AP Human Geography Unit 4 Review Notes

Introduction

• Review of major concepts in Unit 4 for AP Human Geography.
• Study guide available and additional resources in the Ultimate Review Packet.

State vs. Nation

• State: Geographic area with a permanent population, defined borders, sovereign government, and recognized by other states.
  • Sovereign government: Control over domestic and international affairs.
• Nation: Group of people with shared culture, history, homeland, and desire to govern themselves.
  • Self-determination: Right or desire to self-govern.
• Distinction: State refers to government and land, while a nation refers to a shared culture and history.

Types of Political Entities

• Nation-State: Self-governing state with a relatively uniform population sharing a common language, culture, and history (e.g., Japan, Iceland, South Korea).
• Multinational State: Multiple nations within its borders (e.g., Canada with English and French linguistic groups).
• Multi-State Nation: Nation extends over multiple states (e.g., Kurdish population in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria).
• Stateless Nation: Nation without an officially recognized state (e.g., Kurds, Basques).
• Autonomous Region: Region within a state with a high degree of self-rule (e.g., Native American reservations in the U.S.).
• Semi-Autonomous Region: Region with some self-governance but under the control of another state (e.g., Hong Kong).

Historical Political Processes

• Colonialism: Acquiring territories and settling to exert political, economic, and social control.
• Imperialism: Exerting force over other nations for economic and political power without settling.
• Decolonization: Colonies gaining independence from colonizers (e.g., post-World War II Africa).
• Devolution: Transfer of political power from a central government to regional governments (e.g., Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly).

Political Power and Territoriality

• Territoriality: Tendency to establish and defend a specific geographic area.
• Neocolonialism: Indirect use of political, cultural, or economic power to influence another country (e.g., China's investments in Africa).
• Shatterbelt: Region caught between larger powers in conflict (e.g., Eastern Europe during the Cold War).

Political Boundaries

• Geometric Boundaries: Straight lines following latitude and longitude (e.g., U.S.-Canada border).
• Antecedent Boundaries: Existed before human settlement (e.g., Argentina-Chile mountain range boundary).
• Relic Boundaries: No longer officially recognized but still affect the cultural landscape (e.g., Berlin Wall).
• Superimposed Boundaries: Created by external powers without considering local populations (e.g., Berlin Conference boundaries in Africa).
• Subsequent Boundaries: Develop along with the cultural landscape (e.g., European boundaries).
• Consequent Boundaries: Separate ethnic, religious, or linguistic groups (e.g., India-Pakistan border).
• International vs. Internal Boundaries: International separate sovereign states; internal separate regions within a state.

Boundary Disputes

• Definitional: Over interpretation of boundary documents.
• Locational: Over the location and ownership of land.
• Operational: Over management and enforcement of boundaries.
• Allocational: Over use of resources on boundary.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

• Territorial Waters: 12 nautical miles from shore, full sovereignty.
• Contiguous Zone: 12-24 nautical miles, enforce laws concerning pollution, taxation, customs, immigration.
• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): 24-200 nautical miles, rights to natural resources.

Forms of Governance

• Unitary States: Centralized power at the national level (e.g., Japan).
• Federal States: Distributed power between national and regional governments (e.g., USA).

Devolution Factors

• Physical Geography: Isolation leads to different cultures and identities.
• Cultural Divisions: Different ethnic groups desire more local power (e.g., Basques, Kurds).
• Political Instability: High crime rates or terrorism (e.g., Nigeria).
• Economic and Social Inequalities: Unequal opportunities lead to frustration.
• Government Corruption: Abuse of power leads to devolutionary pressures.
• Irredentism: Movement to unite parts of a nation across state boundaries (e.g., Russian-Ukrainian war).

Technological Advancements and Globalization

• Impact on Sovereignty: Easier information sharing, influence on governance (e.g., Arab Spring).
• Reliance on Global Commodities: Countries depend on each other for resources.

Supranational Organizations

• United Nations: Political stability and peacekeeping.
• European Union: Economic and political cooperation.
• African Union: Promote stability and eradicate colonialism in Africa.
• NATO: Military and political alliance.
• ASEAN: Economic growth, social progress, cultural development.
• Arctic Council: Environmental protection and sustainable development in the Arctic.

Centrifugal vs. Centripetal Forces

• Centrifugal Forces: Divide people and states (e.g., economic and social inequalities, cultural differences).
• Centripetal Forces: Unite people and states (e.g., patriotism, shared history, national government).
• Failed State: No functioning government due to centrifugal forces.
• Ethnic Nationalism: Can act as both a centrifugal and centripetal force.

Conclusion

• Review answers to the study guide and take the Unit 4 practice quiz in the Ultimate Review Packet.
• Use additional resources in the packet to prepare for exams.