Political Entities
What is a state in political geography?
A politically organized territory with a permanent population and sovereignty.
What is a boundary?
A line marking the limits of a territory.
What is a supranational organization?
An alliance of three or more countries pursuing shared goals.
What does the Heartland Theory suggest?
Whoever controls Eastern Europe controls the world.
What is sovereignty?
The power of a state to govern itself without outside interference.
Define a nation.
A group of people with shared cultural traits and a sense of unity.
What’s a geometric boundary?
A boundary drawn using straight lines or coordinates, not cultural or physical features.
Name one economic supranational organization.
The European Union (EU).
What is the Rimland Theory?
Power lies in coastal areas surrounding the Eurasian core.
What is devolution?
The transfer of power from a central government to regional governments.
What is a stateless nation?
A nation without a sovereign state of its own (e.g., Kurds).
What is a relic boundary?
A former boundary that no longer functions but still leaves a visible mark.
What is the purpose of NATO?
A military alliance for collective defense.
What is the Organic Theory of the state?
States grow like living organisms and need territory to survive.
Define "centrifugal force."
A force that divides people and decreases state unity.
What is a multinational state?
A state with more than one nation within its borders.
Define the term "demarcation."
The physical marking of a boundary on the landscape.
What is the African Union’s main goal?
To promote economic and political unity across Africa.
What theory influenced Cold War strategy?
The Domino Theory, suggesting countries fall to communism like dominos.
What is a unitary state?
A state governed as a single central power with limited local authority.
What is an autonomous region?
A region with some political independence from the rest of the country.
What is a subsequent boundary?
A boundary drawn after an area has been settled, often reflecting cultural landscapes.
What is the drawback of joining a supranational organization?
It may reduce a state's individual control over decisions.
What is Mackinder's geopolitical concept?
The Heartland Theory, emphasizing land power over sea power.
What is balkanization?
The process of a state breaking down due to ethnic or political conflict.