Political Geography

By: Emily, Allie, Olivia, and Kaleb

I can explain the difference between physical and cultural boundaries of States:

-Physical boundaries influence identity of a population by limiting interaction. -Cultural boundary influence separation of cultural groups due to differences in their beliefs. One example is religion.

I can explain the influences of boundaries on identity, interaction, and exchange:

-Physical boundaries are determined by significant features of the landscape. Some physical boundaries include deserts or mountains. Transportation becomes impossible or highly dangerous. -Cultural boundaries prevent social groups from mixing due to fear of losing their cultural values to the influences of another culture.

I can identify and differentiate between state, State, and nation- state:

-state: An area that is organized into a political unit and ruled by an established government that has control over its internal and foreign affairs (Ex: Wisconsin, Idaho, etc.) -State: A land area much larger than a state that still has boundaries along with cultural and physical differences. (Ex: Russia, Canada, China, etc.) -Nation state: A state whose territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular ethnicity that has transformed into a nationality. There are no perfect examples, but Denmark is a close one.

I can explain how the contemporary political pattern evolved through colonization and imperialism:

-Colonialism is the establishment of settlements in a territory and imposition of a colonizer's political, economic, and cultural principles. Ex: European colonies that were established to promote Christianity -Imperialism is the control of a territory that is occupied and organized by an indigenous society

I can explain democratization and how it affected the evolution of the contemporary political pattern:

-Democratization occurs when a political system becomes democratic, or equal for all.

I can explain the changing nature of sovereignty:

-Sovereignty- A state's independence from control of its internal affairs by other states, to sustain the production of cash crops for external consumption and export.

I can explain and discuss how fragmentation, unification, and alliances challenge political-territorial arrangements:

-Fragmentation: The breaking apart of a country or region. -Unification: The coming together or countries or regions usually toward a mutual benefit. -Alliances: The befriending of two or more countries. This usually benefits both sides of the friendship.

I can explain supranationalism and devolution:

-Supranationalism: three or more countries that create an alliance for their benefit such as economic, cultural or political. (Ex: NAFTA, EU, UN) -Devolution: The division/separation of a country due to internal problems. (Ex: the breakdown of the Soviet Union)

I can explain gerrymandering:

-Gerrymandering is the (illegal) process in which legislative boundaries are redrawn by the political party in charge of the state legislature in order to benefit themselves

I can describe three States who support terrorism and their methods of support:

-Afghanistan: Sheltered Osama Bin Laden and other Al-Quaeda terrorists -Libya: Sponsored many terrorist attacks. Ex: Nightclub in Berlin, Germany. -Iran: Provided sanctuary to known terrorists

State

Imperialism

European Union

Devolution

Terrorism

State an area organized into a political unit and ruled by an established government with control over its internal and foreign affairs EX: US EX: Canada

Imperialism control of territory already occupied and organized by an indigenous group EX Soviet Union EX: Apartheid in Africa

European Union An economic and political associated of certain European countries with internal free trade and common external tariffs

Devolution the transfer of power to a lower level, central government to local

Terrorism the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims EX: 911 EX: Warship USS Cole

Exclave

Enclave

Balance of Powers

Gerrymandering

Federal State

Exclave A portion of territory of one state that is detached from the motherland EX: Alaska EX: Kaliningrad (Russia)

Enclave a portion of territory within or surrounded by a larger territory whose inhabitants are culturally or ethnically distinct

Balance of Powers condition off roughly equal strength between opposing countries or alliances of countries

Gerrymandering the process of redrawing legislative boundaries or the purpose of benefiting the party in power EX: Illinois District 4

Federal State an internal organization of a state that allocates most peers to units of local government EX: US EX: Switzerland

Unitary State

Frontier

Supranationalism

United Nations

Landlocked State

Unitary State An internal organization of a state that places most power in the hands of central government officials EX: United Kingdom EX: Republic of France

Frontier a zone separating two states in which neither state exercises political control EX: The Great Lakes

Supranationalism an alliance involving 3 or more countries for their mutual benefits such as economic, cultural, political, or military help EX: NATO EX: OPEC

United Nations an international organization of countries set up in 1945 after the League of Nations, to promote international peace, security, and economic development

Landlocked State a state that does not have a direct outlet to the sea EX: KY EX: Bolivia

Fragmented State

Prorupted State

Perforated State

Elongated State

Compact State

Fragmented State a state that includes several discontinuous pieces of territory EX: US EX: Denmark

Prorupted State an otherwise compact state with a large projecting extension EX: Thailand EX: Burma

Perforated State a state that completely surrounded another one EX: Italy EX: South Africa

Elongated State a state with a long, narrow state EX: California EX: Chile

Compact State a state in which the distance from the center to any boundary does not vary significantly EX: Botswana EX: Zimbabwe

Boundary

Colonialism

Microstates

Nation-State

Colony

Boundary Invisible line that marks the extent of a state's territory EX: US-Canada EX: US-Mexico

Colonialism an attempt by one country to establish settlements and to impose its political, economic, and cultural principles in another territory EX: Europe in Asia EX: Europe in Africa

Colony a territory that is legally tied to a sovereign state rather than completely independent EX: 13 British Colonies that started the US EX: Brazil

Microstates a state the encompasses a very small land area EX: Andorra EX: Vatican City

Nation-State a state whose territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular ethnicity that has been transformed into a nationality EX: Iceland EX: Japan

Sovereignty

Physical boundaries

Cultural boundaries

NAFTA

Sovereignty the ability of a state to govern its territory free of control of its internal affairs by on other states EX: Australia EX: US

Physical boundaries a natural phenomena that limits the intermingling of two groups of people EX: Mountains EX: Rivers

Cultural boundaries the tendency of different people to avoid one another due to conflicting beliefs EX: India and Pakistan

NAFTA North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement It joined US, Canada, and Mexico forming one of the world’s three main industrial regions