Political Geography Basics
What is a sovereign state?
A state with full control over its internal and external affairs.
What is a geometric boundary?
A boundary drawn using straight lines, often following latitude/longitude, like the U.S.-Canada border.
What is the primary purpose of the United Nations (UN)?
To promote international peace, security, and cooperation.
Define devolution.
The transfer of political power from central to regional governments, often due to cultural or ethnic divisions.
What is gerrymandering?
Manipulating voting district boundaries to favor a political party.
What is a nation-state?
A state whose political boundaries align with a culturally homogeneous nation, like Japan or Iceland.
What is the difference between antecedent and subsequent boundaries?
Antecedent boundaries existed before human settlement; subsequent boundaries evolve with cultural landscapes.
What is the difference between the European Union (EU) and NATO?
The EU is an economic/political union, while NATO is a military alliance
Give an example of a country experiencing devolution today.
Ex: Scotland in the UK, Catalonia in Spain, Quebec in Canada
What is the Heartland Theory, and who proposed it?
Mackinder's theory that controlling Eastern Europe gives control over the world.
Give an example of a multinational state and explain why it fits the definition.
Example Canada – multiple ethnic groups with some autonomy, such as Quebec.
Name and describe an example of a superimposed boundary.
Ex: African colonial boundaries, which were drawn by European powers with little regard for ethnic groups.
Why was the African Union (AU) formed?
To promote unity, economic development, and conflict resolution among African nations.
What are centrifugal forces, and how do they weaken a state?
Forces that divide a country, such as ethnic conflicts, religious differences, or economic inequality.
How does the Rimland Theory challenge the Heartland Theory?
Spykman argued that controlling coastal regions (rimlands) was key to global power, not the heartland.
What is the difference between a unitary state and a federal state?
Unitary states centralize power, federal states divide power between regional and central governments.
What are relic boundaries?
Old boundaries that no longer function but still impact cultural landscapes, like the Berlin Wall.
What is the primary economic goal of NAFTA (now USMCA)?
To eliminate trade barriers between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico
What is Balkanization, and what region is it named after?
The breakup of a state due to ethnic conflicts; named after the Balkans, where Yugoslavia fractured.
What is an example of a territorial dispute in modern geopolitics?
Ex: China vs. Taiwan, Israel-Palestine, India-Pakistan over Kashmir
Define and give an example of a stateless nation.
A cultural group without its own sovereign state, e.g., the Kurds or Palestinians
Explain the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and how it defines territorial waters.
Defines 12 nautical miles as sovereign territory, EEZ extends 200 nautical miles for resource control.
What is the main function of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)?
To promote economic growth and stability in Southeast Asia.
How do centripetal forces strengthen a state?
They unify people through nationalism, strong leadership, economic prosperity, and shared culture/language.
Explain the concept of irredentism and give an example.
A state’s attempt to reclaim lost territory due to ethnic or historical ties, e.g., Russia’s annexation of Crimea.