9.9 Glossary

Balkanization – centrifugal forces pulling a state apart from within

Boundary – an invisible, vertical plane that separates one state from another, which includes both the airspace above the line on the surface and the ground below.

Centripetal force – a force that tends to bind a state together.

Centrifugal force – a force that tends to break a state apart.

Compact state – a state where the distance from the center to any border does not vary significantly; roughly circular.

Devolution – compromise situation when a unitary state will grant a special exception  to a region for greater control.

Ethnic boundary – a boundary that encompasses a particular ethnic group.

Federal state – system of government with one strong central governing authority as well as smaller units (such as provinces in Canada or states in the US).

Fragmented state – a state whose territory is not contiguous, but consists of isolated parts such as islands.

Geopolitical power –  ability of a state or group to achieve its goals by controlling or influencing places and territories through material strength, relationships with other actors, or dominant ideas and ideologies. Material strength can refer to natural, economic, military and demographic resources.

Geometric boundary – a boundary that follows a straight line and may coincide with a line of latitude or longitude.

Gerrymandering – the process of redrawing legislative districts in order to benefit the party in power and ensure victory in elections.

Irredentism – an effort to expand the political influence of a state on a group of people in a neighboring state.

Multi-national state – state that has more than one nation within their borders.

Nation – group of people bonded by cultural attributes such as language, ethnicity and religion.

Nation-state – state in which the territorial boundaries encompass a group of people with a shared ethnicity.

Physical boundary – a boundary that follows a natural feature on the landscape such as a river, mountain range, or lake.

Secession – is the formal withdrawal of a group from a political entity with the goal of creating an independent state.

State – a formal region in which the government has sovereignty or control of its own affairs within its territorial boundaries.

Stateless nation – a nation that aspires to become a nation-state but does not yet have their own territory.

Supranational organization – an alliance involving three or more states who have shared objectives that may be economic, political/military, or cultural.

Territory – a location claimed by a sovereign state.

Territorial sovereignty – the right of states to regulate activities within their territory and the duty of other states not to violate the territorial integrity of those states. It encompasses a country’s sovereign right to control its natural resources while facing challenges from international economic law.

Terrorism – intimidation of a population by violence in order to further political aims.

Unitary state – the governing body has supreme authority and dictates how much power the units (provinces, states etc.) are allowed to have.