Types of Boundaries
A boundary drawn as a straight line, often along latitude or longitude.
Geometric
A dispute over the interpretation of the boundary’s wording.
Definitional dispute
How far (in nautical miles) does a country’s territorial sea extend?
12 nautical miles
The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries.
Redistricting
The DMZ between North and South Korea is what type of boundary?
Relic, militarized boundary
A boundary that existed before major settlement took place.
Antecedent
A dispute over where the boundary line actually is on the map.
Locational dispute
What zone allows a country exclusive rights to fishing and resource extraction out to 200 nautical miles?
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
Redrawing districts to favor one political party.
Gerrymandering
The U.S.–Mexico border along the Rio Grande is what type of boundary?
Physical (natural) boundary
A boundary imposed by an outside power, ignoring existing cultural patterns.
Superimposed
A dispute over management of a shared resource or border crossing.
Operational dispute
What zone extends from 12 to 24 nautical miles and allows “hot pursuit” of foreign vessels?
Contiguous zone
What type of gerrymandering concentrates the opposition into one district?
Packing
The Berlin Conference boundaries in Africa are what type of boundary?
Superimposed boundary
A boundary drawn to accommodate existing cultural differences.
Consequent
A dispute caused by the movement or loss of a physical feature (like a river changing course).
Allocational dispute
What happens when two countries’ 200-mile EEZs overlap?
They split it using a median line (median line or equidistance principle)
What type of gerrymandering divides the opposition into many districts, diluting their voting power?
Cracking
Turkey and Greece frequently dispute rights to drill for natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean. This conflict involves disagreements over which maritime zone?
EEZ
A boundary that no longer functions politically but is still visible in the landscape.
Relic
The dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir is an example of which dispute type?
Locational and territorial conflict
What is it called when a state claims the rights to the resources of the continental shelf, even beyond 200 nm (if proven)?
Extended continental shelf claim
What gerrymandering strategy forces two incumbents from the same political party into the same district, ensuring that only one of them can win re-election?
Hijacking
North Carolina’s oddly shaped 12th Congressional District is an example of what political process?