Borders, sovereignty and international power dynamics are central to political geography, and this deck of 20 flashcards introduces the key concepts and vocabulary you'll need. You'll learn the distinction between a nation and a state, the different types of i...
Borders, sovereignty and international power dynamics are central to political geography, and this deck of 20 flashcards introduces the key concepts and vocabulary you'll need. You'll learn the distinction between a nation and a state, the different types of international boundaries, and concepts like exclaves and landlocked countries, before moving into major supranational organisations including the UN, EU and NATO. The deck also covers domestic political geography terms like gerrymandering and devolution, along with geopolitical theory including the Heartland Theory, buffer states, and irredentism. It finishes with modern geopolitical flashpoints — territorial disputes, Exclusive Economic Zones, failed states, proxy wars, and the concept of soft power. Suited to A-Level and AP Human Geography, this deck gives you the vocabulary to analyse news stories about international relations and territorial conflict with more precision.
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Flip through all 20 cards in interactive study mode.
A political entity with a defined territory, permanent population, government, and the capacity to enter relations with other states, recognised as independent.
A nation is a group of people sharing culture, language or identity. A state is a political/legal territorial entity. A "nation-state" is where the two roughly align.
The line separating sovereign territories. Physical/natural boundaries follow geographic features (rivers, mountains); geometric boundaries follow straight lines (e.g. much of the US-Canada border).
A portion of a country's territory that is geographically separated from the main part, surrounded by other countries (e.g. Kaliningrad, Russia).
A country with no direct access to the ocean, which can face higher trade costs and dependence on neighbouring countries for port access (e.g. Bolivia, Switzerland).
An intergovernmental organisation founded in 1945 to promote international cooperation, peace and security, with nearly all world states as members.
A political and economic union of European countries with a shared single market, and for many members, a shared currency (the euro).
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance of North American and European countries committed to collective defence.
An organisation where member states cede some degree of sovereignty and decision-making power to a shared governing body, such as the EU.
The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favour a particular political party or group.
The transfer of political power from a central government to regional or local governments, while sovereignty remains with the central state (e.g. Scotland within the UK).
A political movement seeking to reclaim and reunite territory perceived as historically or ethnically belonging to one's nation but currently under foreign control.
A country situated between two larger, potentially hostile powers, helping to reduce the risk of direct conflict between them (historically, Mongolia between Russia and China).
A geopolitical theory proposing that control of Eurasia's central "heartland" was key to global political power.
A disagreement between states over the ownership or boundary of a piece of land or maritime area, such as the South China Sea disputes.
A sea zone extending 200 nautical miles from a country's coastline, within which it has special rights over resource exploration and use.
A state whose government has lost the ability to enforce laws, maintain order, or provide basic services across its territory.
The formal withdrawal of a region or group from an existing state to form a new independent state.
A conflict where two opposing powers support and arm different combatants rather than fighting each other directly.
The ability to influence other nations through attraction and persuasion (culture, values, diplomacy) rather than coercion or military force (hard power).
