Political Geography

Question 1

State

Answer 1

A territory that is recognized as a state by other countries and are under one government.

Question 2

Nation

Answer 2

A territory with people who share a common history and belong to a cultural community

Question 3

Nation-State

Answer 3

A territory in which a nation and a state occupy the location

Question 4

Sovereignty

Answer 4

The final say over a territory’s political and military affairs

Question 5

Territorial Morphology

Answer 5

The size, shape, and relative location of a territory
Ex: Fragmented- Japan
Compact- Colorado
Elongated- Chile

Question 6

Difference between geometric and physical boundaries

Answer 6

Geometric boundaries are unrelated to cultural or physical aspects while physical boundaries conform to features such as rivers.

Question 7

Allocation disputes

Answer 7

Problems related to that of resources such as oil in boundaries

Question 8

Heartland theory

Answer 8

A theory that suggests whoever ruled Eastern Europe, Central Asia (Eurasia) ruled the world

Question 9

Gerrymandering

Answer 9

A term that describes redistributing for advantage, specifically the manipulation of a district’s boundaries to favor one electoral party over another.

Question 10

Devolution

Answer 10

The transfer of power from the central government to regional government

Question 11

Territorial integrity

Answer 11

The right for a territory to defend and handle its borders and disputes.

Question 12

Balkinization

Answer 12

The separating of a region into smaller units which are most of the time hostile

Question 13

Multinational State

Answer 13

A state which contains many nations
Ex: United States, Canada, Iran
Historical: USSR, Austria-Hungary

Question 14

Stateless Nation

Answer 14

A nation which does not own its own territory

Question 15

Commodification

Answer 15

A process that turns an idea into that of something with value or for profit.

Question 16

Steps of making a boundary

Answer 16

1. Definition: you have to establish a document that is drawn up in which actual points of the landscape
2. Delimitation: putting the boundary on a map or optionally marking the ground.
3. Demarcation: setting up the boundary
4. Administrate: Deal with who can come to the country.

Question 17

Electoral Geography

Answer 17

The state’s electoral system in relation to a government’s spatial organization.
Ex: United States- Voter Rights for Minority Groups

Question 18

Ethnocultural Devolutionary Movements (Forces)

Answer 18

When a group of people or an ethnicity define themselves as a being linguistically, religiously, or ethnically distinct from others.
Ex: Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia

Question 19

Colonialism

Answer 19

An action where one state takes over another, controls the government, and rules the territory.

Question 20

Law of the Sea

Answer 20

A 1982 treaty, presided by the UN, which regulated all of the world’s oceans and bodies of water, guidelines for their economic usage, & management of marine resources.

Question 21

Supranational Organization

Answer 21

An association of 3 or more states that seek to benefit all members. Currently there are over 60 worldwide.
Ex: United Nations

Question 22

Geopolitics

Answer 22

The relationship and influence of spatial geography in politics, economics, & global/regional affairs.
Ex: Mackinder’s Heartland Theory
Spykman’s Rimland Theory
Ratzel’s Organic Theory

Question 23

World-Systems Analysis (Theory/Three-Tier Structure)

Answer 23

A structure that shows the different types of “contributors” to the world bank. The organization of the world economy into 1 market and states depending on their financial prosperity, education, and technology separated into three tiers:

Core: Higher Education, Higher Salaries, More Tech = More Wealth Within the World Econ.

Semi-Periphery: Buffer (Middle) between Core & Periphery; “Exploited (taken advantage of by) by the Core, Exploits (takes advantage of) the Periphery

Periphery: Lower Education, Lower Salaries, Less Tech = Less Wealth

Question 24

Federal (Federal Govt.)

Answer 24

State is organized into subdivisions which have more power and control over govt. policies & the capital city.
Ex: Nigeria- States can implement Sharia Law
U.S.- States can determine moral laws (death penalty)

Question 25

Unitary (Unitary Govt.)

Answer 25

One centralized government in charge of the state and is located in the capital city, the focus of power.
Ex: France is a Unitary Government; Power is centralized in Paris.

Question 26

Capitalism

Answer 26

An economic system where the production of goods and services are for the goal of making profit without the intervention by the state.
Ex: United States has a capitalist economy.