AP Human Geography Unit 4: Political Organization

Boundary that existed prior to the large-scale settlement of a space

Ex) Malaysia & Indonesia on the island of Borneo

What is this?

• Consequent Boundary

• Geometric Boundary

• Antecedent Boundary

• Physical Boundary

A boundary that coincides with a cultural divide

Religion – ex) India/Pakistan border based on Muslim population distribution

Language – ex) French/German border has resulted in many historic conflicts due to a mixed heritage population living there (Alsace)

Ethnic – ex) post-WWI division of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania)

What is this?

• Consequent Boundary

• Geometric Boundary

• Antecedent Boundary

• Physical Boundary

Areas that have a degree of autonomy from the central government(freedom from an external authority). Most often results in the changing of unitary to federal governmental structure.

What is this?

• Nation

• Unitary Government

• Autonomous Region

• State

Process of one state dividing into a set of smaller independent states Occurs when devolution fails to satisfy the interests of a people Results in full autonomy for a nation.

What is this?

• Supranationalism

• Subsequent Boundary

• Balkanization

• Territoriality

Forces within a state that divide the people and weaken or destabilize a stat. May result in ethnonational conflict - separatist movements or calls for self-determination.

What is this?

• Centrifugal Force

• Democratization

• Delimitation

• Centripetal Force

Forces within a state that unify the people and strengthen a state. Nationalism – a sense of unity with fellow citizens. What is this?

• Centrifugal Force

• Democratization

• Delimitation

• Centripetal Force

Marking the boundary on a map and recording its absolute location. Sometimes physical boundaries can change (flows of rivers change over time)

What is this?

• Centrifugal Force

• Democratization

• Delimitation

• Centripetal Force

Marking the boundary on the physical landscape.

*Signs are frequently used. Walls & fences are sometimes used to keep people from crossing the boundary

What is this?

• Democratization

• Demilitarized Zones

• Failed State

• Demarcation

A border buffer area with no military presence and very little residents. What is this?

• Democratization

• Demilitarized Zones

• Failed State

• Demarcation

Process in which a non-democratic government grants authority to the people by establishing competitive elections that are regular, free, and fair.

What is this?

• Democratization

• Demilitarized Zones

• Failed State

• Demarcation