Unit4- Chapter8: Political Geography Flashcards
Al-Qaeda
A phrase meaning “the base,” is a broad term for both terrorist organization and a “brand name” of affiliates. It is a worldwide network of militant Islamic organizations and individuals intensely opposed to the United States that dispenses money and logistical support and training to a wide variety of radical Islamic terrorist groups.
Annexation
Incorporation of a territory into another geo-political entity.
Balance of Power
Condition of roughly equal strength between opposing countries or alliances of countries.
Border Landscape
There are two types, exclusionary and inclusionary. Exclusionary is meant to keep people out, such as the border between the U.S. and Mexico. Inclusionary is meant to facilitate trade and movement, such as the U.S.-Canada border.
Boundary Disputes
Conflicts over the location, size, and extent of borders between nations. There is conflict over where exactly the border is between the U.S. and Mexico, especially along the Rio Grande because the river has changed course and moved, and it is the traditional border.
Boundary Type
Many boundaries are natural boundaries, formed by rivers, mountains, etc. There are also political boundaries. These are often formed through war and compromise in treaties and agreements. In countries often form cultural boundaries that used to belong to a groups cultural homeland. However, countries in Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere aren’t arranged by culture but politics, and Western countries turned their former colonies into nations without respect for culture.
Buffer state
A country lying between two more powerful countries that are hostile to each other. An example is Mongolia, which serves as a buffer between Russia and China.
City-state
A region controlled by a city and that has sovereignty. They were more common in the middle ages and Renaissance in Europe.
Colonialism
The attempt by a country to establish settlements and impose political and economic control and principles. It was a big thing in the 17th through 20th century for countries in Europe to take areas around the world and make them into colonies.
Colony
A territory that is legally tied to a sovereign state rather than completely independent.
Compact State
A state in with the distance from the center to any boundary does not vary significantly.
Confederation
association of sovereign states by a treaty or agreement. It deals with issues such as defense, foreign affairs, trade, and a common currency.
Conference of Berlin
Regulated trade and colonization in Africa. It formalized the scramble to gain colonies in Africa and set up boundaries for each country’s colonies.
Core/Periphery Regions
Core countries have high levels of development, a capacity at innovation and a convergence of trade flows. Periphery countries usually have less development and are poorer countries.
Decolonization
Decolonization is the movement of American/European colonies gaining independence. Some were peaceful struggles while others became violent.
