State: Definition and Criteria

Examples of stateless nations

• The Kurds in SW Asia

• The French in Canada

• The Germans in Brazil

• The Italians in Argentina

Militarized Boundary

• Boundary that is heavily guarded and discourages crossing.

• A boundary that is open and allows free movement.

• A boundary marked by natural features like rivers and mountains.

• A boundary that is primarily used for trade and commerce.

Centripetal Force

• A force that unifies people within a country

• A force that acts outward on a body moving in a circular path

• A force that causes an object to accelerate in a straight line

• A force that opposes motion between two surfaces in contact

Ex. of Choke Points

• The Panama Canal, Suez Canal, and the Strait of Malacca

• The Great Wall of China, Eiffel Tower, and Statue of Liberty

• The Amazon River, Nile River, and Mississippi River

• The Bermuda Triangle, Mariana Trench, and Great Barrier Reef

Shatterbelt

• A region known for its economic prosperity

• A place that suffers instability b/c its located between 2 conflicting regions

• An area characterized by cultural homogeneity

• A territory that is politically neutral

Centrifugal Force

• A force that unites people and strengthens states.

• A force that divides people, breaks states apart, or prevents states from forming.

• A force that attracts objects towards the center of a circle.

• A force that maintains the stability of a state.

Balkanization

• Fragmentation of a state or region into a smaller state/region

• Unification of multiple states into a single entity

• Economic integration of neighboring countries

• Cultural assimilation of diverse populations

Multistate Nation

• A nation that has a state of its own but stretches across borders to other states.

• A nation that exists within a single state and does not cross borders.

• A nation that is composed of multiple ethnic groups within a single state.

• A nation that has no defined territory and exists in multiple states.

Territoriality

• A concept where individuals claim and defend a specific area or space.

• A method of economic trade between different cultures.

• A type of cultural festival celebrated in various regions.

• A legal term for ownership of land.

State

• A formal term for a country that must include defined boundaries, a permanent population, sovereignty, and recognition by other states.

• A type of government that rules over a territory without defined boundaries.

• An organization that promotes international cooperation among countries.

• A geographical area with no permanent population.