Chapter 8 Vocabulary - Political Geography

The term "centripetal" refers to forces that bring people together and promote unity within a country. These forces can include a shared national culture, common ideological objectives, and a common faith. In contrast, "centrifugal" forces push people apart and create divisions within a country. "Unitary" refers to a system of government where power is centralized, while "periphery" refers to the outer edges or less developed regions of a country.

The term "centrifugal" refers to forces that tend to separate a country, such as internal religious, linguistic, ethnic, or ideological differences. These forces pull people or groups away from the center, leading to division and potential disintegration of a country.

Commodification refers to the process of assigning a monetary value to something that was not previously considered as a commodity. This means that goods or ideas that were not seen as objects to be bought and sold are transformed into items that have a specific price and can be traded in a market economy. In other words, commodification involves turning non-commercial entities into marketable products or services.

A physical-political boundary is a political boundary that is defined and delimited by a prominent physical feature in the natural landscape, such as a river or the crest ridges of a mountain range. This means that the boundary is not only determined by political factors, but also by the physical geography of the area. This type of boundary can have significant implications for the relationship between the two sides, as it can create natural barriers and obstacles that can affect trade, communication, and movement of people.

Territorial integrity refers to the right of a state to protect its sovereign territory from any external encroachment or invasion by other states. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining the physical boundaries and borders of a nation-state. This concept ensures that a state has the authority to defend and safeguard its territory against any form of aggression or incursion, thereby preserving its sovereignty and independence. Territorial integrity is a fundamental principle of international law and is crucial for maintaining peace and stability among nations.

Colonialism refers to the process in which a colonizer acquires control over another territory, establishes its own government, and may either relocate its own people or bring in indentured outsiders to dominate the land and its inhabitants. This explanation captures the essence of colonialism, highlighting the key elements of political control, population movement, and the acquisition of land.

The term "semi-periphery" refers to places where both core and periphery processes are occurring. These places are exploited by the core, which refers to the dominant and developed regions, but they also exploit the periphery, which refers to the less developed and dependent regions. In other words, the semi-periphery acts as a middle ground between the core and periphery, benefiting from the core's exploitation while also engaging in exploitative practices towards the periphery.

A state is a politically organized territory that is administered by a sovereign government and is recognized by a significant portion of the international community. It has a defined territory, which distinguishes it from a county or a city that may be smaller in size. It also has a permanent population and a government that governs and makes decisions for the people living within its borders. Additionally, a state is recognized by other states, indicating its status as a sovereign entity. Therefore, the correct answer is state.

Devolution refers to the process in which regions within a state seek and achieve increased political power and autonomy, often at the cost of the central government. This can involve the transfer of certain powers and responsibilities from the central government to regional or local governments. Devolution allows regions to have more control over their own affairs, such as making decisions on policies and laws that are specific to their region. It is a way to address regional disparities and ensure that different regions within a state have a voice and influence in governance.

A nation-state refers to a recognized member of the modern state system that possesses formal sovereignty and is occupied by a people who identify themselves as a single, united nation. Although most nations and states aspire to this form, it is rarely realized in practice. In common language, the term nation-state is often used interchangeably with country or state.

A unitary state is a nation-state that has a centralized government and administration, which means that power is exercised equally over all parts of the state. In a unitary system, the central government has the authority to make decisions and govern the entire country, and it may delegate certain powers to local governments but can also revoke them if necessary. This type of government structure promotes uniformity and consistency in policies and laws throughout the state, as power is not divided among different regions or levels of government.

Capitalism is an economic model where individuals, businesses, and governments produce and exchange goods and services with the aim of making a profit. In a capitalist system, the means of production are privately owned, and decisions regarding production, distribution, and pricing are determined by market forces rather than the government. This system encourages competition and innovation, as individuals and companies strive to maximize their profits. Capitalism is characterized by free markets, private property rights, and limited government intervention in the economy.

Gerrymandering refers to the practice of manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts in order to give one political party an advantage over the opposition. This is achieved by concentrating the voting strength of the opposition in as few districts as possible, while ensuring that the party in power has an electoral majority in a larger number of districts. This tactic allows the party in power to secure more seats and maintain control, even if they may not have the majority support of the overall population.

The term "periphery" refers to processes that incorporate lower levels of education, lower salaries, and less technology, resulting in the generation of less wealth compared to core processes in the world-economy. This suggests that the periphery is characterized by less developed and less advanced economic activities, often found in less industrialized or developing regions.

The core refers to the most developed and economically advanced regions in the world-economy. These regions have higher levels of education, higher salaries, and more advanced technology, which allows them to generate more wealth compared to the periphery regions. This suggests that processes in the core are more centripetal, meaning they attract more resources and have a greater influence on the global economy.

Reapportionment is the process of redistributing representative districts based on changes in population. This ensures that each district has a roughly equal number of people. It is necessary to maintain fair representation and prevent any district from becoming too overpopulated or underpopulated. Reapportionment is a regular occurrence that takes place after each census, allowing for shifts in population to be reflected in the boundaries of electoral districts.

Territoriality refers to the sense of property and attachment that a country or community has towards its territory. It is expressed through their determination to keep it inviolable and strongly defended. This concept is important in political geography as it helps to understand how countries and communities assert their control over their land and resources. It is a key factor in shaping relationships between nations and can influence issues such as border disputes and territorial conflicts.

Unilateralism refers to a world order where one state holds a dominant position and makes political decisions without actively involving its allies. This approach disregards the input and participation of other nations in the decision-making process. Unilateralism can be seen as a form of dominance and control, where the leading state acts independently and imposes its own agenda on others. This approach can result in strained relationships with allies and potential conflicts, as it neglects the importance of collaboration and consensus-building in international relations.

Territorial representation refers to a system where representatives are elected from specific districts. This means that each district has its own representative who is elected by the residents of that particular area. This system ensures that every region has its voice heard and represented in the government. It helps to prevent the concentration of power in a few areas and promotes a more balanced and fair representation of the population.

Sovereignty refers to the principle that ultimate power and authority over social, economic, and political matters should reside with the legitimate rulers of independent states. It emphasizes the idea that each state has the right to govern its own affairs without interference from external actors. This principle emerged from the Peace of Westphalia, a series of treaties in 1648 that ended the Thirty Years' War and established the modern system of nation-states. Territoriality and state are related concepts, but they do not capture the full meaning of sovereignty.