Glossary
Centrifugal Forces
Forces or attitudes that tend to divide a state, weakening its central authority and potentially leading to fragmentation or conflict.
Example:
Ethnic separatism, such as the Basque desire for independence from Spain, represents a strong centrifugal force that can challenge the unity and stability of a nation-state.
Centripetal Forces
Forces or attitudes that tend to unify people and enhance support for a state, promoting national cohesion and stability.
Example:
A shared national language, like Mandarin in China, can act as a powerful centripetal force, fostering communication and a sense of common identity among diverse populations.
Core-Periphery Model
A model that divides the world into core regions (developed countries) that dominate the global economy and exploit periphery regions (less developed countries) for resources and labor, with semi-periphery regions acting as intermediaries.
Example:
The relationship where multinational corporations in developed countries (the core) outsource manufacturing to factories in developing countries (the periphery) illustrates the global economic patterns described by the Core-Periphery Model.
Devolution
The transfer of power from a central government to lower levels of government, such as regional or local authorities, often in response to ethnic or regional autonomy movements.
Example:
The creation of the Scottish Parliament, granting Scotland more control over its own laws and policies from the UK central government, is a clear instance of devolution.
Domino Theory
A Cold War-era geopolitical theory suggesting that if one country in a region fell to communism, then neighboring countries would also inevitably fall, like a chain of falling dominoes.
Example:
The United States' involvement in the Vietnam War was largely justified by the Domino Theory, fearing that if Vietnam became communist, other Southeast Asian nations would follow suit.
Economic Factors
Influences related to resource distribution, trade routes, and financial agreements that can drive changes in political entities or border configurations.
Example:
The discovery of vast oil reserves in a disputed border region can intensify claims and potentially lead to new political agreements or conflicts, driven by powerful economic factors.
Federal Government
A system of government where power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units, such as states or provinces, each with its own distinct powers.
Example:
The United States operates under a federal government system, where powers are shared between the national government in Washington D.C. and individual state governments.
Gerrymandering
The practice of redrawing electoral district boundaries to give one political party an unfair advantage over another, or to dilute the voting power of a particular demographic group.
Example:
A congressional district drawn in a bizarre, elongated shape to connect distant neighborhoods with similar political leanings is often a tell-tale sign of gerrymandering.
Globalization
The increasing interconnectedness of the world through the flow of goods, services, information, people, and ideas, which can both diminish and enhance the power of individual states.
Example:
The widespread availability of K-Pop music and Korean dramas across the globe is a clear example of cultural globalization, transcending national borders and influencing diverse audiences.
Historical Events
Significant past occurrences, such as wars, conquests, or treaties, that have a profound impact on the formation and redrawing of political borders and the creation of new nations.
Example:
The collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I led to the creation of several new independent states, fundamentally reshaping the political map of Central Europe through a series of historical events.
Mackinder’s Heartland Theory
A geopolitical theory proposing that control over the 'Heartland' (Eastern Europe and Central Asia) is the key to global dominance, as it offers a vast, resource-rich, and defensible landmass.
Example:
During the Cold War, the strategic importance placed on Eastern Europe by both the Soviet Union and the United States reflected aspects of Mackinder's Heartland Theory, as control of this region was seen as crucial for global power.
Nation
A group of people united by a common culture, language, ethnicity, or shared history, often aspiring to self-determination.
Example:
The Cherokee people, sharing a common heritage, language, and traditions, constitute a nation even without a fully independent state of their own.
Nation-State
A political entity where the boundaries of a state largely coincide with the territorial extent of a single nation, implying a high degree of cultural homogeneity within its borders.
Example:
Japan is often cited as a classic example of a nation-state, as its population is overwhelmingly ethnically Japanese, and its political borders encompass that national group.
National Boundaries
Lines that define the limits of a country's sovereignty, separating it from other nations and reflecting its political and economic relationships with them.
Example:
The carefully demarcated line between Canada and the United States represents a national boundary, allowing for distinct laws, customs, and governance on either side.
Organic Theory
A geopolitical theory that views states as living organisms that need to grow and expand their territory to survive and thrive, otherwise they will decline.
Example:
Some historical empires, like the Roman Empire, could be seen as embodying the Organic Theory in their continuous drive for territorial expansion to sustain their power and resources.
Reapportionment
The process of reallocating electoral seats to different areas based on population changes, typically after a census, to ensure equal representation.
Example:
After the decennial census, states that have gained population may receive more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives through reapportionment, while those that lost population may lose seats.
Social Factors
Societal influences like nationalism, independence movements, and cultural shifts that contribute to the reshaping of political maps and the formation of new states.
Example:
The desire for self-determination among the Kurdish people, a distinct ethnic group spread across multiple countries, is a powerful social factor driving their aspirations for an independent state.
Sovereignty
The supreme authority of a state over its own territory and internal affairs, free from external control.
Example:
When a country signs an international treaty, it exercises its sovereignty by choosing to abide by the agreement, demonstrating its independent power to govern itself.
Special Purpose Boundaries
Lines that demarcate areas with specific legal, regulatory, or functional frameworks, often limiting access or establishing unique jurisdictions.
Example:
The perimeter fence around a national park serves as a special purpose boundary, indicating an area with specific environmental protections and recreational rules.
Spykman’s Rimland Theory
A geopolitical theory that challenges the Heartland Theory, arguing that control of the 'Rimland' (the coastal areas surrounding Eurasia) is more crucial for global power due to its access to sea lanes and trade.
Example:
The strategic importance of naval bases and port cities in regions like Southeast Asia or the Middle East aligns with Spykman's Rimland Theory, emphasizing the power derived from controlling maritime access.
State
A political unit with a defined territory, a permanent population, a government, and recognized sovereignty over its internal and external affairs.
Example:
France is considered a classic example of a state, possessing a clear territory, a stable population, a functioning government, and international recognition.
Subnational Boundaries
Divisions within a country, such as state, provincial, or local lines, that allocate power and jurisdiction to different administrative units.
Example:
Driving from California to Nevada, you cross a subnational boundary where different speed limits, tax laws, and even gambling regulations immediately apply.
Supranationalism
The process of states voluntarily joining together to form an organization or alliance that transcends national boundaries, often for economic, political, or military cooperation.
Example:
The European Union is a prime example of supranationalism, where member states have ceded some of their individual sovereignty to a larger entity for shared benefits like free trade and common policies.
Territoriality
A fundamental concept in political geography referring to the connection of people, their culture, and their economic systems to the land, reflecting a sense of ownership and control over a defined space.
Example:
A street gang marking its turf with graffiti demonstrates a form of territoriality, asserting control and warning outsiders away from their perceived domain.
Unitary Government
A system of government where all governmental power is concentrated in a single, central authority, which may then delegate some powers to local administrative divisions.
Example:
France is an example of a unitary government, where the central government in Paris holds ultimate authority, even though it has administrative divisions like departments and regions.
Urban Boundaries
Lines that define the limits of a city, neighborhood, or even individual property, reflecting control and organization of space within metropolitan areas.
Example:
The distinct urban boundary of a historic downtown district might be marked by specific zoning laws and architectural preservation guidelines, differentiating it from surrounding areas.