African Union Definition Human Geography

 African Union: A continental organization consisting of 55 member states in Africa, aimed at promoting unity, peace, and development across the continent.  Antecedent Boundary: A boundary that was established before the cultural landscape developed, often based on physical features like rivers or mountains.  Arctic Council: A forum of Arctic states for promoting cooperation and coordination on issues related to the Arctic region, particularly environmental protection and sustainable development.  Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): A regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten countries in Southeast Asia, aimed at fostering political, economic, and security cooperation.  Autonomous Region: A region within a country that has a degree of independence, usually in cultural, linguistic, or administrative matters, while still remaining under the sovereignty of the state.  Berlin Conference: A meeting in 1884-1885 where European powers divided Africa into colonies without regard to indigenous cultures or historical boundaries.  Centrifugal Force: Forces that divide or fragment a country, such as ethnic, religious, or political tensions that threaten unity.  Centripetal Force: Forces that unify a country, such as shared culture, religion, language, or national identity, which promote stability and integration.  Choke Point: A narrow passage, such as a strait or canal, through which a large amount of international trade passes, and which can be strategically important or vulnerable.  Colonialism: The practice of acquiring and maintaining control over foreign territories, often by establishing settlements and exploiting resources.  Consequent Boundary: A boundary that is drawn after the cultural landscape has developed, often to accommodate ethnic, religious, or linguistic differences.  Cultural Cohesion: The sense of unity and shared identity among a population based on common cultural traits like language, religion, or history.  Defined Boundary: A boundary that is established by legal documents or treaties, outlining the specific location of the boundary.  Delimited Boundary: A boundary that is drawn on a map, indicating the general area or location of the boundary.  Demarcated Boundary: A boundary that is physically marked on the ground with fences, signs, or other markers.  Demilitarized Zone: An area where military forces are not allowed, often established to reduce tensions between conflicting parties.  Democratization: The process of transitioning from an authoritarian or non-democratic system to a more democratic political system, often involving free elections and greater civil liberties.  Devolution: The process by which power and responsibilities are transferred from central government to local or regional authorities.  Economies of Scale: The cost advantages that enterprises experience when production becomes more efficient as the scale of production increases.  Ethnic Cleansing: The deliberate removal or extermination of an ethnic or religious group from a particular territory, often through violence or forced migration.  Ethnic Nationalist Movement: A movement advocating for the creation of a state or the protection of political power based on ethnic identity.  Ethnic Separatism: A desire by an ethnic group to break away from a larger political entity and form an independent state or region.  Ethnonationalism: A form of nationalism that seeks to unite people based on shared ethnicity, culture, and language, often leading to calls for political autonomy or independence.  European Union (EU): A political and economic union of 27 European countries, promoting economic integration, political cooperation, and shared values.  Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): A sea zone extending up to 200 nautical miles from a country's coast, where it has special rights to explore and exploit marine resources.  Failed State: A country whose government is unable to maintain control or provide basic services, often characterized by internal conflict, corruption, and instability.  Federal State: A state where power is divided between a central government and regional or local governments, each with constitutionally defined powers.  Geometric Boundary: A boundary that is drawn using straight lines, often based on latitude and longitude, rather than following natural features.  Gerrymandering: The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group.  Imperialism: The policy or ideology of extending a country's power and dominance over other nations, often through colonization, military force, or economic pressure.  Independence Movement: A movement aimed at gaining independence from a larger political entity or colonial power, often through political, military, or diplomatic means.  Infrastructure Development: The construction and improvement of basic physical and organizational structures necessary for economic development, such as roads, bridges, water supply, and energy systems.  International Waters: Areas of the ocean that are not under the jurisdiction of any single country, beyond the territorial seas of individual states.  Irredentism: A political movement that seeks to reclaim or reunite territories considered to be part of a nation's historic or ethnic homeland.  Land Boundary: A boundary that separates countries, states, or territories on land, often marked by natural features like rivers, mountains, or artificial markers.  Maritime Boundary: A boundary that separates waters or seas under the jurisdiction of different countries, including territorial seas and exclusive economic zones.  Military Alliances: Agreements between countries to provide mutual defense and support in case of military conflict, such as NATO or the Warsaw Pact.  Multinational State: A state that is home to multiple ethnic or national groups, each with its own culture, language, or identity.  Multistate Nation: A nation that spans multiple states or countries, where people of the same ethnic or cultural group live in more than one sovereign state.  Nation: A group of people who share a common identity, often based on ethnicity, culture, history, or language, and who may seek political independence.  Nation-State: A political unit where the boundaries of the state align with the distribution of a particular nation, creating a sovereign state with a common identity.  Neocolonialism: A form of economic or political control by powerful countries over weaker countries, often through indirect means such as economic dependency or cultural influence.  North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): A military alliance of 31 member countries, primarily in Europe and North America, focused on mutual defense and security.  Redistricting: The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries, often after a census, to reflect changes in population.  Relic Boundary: A boundary that no longer functions but still exists as a historical remnant, often with little relevance to current political or cultural landscapes.  Self-Determination: The right of a people or nation to determine their own political status and form of government, often through independence or autonomy.  Semiautonomous Region: A region with some degree of selfgovernance, but still under the sovereignty of a central government.  Shatterbelt: A region that is highly fragmented, often due to political or ethnic conflict, and is susceptible to outside interference or manipulation.  Sovereignty: The authority of a state to govern itself without interference from outside powers, including control over its territory and population.  State: A political entity with defined boundaries, a permanent population, a government, and sovereignty.  Stateless Nation: A group of people who share a common cultural identity but do not have their own sovereign state.  Subsequent Boundary: A boundary that is established after the cultural landscape has developed, often as a result of historical events or negotiations.  Superimposed Boundary: A boundary that is imposed on a region without regard to cultural or ethnic divisions, often by colonial powers.  Supranationalism: The idea or practice of multiple countries working together in cooperation, where they give up some degree of sovereignty to achieve common goals.  Supranational Organizations: Organizations made up of multiple states or nations that work together on issues of common concern, such as the EU or UN.  Territoriality: The expression of control over a specific area or territory, often linked to the idea of sovereignty and the defense of borders.  Territorial Sea: The sea area extending up to 12 nautical miles from a country's coastline, under the jurisdiction of that country for purposes of law enforcement, resource use, and defense.  Terrorism: The use of violence or the threat of violence to create fear and achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives.  Trade Agreements: Agreements between countries that regulate trade policies, tariffs, and other economic activities to promote mutual benefits.  Unitary State: A state where power is concentrated in the central government, with little to no autonomy granted to regional or local authorities.  United Nations (UN): An international organization founded in 1945, aimed at promoting peace, security, human rights, and development globally.  United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS): An international treaty that governs the rights and responsibilities of nations regarding the use of the world's oceans, including territorial seas and exclusive economic zones.  Voting District: A geographical area in which voters elect representatives to a legislative body. It is often defined by political boundaries for elections.