Introduction to Political Geography

Political Geography Terminology+

Territoriality

the processes of creating, expanding, and/or defending defined territory

Multiple Choice

What is the world's largest state?

• China

• Russia

• Canada

• United States

​National Council for Geographic Education

What do you mean by "China"?

Multiple Choice

What is the world's smallest state?

• Vatican City

• Monaco

• Andora

• Liechtenstein

​https://www.visualcapitalist.com/

​Average Border Age by Region

Multiple Choice

The border between the U.S. and Canada can best be described as a(n):

• Cultural Boundary

• Ethnic Boundary

• Geometric Boundary

• Frontier

Geometric Boundary along 49 E Latitude and 141 W Longitude

Multiple Choice

Image A is an antecedent boundary. What best describes this type of boundary?

• a former boundary

• a boundary that precedes human settlement

• a boundary that is created after human settlement

• a boundary that does not reflect the existing cultural landscape

Multiple Choice

Image C is a superimposed boundary. What best describes this type of boundary?

• a former boundary

• a boundary that precedes human settlement

• a boundary that is created after human settlement

• a boundary that does not reflect the existing cultural landscape

Superimposed boundaries exist throughout Africa and in other former colonies.

Multiple Choice

South Africa is considered a _______ state because of the existence of Lesotho completely within its borders.

• compact

• prorupted

• perforated

• fragmented

Prorupted States

Multiple Choice

States like Lesotho are considered ________ states because they are entirely surrounded by one, other state.

• enclave

• divot

• trapped

Italy has two notable enclaves:

Vatican City and

San Marino.

Multiple Choice

What is an exclave?

• The prorupted region of a prorupted state

• A fragment of an elongated state

• A fragment of a state that has other states between it and its "principle" state

• An island territory of an otherwise compact state

Russia

Multiple Choice

Why are choke points significant?

• they are small regions through which a large amount of goods/ people travel

• they separate hostile states from one another

• they are the sites of major military bases

• they are highly disputed boundaries that could trigger major conflict

The United States has a federal system of government while China has a unitary system of government.

What, then, is a unitary system of government?

A system in which . . .

Multiple Choice

The United States has a federal system of government while China has a unitary system of government. What, then, is a unitary system of government? A system in which . . .

• all power is split evenly between sub-national governing units

• all power is concentrated at the national level; sub-national governing units exist for admin. purposes

• power is divided between national and sub-national governing units; each level has some degree of sovereignty

Multiple Choice

Devolution is the transfer of power from a central government to subnational (local) governments. Which of the following states have experienced devolution?

• France

• Brazil

• Spain

• Korea

German Acquisition of the Sudetenland (1938)

This is an example of irredentism.

Multiple Choice

What, then, is irredentism?

• One state claims another state's territory based on national, ethnic, or historic ties

• The diplomatic policy of making political concessions to an aggressive power in order to avoid conflict

• The taking of another state's territory by force

• The desire for another state's territory due to natural resource riches

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014

The U.N. views this acquisition as "illegal" and does not recognize it.

Multiple Choice

An anocracy a system of government in which:

• most power is placed in the hands of the people

• "elections" are held, but the country is not fully/truly democratic

• power is concentrated in the central government or in a single ruler

• those in power seek status and personal gain at the expense of the governed

Multiple Choice

A kleptocracy is a system of government in which:

• most power is placed in the hands of the central government

• power is not fully democratic but not fully autocratic

• power is concentrated in the hands of a few religious elites

• those in power seek status and personal gain at the expense of the governed

Open Ended

Why don't you break laws?