Introduction to Political Geography
What is needed for statehood?
permanent boundaries and population, sovereignty, recognition from other states
Define sovereignty
final authority over a territory
Define an authoritarian government
government with a strong central power
Define geometric boundary
follows a straight line or an arc
Define unitary state
strong central government
Define multinational states
two or more nations. US, Russia, Mexico, China, France
Define devolution
The transfer of decision making from central goverment to local level
Define shatterbelts
regions that suffer instability
Define Territorial Seas
12 miles, adjacent to the coast
Define federal states
division of power, central and states government
Mention two examples for nation-states
Japan, Iceland
What happened in the Berlin Conference?
Provide an example of a chokepoint. A geographic feature with significant importance
Strait of Hormuz, Panama Canal, Strait of Gibraltar
Define the EEZ
200 miles, to explore and exploit resources
How can technology promote challenges to countries’ sovereignty?
Can help organize or facilitate separatist movements
Define autonomous region
governs itself but is not an independent country (Greenland).
What happened at the end of the Cold War?
end of the Soviet Union, countries gained independence, Georgia and Ukraine
Define relic boundary and provide an example
boundary that no longer exists but remnants of its existence.
Berlin Wall, Wall of China
Define antecedent boundary
boundary in the natural landscape that existed before the cultural landscape
Mention one advantage and one disadvantage of supranational organizations
advantage-mutual benefits and goals
disadvantage- limits the economic and political actions of states
Define semi-autonomous region
an area which can govern itself in certain areas, no complete power.
Nunavut, American Indian Reservations
Compare the independent movements in Quebec and Catalonia.
Quebec- different language and culture
Catalonia- economic reasons and culture
Define superimposed and provide an example
boundary that is drawn by powerful outsiders
Africa, Israel and Palestine
Define gerrymandering
redistricting that gives an advantage to a political party
Define irredentism
to reclaim areas that have been lost Ex. Ukraine