Intro to Political Geography
A map that shows the spatial organization of the countries and territories on the entire globe at a given point in time
political map
A narrow body of water connecting two larger bodies of water
strait
A politically and economically weak independent country that lies between the borders of two powers
buffer state
The smaller areas into which a larger state is divided (for example, states in the United States, provinces in Canada)
subnational units
Loyalty or commitment to a country
allegiance
An independent political unit with a centralized authority that makes claim to sole legal, political, and economic jurisdiction over a region with defined boundaries
state (country)
A territory surrounded by a country but not ruled by it
enclave
An area in which treaties or agreements between nations, military powers, or contending groups forbid military installations, activities, or personnel
International political body that nation-states establish in cooperation with their neighbors for mutual political, military, economic, or cultural gain
supranational organization
Cultural unity; occurs when the members of a society are culturally united
cultural cohesion
A community of people bound to a homeland and possessing a common identity based on shared cultural traits such as language, ethnicity, and religion
nation
Region of continuing and persistent fragmentation due to devolution and centrifugal forces
shatterbelt
A boundary that no longer functions as an international border
relic boundary
An independent state that concentrates power in the central government and grants little or no authority to its subnational units
unitary state
A state whose political or economic system has become so weak that the government is no longer in control
failed state
A country containing multiple national, ethnic, and religious groups within its boundaries
multinational state
A nation's ability to determine its own statehood and form its own allegiances and government; the freedom of culturally distinct groups to govern themselves in their own territories and form their own states
self-determination
Zone that extends 200 nautical miles from shoreline in which coastal states have the sole right to exploit, develop, manage, and conserve all water resources lying beyond the land
exclusive economic zone (EEZ)
Acts by individuals or groups against the citizens or government of their own country
domestic terrorism
The construction and improvement of foundational services such as access to energy resources throughout the country
equitable infrastructure
A subdivision or dependent territory of a country that has a degree of self-government, or autonomy, in its decision making
autonomous region
The idea that a state's power to enforce its sovereignty may extend beyond its territory and varies over time and from country to country
effective sovereignty
The process by which the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are divided proportionately by population among the 50 states following every U.S. census
The political claim to territory in another country based on ethnic affiliations and historic borders
irredentism
A set of traditional symbols or symbolic forms associated with the country and its citizens
iconography