Human Geography: Political Patterns & Processes Flashcards

A force that divides a state and can lead to instability, such as deep ethnic conflict, is best described as what?

Answer: Centrifugal force

Centrifugal forces pull a state apart and threaten its unity.

The process by which a state breaks into smaller, often hostile units, as occurred in the former Yugoslavia, is called what?

Answer: Balkanization

Balkanization is the fragmentation of a region or state into smaller, frequently antagonistic units.

A boundary established after an area's cultural landscape developed, drawn to accommodate existing differences, is which type?

Answer: Subsequent boundary

A subsequent boundary is drawn after settlement, often adjusting to cultural patterns already in place.

A government system that divides power between a central authority and subnational units, like the United States, is called what?

Answer: Federal system

A federal system shares sovereignty between the national government and constituent states or provinces.

The process of allocating the 435 U.S. House seats among the states after each census is known as what?

Answer: Reapportionment

Reapportionment redistributes House seats among states based on population changes recorded by the census.

A small extension of one country's territory separated from the main body and surrounded by another state, such as Kaliningrad relative to Russia, is a what?

Answer: Exclave

An exclave is part of a state geographically separated from the main territory and surrounded by foreign land.

A neutral state lying between two rival powers to reduce conflict, like Mongolia between Russia and China, is termed a what?

Answer: Buffer state

A buffer state is a smaller country positioned between two larger rivals to lessen the chance of direct conflict.