Political Units
The political authority of a state to govern itself.
Sovereignty
The purpose of this was to divide Africa among European powers (without regard to existing ethnic/cultural boundaries).
Berlin Conference
Boundaries that follow features like rivers, mountains, desert
Natural/Physical boundaries
Government type that utilizes shared power
Federal
An official population count conducted every 10 years, used for representation purposes
Census
Factors that divide a country or state, pushing people apart and weakening internal unity
Centrifugal Forces
A political entity that has a defined territory, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states
State
When a more powerful country attempts to assert its power and influence over a weaker country
Colonialism
Colonization often leads to this type of boundary.
Superimposed
Government type that governs through one centralized power.
Unitary
The redistribution of legislative seats based on population changes.
Reapportionment
The systematic, forced removal or extermination of an ethnic, racial, or religious group from a specific area to create a ethnically homogenous region
Ethnic Cleansing
A group of people bound together by some sense of a common culture, ethnicity, language, shared history (e.g., the French, Koreans, Mexicans)
Nation
Indirect control of a country through economic or political influence rather than direct rule
Neocolonialism
Boundaries drawn as straight lines using latitude, longitude, or surveyed coordinates
Geometric
Allows regional governments to address local needs
Federal government
The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a political party or group
Gerrymandering
The transfer of power from a central government to a lower level of government, such as a regional or local government
Devolution
Kurds, Palestinians, and Basques are all examples of this.
Stateless nations
Extending a nation's power and influence over other territories through force, diplomacy, or economic control, often for resources, markets, or strategic advantage, leading to colonization, new political boundaries, cultural diffusion (and erosion)
A boundary that has ceased to function but whose impact remains visible (e.g., Berlin Wall, Hadrian's Wall)
Relic boundary
Promotes national uniformity and efficiency
Unitary
Which tactic describes splitting opposing voters across many districts?
Cracking
The fragmentation of a state into smaller, often hostile political units
Balkinization
Give an example of a multinational state.
United States, Russia, Nigeria, Canada, The UK
The principle that ethnic or national groups should govern themselves
Self-determination
A boundary drawn on a map
Demarcated
An area within a country with significant self-governance, managing its own local affairs (like education, culture) while remaining part of the larger state, often due to distinct ethnic/historical identities
Autonomous Region
3 requirements of a legitimate voting district
Equal population, contiguous, compact
A state’s claim to territory based on shared ethnic or cultural identity
Irredentism