Types of Political Entities
A group of people who share common cultural characteristics
Example: United States (an American)
Nation
Not all boundaries are created with concern for physical or cultural differences. _____________boundaries are drawn using straight lines.
Examples: Border between U.S. and Canada - 49 parallel
Geometric Boundary
Because Nigeria’s 36 states have constitutionally defined powers—such as controlling local policing, taxes, and education—Nigeria operates under this form of governance.
What is a federal government?
The transfer of power from the central government to subnational levels is called
Devolution
A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country
Nationalism
Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.
gerrymandering
A territory with defined boundaries, population, government, sovereignty, and recognition.
State
A ___________ boundary is one that no longer functions but can still be detected on the cultural landscape
Example: Berlin Wall
Relic Boundary
Mexico’s national government sets environmental standards, but individual states regulate land use and infrastructure development, showing this division of powers typical of this governmental form.
What is a federal system?
Process by which a state breaks down through conflicts among its ethnicities
Balkanization
Ability of a state to govern its territory free from control of its internal affairs by other states.
Sovereignty
Sometimes called, "geographically disadvantaged states," these states are completely surrounded by other states and has no access to the sea.
Landlocked
A shared cultural group living in their own country
Example: Japan, Iceland
Nation-State
_____________ boundaries existed before the present settlement. These are often based on landforms, such as mountains.
Example: Andes Mountains, Rio Grande River
Antecedent Boundary
The central government of Japan redraws prefectural boundaries and administers local governments with minimal regional independence, making it an example of this highly centralized governance structure.
What is a unitary state?
An attitude that tends to unify people and enhance support for a state
Centripetal Force
government systems that divide the powers between the national government and state or provincial governments
Federal System
Exclusive economic zone extends ________ miles from land; a conflict between many countries over the exclusive economic zone is currently happening in the ___________________ Sea
200; South China
When a cultural group lacks sovereignty and a country of their own
& name 2 groups that fall into this definition
Stateless Nation
Kurds & Palestine
_________________boundaries are drawn on an area by a conquering or colonizing power that ignores existing cultural patterns.
Example: Berlin Conference created these boundaries
Superimposed Boundaries
Violence between ethnic groups like the Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo has pressured the Nigerian central government to allow states more local control over cultural and religious policies, illustrating this political trend.
What is devolution?
a force that divides people and countries
Centrifugal Force
A policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, socially, and economically.
Imperialism
Which two countries held the most land in Africa because of imperialism (they both created the most superimposed boundaries)
France and UK
When a cultural group lives in a few different countries
Example: North and South Korea
Multistate Nation
_____________ boundaries are drawn in order to separate groups based on ethnic, linguistic, religious, or economic differences.
Example: India separated because of different religious group in the country (Hindu and Muslim)
Consequent Boundaries
Although China maintains strict national control, Hong Kong historically operated with its own currency, legal system, and immigration policies under “One Country, Two Systems,” making it an example of this type of internal political unit.
What is an autonomous region?
A state in which most political power exists at the national level (highly centralized), with limited local authority
Unitary System
the drawing of new electoral district boundary lines in response to population changes and how often does this take place
redistricting & 10 years
The position that a state should be annexed because of ethnicity of prior historical possession (ex. Isreal)
Irredentism