put on a landscape by outsiders.Boundary forcibly put on a landscape by outsiders.

Relict Boundary Boundary that no longer functions as a boundary but only as a reminder of a line that once divided space.Boundary that no longer functions as a boundary but only as a reminder of a line that once divided space.

SHAPES OF STATES LOOK AT PG. 180 IN YOUR TEST PREP BOOK

SOUTH AFRICA-PERFORATED

RWANDA-COMPACT

THAILAND-PRORUPTED

CHILE-ELONGATED

INDONESIA-FRAGMENTED

Colonialism Control by a developed state over an underdeveloped area.Control by a developed state over an underdeveloped area.

Imperialism The process of establishing political, social, and economic dominance over a colonized areaThe process of establishing political, social, and economic dominance over a colonized area

Supranationalism Growing trend of three or more countries forming an alliance for cultural, economic, and political situation.Growing trend of three or more countries forming an alliance for cultural, economic, and political situation.

EXAMPLES OF SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS United NationsUnited Nations NATONATO Warsaw PactWarsaw Pact European UnionEuropean Union NAFTANAFTA

Devolution Process of transferring some power from the central government to regional governments.Process of transferring some power from the central government to regional governments.

Balkanization Division of a region or state into smaller units, usually along ethnic lines.Division of a region or state into smaller units, usually along ethnic lines.

THEORIES

Dependency Theory According to this theory, former colonies in South America, Africa, and Asia have not been able to heal from imperial domination and are still dependent on their former European colonizers.According to this theory, former colonies in South America, Africa, and Asia have not been able to heal from imperial domination and are still dependent on their former European colonizers.

Mackinder’s Heartland Theory Geopolitical theory that Eurasia was the “world island” and the key to dominating the world. Ruling this world island required controlling eastern Europe; linked to the domino theory.Geopolitical theory that Eurasia was the “world island” and the key to dominating the world. Ruling this world island required controlling eastern Europe; linked to the domino theory.

Rimland Theory Nicolas Spykman’s theory defining the rimland to be all of Eurasia’s periphery, not its core of Russia and Central Asia. This rimland was the key to controlling the world island.Nicolas Spykman’s theory defining the rimland to be all of Eurasia’s periphery, not its core of Russia and Central Asia. This rimland was the key to controlling the world island.