Types of States
An ethnic group or nation that does not possess its own state. It is not the majority population in any state.
Stateless nation
A former boundary line that is still discernible and marked by some cultural landscape feature, such as a fence.
Relic boundary
A narrow passage that restricts travel, and becomes strategically important.
Chokepoint
A boundary that follows the lines of latitude and longitude
Geometric Boundary
State that is geographically long (ex, Chile)
Elongated State
A sovereign state whose citizens or subjects are relatively homogeneous in factors such as language or common descent.
Nation-state
A country or part of a country mostly surrounded by the territory of another country or wholly lying within the boundaries of another country
Enclave/exclave
A region in the world where persistent splintering and fracturing take place and major world powers compete for influence.
Shatterbelt
A boundary is agreed upon, fixed, and set
Defined Boundary
State that’s extremely small (ex. Vatican City)
Microstate
A form of government in which power is shared between a central government and individual states, provinces, etc.
Federal State
Area of the sea not under any individual country's jurisdiction. Where any of the following types of bodies of water transcend international boundaries
International waters
The movement of a political unit towards independence.
Separatism
a line drawn on a map or defined in a legal treaty to legally establish the territorial limits of a country, state, or land plot
Delimited boundary
States not having direct access to
an ocean (ex. Bolivia)
Landlocked State
A largely self-governing body within a larger political or organizational entity.
Semi-autonomous state
Coincide with some cultural divide, such as religion or language; also known as an ethnographic boundary.
Consequent boundaries
The movement of power from the central government to regional governments within the state or breakup of a large state (balkanization) into several independent ones.
Devolution
boundary established after the area in question has been settled and that reflects the cultural characteristics of the bounded area.
Subsequent boundary
State splits in many pieces (ex. Indonesia)
Fragmented State
A country that has one supreme authority which rules over all other delegations.
Unitary states
boundaries that are established before the area in question is well populated.
Antecedent boundary
A political movement that is strongly tied to nationalism. It is a political movement that intends to reunite a nation or reclaim a lost territory.
Irredentism
The process of marking a boundary (e.g., with a border wall or sign)
Demarcating
State that surrounds another state (ex. South Africa)
Perforated State