Unit 4 - Politics Flashcards
Sovereignty
Definition: The authority of a state to govern itself without outside interference. Example: A country exercising control over its own territory is demonstrating sovereignty.
Self-determination
Definition: The right of a people to choose their own political status and form of government. Example: Many colonial countries sought self-determination to gain independence from imperial powers.
State
Definition: A politically organized territory with a permanent population
Nation
Definition: A group of people with common cultural characteristics such as language religion or heritage. Example: The Kurds are considered a nation but they do not have an independent state.
Nation-State
Definition: A state whose territory is largely occupied by a single nation or ethnic group. Example: Japan is a nation-state with a largely homogenous population.
Failed State
Definition: A state with weak institutions that cannot provide basic services or maintain control over its territory. Example: Somalia is often considered a failed state due to ongoing civil conflict.
Stateless Nation
Definition: A group of people who share a common identity but do not have a state of their own. Example: The Palestinians are a stateless nation.
Multinational State
Definition: A state with multiple ethnic or national groups within its borders. Example: Canada is a multinational state with French and English-speaking populations.
Multistate Nation
Definition: A nation that exists across multiple states. Example: The Kurdish nation exists across parts of Turkey Iraq and Syria.
Autonomous Region
Definition: A geographic area with a degree of independence from the central government. Example: Hong Kong has a high degree of autonomy from mainland China.
Semiautonomous Region
Definition: A region with limited self-governance but still under the authority of a central government. Example: Puerto Rico has semiautonomous status under U.S. governance.
American Indian Reservation
Definition: A designated area of land managed by Native American tribes rather than the federal government. Example: The Navajo Nation has a large reservation in the southwestern United States.
System Governance
Definition: The structure of political organization that governs a state or territory. Example: The system governance of the U.S. is a federal system with a balance of powers.
Unitary States
Definition: States with a centralized government where most of the power is held by the national government. Example: France is a unitary state.
Federal States
Definition: States in which power is shared between a central government and regional governments. Example: The United States is a federal state.
Democracy
Definition: A system of government where citizens participate directly or through elected representatives. Example: Switzerland practices a direct democracy with frequent referenda.
Republic
Definition: A form of government where elected leaders represent the people. Example: The United States is a republic.
Theocracy
Definition: A government system where religious leaders control the state often guided by divine law. Example: Iran is a theocracy with its political leaders chosen from the clergy.
Monarchy
Definition: A government led by a king queen or emperor often with a hereditary succession. Example: The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II.
Dictatorship
Definition: A form of government where power is concentrated in the hands of a single leader often through force. Example: North Korea is ruled by a dictatorship.
Oligarchy
Definition: A political system where a small group of people hold power. Example: Russia has been described as having oligarchic elements in its government.
Parliament
Definition: A representative assembly that makes laws and decisions for a country. Example: The United Kingdom has a parliamentary system with the House of Commons and House of Lords.
National Identity
Definition: A sense of belonging to a nation and the shared experiences and values that create that identity. Example: The sense of national identity in the U.S. is often tied to the ideals of freedom and democracy.
Regional Identity
Definition: A sense of belonging to a particular region within a state often with distinct cultural historical or linguistic characteristics. Example: People in Catalonia identify with their regional culture language and history.
Colonialism
Definition: The practice of acquiring and maintaining control over foreign territories for economic or political gain. Example: The British Empire engaged in colonialism by establishing colonies in Africa and India.
Imperialism
Definition: The policy or ideology of extending a nation’s power through military force or diplomacy. Example: The United States practiced imperialism in the Pacific by acquiring territories like Hawaii and the Philippines.
Independence Movements
Definition: Movements aimed at gaining political independence from a colonial or foreign power. Example: The Indian independence movement sought to free India from British rule.
Ethnic Nationalism
Definition: A form of nationalism based on shared ethnic identity and cultural heritage. Example: The Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka fought for an independent Tamil state based on ethnic nationalism.
Devolution
Definition: The transfer of powers from a central government to regional governments. Example: The devolution of power in the UK led to the establishment of a Scottish Parliament.
Ethnic Separatism
Definition: A desire by an ethnic group to separate and form its own state due to cultural religious or linguistic differences. Example: The Basque separatist movement in Spain seeks independence for the Basque people.
Ethnic Cleansing
Definition: The systematic removal or destruction of an ethnic or religious group from a region. Example: The ethnic cleansing of Bosnian Muslims during the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s.
Terrorism
Definition: The use of violence or threats to intimidate or coerce governments or societies often for political or religious reasons. Example: The 9/11 attacks in the United States were carried out by terrorists.
Irredentism
Definition: A political movement seeking to reclaim and reunite a territory considered to be historically or ethnically related. Example: Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 was partly justified by claims of irredentism.
Supranationalism
Definition: The association of multiple countries with a shared goal or interest often leading to cooperation in economic political or military matters. Example: The European Union is a supranational organization.
Member State
Definition: A country that is part of a larger political organization or international institution. Example: France is a member state of the European Union.
United Nations (UN)
Definition: An international organization aimed at promoting peace security and cooperation among member countries. Example: The United Nations deploys peacekeeping missions to conflict zones.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Definition: A military alliance formed for mutual defense between the United States Canada and several European countries. Example: NATO intervened in the 1999 Kosovo War to protect ethnic Albanians.
European Union (EU)
Definition: A political and economic union of European countries that work together on issues like trade law and security. Example: The EU allows for free movement of goods and people between member states.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Definition: A regional organization promoting economic political and security cooperation among Southeast Asian countries. Example: ASEAN members include Indonesia Malaysia and Thailand.
Arctic Council
Definition: An intergovernmental forum for promoting cooperation and coordination among Arctic states and indigenous peoples. Example: The Arctic Council works to address environmental and security issues in the Arctic region.
African Union
Definition: An organization formed to promote unity and cooperation among African countries. Example: The African Union focuses on issues like peace security and economic development.
Democratization
Definition: The transition to a more democratic political system often involving the establishment of free elections and civil rights. Example: South Africa underwent democratization after the end of apartheid.
Boundaries
Definition: Lines that
Land Boundary
Definition: A boundary that separates land territories between states or regions. Example: The land boundary between India and Pakistan is heavily fortified in places.
Relic Boundary
Definition: A boundary that no longer functions but is still visible or recognized in some form. Example: The Berlin Wall left a relic boundary between East and West Germany.
Superimposed Boundary
Definition: A boundary imposed by an outside force often without regard for existing cultural or ethnic divisions. Example: The borders of many African countries were drawn during colonialism disregarding ethnic groups.
Subsequent Boundary
Definition: A boundary drawn after a cultural landscape has already been established. Example: The boundary between India and Pakistan was established after the partition in 1947.
Antecedent Boundary
Definition: A boundary established before the area was well populated. Example: The border between the United States and Canada is largely an antecedent boundary.
Geometric Boundary
Definition: A boundary drawn using straight lines or arcs often without regard for natural or cultural features. Example: The boundary between the U.S. and Canada in some areas is a geometric boundary.
Consequent Boundary
Definition: A boundary that is drawn to reflect existing cultural differences such as language or ethnicity. Example: The boundary between France and Belgium was drawn with linguistic differences in mind.
Defined Boundary
Definition: A boundary that is clearly established by legal documents or treaties. Example: The boundary between Egypt and Israel was
Delimited Boundary
Definition: A boundary that is represented on a map or official document. Example: The delimited boundary of a national park is indicated on maps.
Demarcated Boundary
Definition: A boundary marked by physical objects like fences walls or monuments. Example: The demarcated boundary of the U.S.-Mexico border has a physical wall in some places.
Contested Boundary
Definition: A boundary that is disputed by two or more parties. Example: The boundary between Israel and Palestine is a contested boundary.
Maritime Boundary
Definition: A boundary between countries or states in bodies of water often
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
Definition: An international agreement that
International Waters
Definition: Waters not controlled by any one nation typically beyond the 200-mile limit from a nation’s coastline. Example: Ships can freely navigate international waters without restrictions.
Territorial Sea
Definition: The waters extending up to 12 nautical miles from a coastal state’s shore where that state has sovereignty. Example: The territorial sea of the United Kingdom extends around its islands.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
Definition: A maritime zone extending 200 nautical miles from a coastal state’s shore where the state has exclusive rights to explore and use resources. Example: China’s EEZ extends into the South China Sea where it claims territorial rights.
Internal Boundary
Definition: A boundary within a state that separates regions or administrative units. Example: The internal boundary between the U.S. states of California and Nevada.
Voting District
Definition: A geographic area established for the purpose of electing representatives. Example: U.S. congressional districts are voting districts that elect members to the House of Representatives.
Redistricting
Definition: The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries usually after a census. Example: Redistricting in the U.S. often happens every 10 years.
Gerrymandering
Definition: The manipulation of electoral boundaries to favor one political party over another. Example: Gerrymandering is often seen when district boundaries are drawn to ensure a party wins more seats than it would under fair boundaries.
Neocolonialism
Definition: The economic and political control of a country by foreign powers often through indirect means. Example: Many African countries are said to experience neocolonialism due to the influence of former colonial powers.
Shatterbelts
Definition: A region caught between stronger political or cultural forces often leading to instability. Example: The Middle East is often described as a shatterbelt due to its complex geopolitical tensions.
Choke Points
Definition: Narrow passages of water or land that are critical for trade or military movement. Example: The Strait of Hormuz is a choke point for global oil shipments.
Territoriality
Definition: The defense and control of a geographic area by individuals or groups. Example: Animals exhibit territoriality by marking and defending their home ranges.
Demilitarized Zone
Definition: An area where military forces are not allowed often established by agreement. Example: The demilitarized zone between North and South Korea is one of the most well-known.
Berlin Conference
Definition: The 1884-1885 meeting of European powers to divide Africa into colonies leading to the imposition of arbitrary borders. Example: The Berlin Conference led to the creation of boundaries that disregarded African ethnic divisions.
Centrifugal Force
Definition: A force that divides or weakens a state or nation. Example: Ethnic differences in Yugoslavia were centrifugal forces that contributed to its breakup.
Centripetal Force
Definition: A force that unites or strengthens a state or nation. Example: National holidays and shared culture act as centripetal forces that help unify a country.
Cultural Cohesion
Definition: The shared sense of belonging and unity within a cultural group. Example: The shared language and traditions of the French people provide cultural cohesion in France.
