State
A politically organized territory with a permanent population, defined borders, a government, and recognized sovereignty.
Political GeographyNation
A group of people sharing a common cultural identity — language, history, ethnicity — who may or may not have their own state.
Political GeographyNation-State
A state whose territorial boundaries align with those of a nation; the two coincide — e.g., Iceland, Japan.
Political GeographySovereignty
The recognized right of a state to govern itself without external interference; the foundation of the state system.
Political GeographyCentripetal Forces
Forces that unify a state — shared language, national identity, common enemy, strong economy.
Political ForcesCentrifugal Forces
Forces that divide or destabilize a state — ethnic conflict, regional inequality, religious differences.
Political ForcesDevolution
Transfer of power from a central government to regional governments, often driven by cultural or economic tensions.
Political ProcessesSupranationalism
Voluntary pooling of sovereignty by states in an international organization — EU, UN, NATO, WTO.
Political ProcessesGerrymandering
Manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party using packing or cracking strategies.
Electoral GeographyPhysical Boundary
Political border that follows a natural feature — river, mountain range, or coastline.
BoundariesGeometric Boundary
Straight-line boundary drawn regardless of physical or cultural features — e.g., US-Canada 49th parallel.
BoundariesSuperimposed Boundary
Border drawn by an outside power ignoring existing cultural divisions — e.g., African colonial borders.
BoundariesRelic Boundary
Former boundary no longer functioning politically but still visible in the landscape.
BoundariesStateless Nation
A culturally distinct group without its own sovereign state — e.g., Kurds, Palestinians.
Political GeographyIrredentism
Movement to annex territory in a neighboring state based on shared ethnicity or cultural ties.
Political ProcessesBalkanization
The fragmentation of a region into smaller, hostile political units — named for post-WWI Balkan Peninsula.
Political ProcessesCompact State
State with a roughly circular shape — efficient to administer; e.g., Poland, Zimbabwe.
State MorphologyElongated State
State with a long, narrow shape creating communication challenges — e.g., Chile, Norway.
State MorphologyPerforated State
State that completely surrounds another state — e.g., South Africa surrounding Lesotho.
State MorphologyFragmented State
State with territory divided into non-contiguous pieces — e.g., Philippines, Indonesia.
State MorphologyMultinational State
State containing two or more culturally distinct nations — e.g., Russia, India, Nigeria.
Political GeographyBuffer State
Smaller neutral state located between two rival powers to reduce direct conflict.
Political GeographyHeartland Theory
Mackinder's theory that controlling the Eurasian interior gives global political power.
Geopolitical Theory