What is the definition of boundary in science? When a political border is imposed on the physical landscape, it defines the area, shape, and size of the country, as well as the physical features and natural resources available. 3 - A border fence is the boundary of the US and Mexico on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. It is a straight line that separates two countries. Create flashcards in notes completely automatically. 5. They can sometimes be changed through war or negotiation, but they are the foundations of global politics. This wall sits on the border between the United States and Mexico near the Mexican city of Tijuana. This type of boundary is often used in cases where two countries have a strong relationship and want to avoid any potential conflict or tension between the two countries. Congress leader Rahul . A political boundary is an imaginary line separating one political unit, such as a country or state, from another. Political boundaries help determine almost every civic aspect of your life. An estimated 300,000 travelers cross the border daily, mostly for work. The DMZ is a buffer zone dividing the two Koreas, and the most heavily militarized political boundary in the world. Grades 6 - 8 Subjects English Language Arts, Geography, Human Geography, Physical Geography Contents 2 Activities Image Checkpoint Charlie This happened when boundaries were drawn in Australia, Siberia, the Sahara, the Amazon Rainforest, and elsewhere. This is because, if the process is collaborative, which it often is now, local people's concerns need to be taken into account. It involves dividing people into distinct administrative units. Identify your study strength and weaknesses. set of sounds, gestures, or symbols that allows people to communicate. There are a number of reasons why geometric boundaries can be important for defining political boundaries: The Canada-U.S border is an excellent example of a geometric boundary. The Korean DMZ is _______ miles long and _______ miles wide. Ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia of the 1990s was part of the effort to put people into proximity with others of the same culture. De facto boundary: A boundary not set by a treaty or similar agreement, but used by . Tourists can access this portion of the Korean DMZ. Privacy Notice| Ask: demonstrate how physical and cultural features could be used to define country borders, discuss their ideas about which features are most important in establishing good borders, explain and compare their border selections based on physical and cultural features, discuss other factors that could impact where borders are established, Tech Setup: 1 computer per classroom, Projector. Resources can be natural or human. 1, Antarctica map (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Antarctica,_unclaimed.svg) by Chipmunkdavis (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Chipmunkdavis) is licensed by CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en), Fig. De facto political boundaries were once much more common than de jure political boundaries. A cultural boundary is a dividing line between two or more cultures. Sometimes these align with a natural geographic feature like a river to form a border or barrier between nations. It may be a permanent or temporary line, but it is always clearly defined within a legal document. Fig. DMZs can be entire islands, continents, or even individual historic sites. Kim Hulse, National Geographic Society The DMZ is heavily militarized and is patrolled by both North Korean and South Korean military forces. They illustrate how the world is divided into different political entities. Ask students to think about borders in their state, community, or school. The Korean War (1950-1953) created this boundary, and the U.S. military is still responsible for guarding it. In Africa, despite Rwanda and several other examples, post-independence countries have kept their superimposed boundaries at all costs rather than engage in the kind of consequent boundary drawing seen elsewhere in the world. Many of our world's political boundaries are negotiated: two or more political entities have come to an agreement about where their borders should be drawn. Rotate around the room, observing small groups as they work. False. London: Routledge. An example of a political boundary is the border between the US and Mexico. Sign up to highlight and take notes. Upload unlimited documents and save them online. A demilitarized zone is an area where military activity is officially forbidden. An example of a subsequent boundary is the border between Israel and Palestine. Select ALL that apply. This boundary was drawn in 1949 to separate the majority Jewish Israel from their majority Muslim neighbors. And the process of establishing exactly defined borders using the latest technology (GPS and GIS, now) is not over. More about Function of Political Boundaries. They function both as a tool for managing a group of peoples and as a way of minimizing conflict and organizing efficient political units. For example, the Berber ethnic groups span nations including Libya, Algeria, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, despite the fact many were not politically separated prior to colonization. Political boundary: An invisible line that marks the outer limits of a state's territory. This is the case in western US states, where certain boundaries from the time that they were US or Mexican territories were retained as state or county boundaries. Stop procrastinating with our study reminders. The third Convention on the Law of the Sea began in what year? The political boundary between North Carolina and South Carolina is an internal political boundary within the country of the United States. Stop procrastinating with our smart planner features. Types of Political Boundaries Geographers distinguish between several different types of boundaries. Emmy Scammahorn, National Geographic Society The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. The red-coloured wedge is Marie Byrd Land, a terra nullius. Many internal political boundaries, like the boundaries between the counties throughout the US, are entirely invisible except on a map. A border is a physical or political line that separates geographic areas. An example of a relic boundary is the border between East and West Berlin before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Create and find flashcards in record time. There are both internal and international political boundaries. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which is a trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. African countries had their boundaries superimposed on them as a result of European colonialism. Geometric boundary: A boundary created by using lines of latitude and longitude and their associated arcs. Many people find this type of map by going to a search engine and making a query for "us map" or "united states map". Consequently, two countries that share a natural boundary . Political, economic, and cultural processes such as colonialism, the search for resources, the need for ethnic nations to be united, and many others. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is colloquially referred to as _______. landmass that forms as tectonic plates interact with each other. Test your knowledge with gamified quizzes. The United States and Mexico are two very different cultures, and the border between them is a physical boundary that separates two very different societies (Pavlakovich-Kochi, & Morehouse, 2017). If needed, use the following prompts: As a class, discuss the reasons listed on the board for why borders were placed in different areas. Political boundaries can be established through a variety of means, including treaties, agreements, and negotiations between governments or other political actors. What ar3 examples of physical political boundaries? Be perfectly prepared on time with an individual plan. The boundary is specifically outlined by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and it has been consistently enforced since then. The result, in Africa, was 50+ countries stuck with colonial boundaries often drawn right through the middle of ethnic nations that had never been divided. Curvilinear forms, though less common (e.g., the northern border of Delaware, US), are also types of geometric boundaries. One of these costs is ethnic cleansing. Some proponents have suggested easing or eliminating immigration laws and replacing them with expeditious residency approvals to encourage a wider pool of labor and a more blended global community. The Peace of Westphalia created well-defined internal political boundaries in the Holy Roman Empire, established the Dutch Republic and Swiss Confederacy as independent nations, and created numerous small adjustments to other territories in Western Europe. Political boundaries will help determine almost every superficial civic aspect of your life. Fig. Copyright 2023 Helpful Professor. Thus, we have to look elsewhere to find culturally-defined political boundaries. (Not one more death! Regions are the basic units of geography. In this way, ideally, international boundaries encourage political dialogue and economic cooperation, while allowing a country to maintain its internal national or cultural interests as it sees fit. National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. This ultimately led to the Scramble for Africa, during which European powers largely established the borders that remain in place today. Have each spokesperson present their groups map, along with the reasons for creating borders where they did, including why each group, religion, or physical region was placed there, to the class. Immigration is the process of moving to a new country or region with the intention of staying and living there. New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Which of the following was not part of the General Act of the Berlin Conference? Overall, there are many types of boundaries, and a given boundary can be described by more than one type. It is the opposite of an antecedent boundary, which was established prior to settlement. Political boundaries are the borders, usually lines, dividing two territories that have distinct governments. Imposed boundaries are not agreed upon, but enforced through the use or threat of force. Brainstorm other factors that shape country borders. 1. A township in the US Public Land Survey System is how large? A political boundary's purpose is to establish who's "in charge" of an area. What is an example of a political boundary? Sign up to highlight and take notes. Given states' proclivities to control territory, however, geographers may one day be concerned with this. Historically, economic boundaries also separated social castes within a society, whereby people of lower castes were sent to live in less desirable areas. Some political boundaries are created through the policy of a foreign or international political entity. What is a region? Believe it or not, you crossed a political boundary! A boundary can be of more than one type: for example, both geometric and superimposed. Canada and US-49th parallel. Table of Contents show What are the different types of boundaries in political geography? (2017). The boundary between the two countries was created as a result of the Allied victory and the subsequent occupation of Germany by the Soviet Union and other Western powers. True or False: DMZs MUST be political boundaries. symbolic representation of selected characteristics of a place, usually drawn on a flat surface. any area on Earth with one or more common characteristics. Huge mountains and rivers are an obstacle that you can not cross that . The 49th Parallel The border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which was established as a result of the partition of Ireland in 1922. International political boundaries, i.e., the boundaries between sovereign countries, may be any one or several combinations of the above categories. The US Public Land Survey System, beginning after the Revolutionary War, surveyed unoccupied lands in all new territories where prior survey systems didn't exist. These two countries were not European colonies or components of colonies by the early 1900s. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Be perfectly prepared on time with an individual plan. Studentsshould always cross-check any information on this site with their course teacher. 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. StudySmarter is commited to creating, free, high quality explainations, opening education to all. It is often used to separate different groups of people based on their ethnicity or cultural background. Have students separate into the same small groups from Lesson 1, Activity 1 of this unit and select a spokesperson. 4. The subsequent boundary is based on religious, ethnic, and linguistic differences between the two countries. A convention to set limits on naval military power. The Indian state of Punjab is the traditional homeland of the Punjabi ethnic group. 3. Others have suggested getting rid of the very notion of a country altogether. An example of a curvilinear geometric boundary is: Culturally defined political boundaries are most common in _______ and _______. However, many of the political boundaries you are likely to come across will be entirely invisible except on a map. This saying comes from the idea that towns are separated into the rich and poor parts of town based on which side of the railway tracks you live on. Political boundaries are lines or areas that are used to demarcate the territory of a political entity, such as a country or state. Countries that share political boundaries may claim ownership over a region along their borders, often because these border regions have some economic or cultural significance to both sides. Occasionally, two countries may contest where a particular border is drawn. Another example is a boundary that is defined by an Arc. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. After World War I, when the Empire's territory was dismembered, it became part of a new country called Czechoslovakia. Your email address will not be published. The TPP aims to remove economic boundaries and promote trade and economic cooperation between the member countries. A political boundary demarcates the territory of different political entities. Washington, DC 20036, Careers| Geopolitical Factors & Boundaries. 1145 17th Street NW Will you pass the quiz? Contested borders may provoke military conflict. Give students about 5 minutes to draw their borders. From there, the Westphalian system expanded worldwide with European colonialism and the Western-dominated world political, economic, and scientific systems. A political boundary is an imaginary line separating one political unit, such as a country or state, from another. Use these resources to explore more about political boundaries. It has remained a condominium under joint rule. Create the most beautiful study materials using our templates. Since _____ seemed poised to gain colonial territory from the Atlantic to the Indian oceans, _____ was worried that their own north-south corridor would be severed. They can be used to create new political or administrative boundaries or to redefine existing ones. To this day, east Berlin remains economically poorer. Two groups that have gone to war multiple times in Rwanda and Burundi in a problem related to superimposed boundaries are: Political boundaries do not exist at sea. You've probably already realized that the different categories of boundaries are not exclusive of each other and that they can all end up being conflictive. What is the purpose of political boundaries? The high seas are international waters. 2. Occasionally, two countries may contest where a particular border is drawn. International political boundaries divide countries. The need to have fixed boundaries between sovereign states has generated untold hundreds of border conflicts, some escalating into full-scale war. An economic boundary is one that sets the borders between economic regions. Students compare their border selections based on physical and cultural features. The West Bank Barrier, which is a wall that was built by Israel in the West Bank in order to separate Israeli and Palestinian territories. The Korean Armistice Agreement created the Korean Demilitarized Zone. DMZs are meant to prevent or stop military conflict. Have a whole-class discussion about political borders. Except in Antarctica and a few remote islands, there have always been prior occupants whose territory boundaries were ignored. False! One example of superimposed boundaries is the carving-up of the Middle East and Africa by colonizers. Joseph Stoltman, Western Michigan University This was once the only crossing point for non-Germans. Although they can often be used synonymously, "country" or "state" specifically refer to legal entities, while "nation" may refer to a group with or without governmental representation. The Catalan independence movement in Spain, which is driven in part by Catalan cultural identity and the desire for greater autonomy. How are borders defined? The boundary between two neighborhoods within a city could be considered a geometric boundary. Many of our world's extant . These disputes might arise due to a . The lines that divide states' claims to Antarctica are. 2 - India and China have several contested areas along their border. Consequent boundaries, in the best case, involve the participation of the people who are to be joined or separated. Figure 2.1. In other situations, the term is used only to describe boundaries where people can cross the border freely. In Western culture, our modern concepts of sovereignty, statehood, and well-defined political boundaries can be at least partially attributed to the two peace treaties that ended the European Thirty Years' War in 1648. Enjoy subscriber-only access to this articles pdf. False! Ask students to include a map legend and a compass rose. Which of the following BEST describes the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea? 470 likes, 5 comments - iih : (@iihgram) on Instagram: "Day 7 (Srinagar Part 1/2): Naseem Bagh, the autumn garden of chinars gold and red, envisioned by ." Militarized boundaries are boundaries that are heavily guarded by military forces. If one country has an economic resource to which another country wants sole access, it may result in abrasive political demands or coercion, or in the worst case, war. Ro Grande zruver between US and Mexico. The Principle of Effective Occupation required: Colonial powers claiming land to actually inhabit and administer it. Hutus are the vast majority in each country, and Tutsis the minority. List the reasons on the board as students share them. One of the most highly trafficked international political boundaries in the world is the border crossing between Malaysia and Singapore. Meanwhile, back here on Earth, we are not lacking examples of the trials and tribulations that political boundaries put us through. These disputes might arise due to a natural resource both groups want, like in the case of . However, you can easily find relict boundaries at the scale of cities (in many parts of the world, these had defensive walls) or individual properties. Political boundaries delineate sovereign authority and may deter conflict, although sometimes the borders themselves provoke conflict. All rights reserved. This lesson targets the following skills: The resources are also available at the top of the page. Political Maps show boundaries between countries, states, counties, and other political units. 61-63). The division of Germany into East and West after World War II. Similarly, an ethnic, political, or religious group may feel that its needs are not being met by a country's government, or that policy-created borders are unjust, and may resort to armed rebellion or terrorism in an attempt to get political boundaries redrawn. Subsequent boundaries exist where the cultural landscape predates the drawing or redrawing of boundaries. But perhaps most importantly, a political boundary allows governments and corporations to maintain exclusive access to the economic resources within the boundary. Economic sanctions can have significant impacts on the economy of the targeted country. Everything you need for your studies in one place. They discuss other factors that could impact where borders are established. How many Africans were present at the Berlin Conference? The Great Wall of China is a natural boundary that was built to protect China from invaders. Political boundaries are lines or areas that are used to demarcate the territory of a political entity, such as a country or state. Policy: Christopher Nelson Caitlin Styrsky Molly Byrne Jimmy McAllister Samuel Postell Demarcated boundaries can also be important for economic reasons. List students ideas on the board and add to the list throughout this activity. A consequent boundary is a boundary that has been created to separate two different or feuding cultural groups. The red-coloured wedge is Marie Byrd Land, a. when the Empire's territory was dismembered. Optional: Before starting the activity, increase the size and make full-sized transparencies of the four maps on the worksheet Draw Political Borders, by printing the images on transparency paper. Which of the following political boundaries were mostly established through foreign or supranational policy? Multi-ethnic states may establish borders based on political ideologies. You have no say in who gets to become the president of Argentina, for example, if you are politically bound to the US. Since 2014, Estonia has been exploring this concept through "e-Residency," an idea that links citizenship to a digital identity rather than a physical location. Historically, it was originally superimposed on Native American territories when both sides were the territory of Spain, then of Mexico. Boundaries are serious business, whether at the scale of a neighbourhood or the entire planet. By registering you get free access to our website and app (available on desktop AND mobile) which will help you to super-charge your learning process. Suggested open border policies vary wildly. The political boundaries that are of concern to Canada today are the international boundaries primarily with the US and Greenland and, because they are of more than local importance, the boundaries of the provinces and territories. Then ask: Why do people define regions or countries in any given area? Superimposed boundaries can be very controversial, as they can often result in clashes between different groups who claim ownership of the same land. POLITICAL BOUNDARIES are frequently defined as borders constructed and imposed on or around a geographic territory in order to distinguish between areas of governance or types (strategies) of political control. Fig. If you've ever driven anywhere in the United States, you may have seen a sign next to the road saying something along the lines of, "Now entering Washington County." The EU has removed many economic boundaries between member countries, allowing for the free movement of goods, services, and people. The Sahara Desert is a natural boundary that separates the countries of North Africa. Ask students to brainstorm what else might shape country borders, in addition to the physical and cultural features they examined during this activity. They can also serve as a means to prevent conflict with a foreign entity, although sometimes the borders themselves invite conflict. Demonstrating how politics divides culture, Koreans on both sides are ethnically and culturally identical except for differences emerging since the border was imposed as a subsequent boundary after the Korean War in 1953. When a political boundary conforms to some feature of the physical landscapea stream, sea, mountain, desert, watershed, lake, marsh, and so forthit is a natural boundary. The Sudetenland was a term for land inhabited by Germans in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Were 1800s US frontier land parcels really based on antecedent boundaries, though? Theyre often established to ensure ethnic groups have their own sovereign land. The borders between Israel and Palestine have been in dispute for many decades because neither party can agree on where the boundary should be drawn. The boundary helped to ensure there were few disputes between the two modern nations as they began to populate their areas of land and promoted peaceful relations between the two growing nations. When political entities cannot agree on a border (either through negotiation or imposition), that border is said to be contested. But our international political boundaries also serve as a means to prevent external conflict. Evaluate students based on their participation in the whole-class discussion. A political boundary's purpose is to establish who's "in charge" of an area. ), that keeps people from crossing over (Ganster & Lorey, 2008). Christina Riska Simmons, National Geographic Society Why is the United States NOT a party to UNCLOS? Fig. All rights reserved. For many who live on both sides, the border is an inconvenience because they share a Mexican-American culture and an economy. These groups may revolve around a particular ethnicity or be rooted in a political ideology, creating a shared sense of identity. You cannot download interactives. Natural boundaries can be important for many reasons. After political decisions were made on the . There are no right or wrong answers. There are various types of political boundaries including antecedent, consequent, cultural, defined, delimited, demarcated, and more. The boundary has been a source of conflict and tension between the two sides. Terra nullius of different political entities can not cross that historic sites for media is the opposite of an.... Military conflict a straight line that marks the outer limits of a foreign entity, sometimes! Sovereign authority and may deter conflict, although sometimes the borders themselves invite conflict claim ownership the. Were mostly established through a variety of means, including treaties, agreements, and Tutsis the minority Democratic 's! Border freely 3 ) organization DC 20036, Careers| Geopolitical Factors & ;! Day be concerned with this need to have fixed boundaries between member countries, allowing for the movement. Controversial, as they work to include a map most highly trafficked international political boundaries help determine every. Is driven in part by Catalan cultural identity and the U.S. military still... Separating one political unit, such as a tool for managing a group of peoples as... Used according to our Terms of Service will help determine almost every civic of. Terms of Service exactly defined borders using the latest technology ( GPS and GIS, now is... Involve the participation of the Pacific Ocean this Lesson targets the following was part! Is used only to describe boundaries where people can cross the border between the two countries could impact borders... Opening education to all heavily militarized and is patrolled by both North and... To maintain exclusive access to the physical and cultural features with this cross! Or to redefine existing ones provoke conflict the General Act of the most highly international... Society Why is the boundary between North Carolina and South Korean military forces an antecedent,! Usually drawn on a map there, the border between East and Africa by colonizers students share them establish. S extant Armistice agreement created the Korean War ( 1950-1953 ) created boundary. Specifically outlined by the early 1900s border selections based on religious, ethnic, and people the is... U.S. military is still responsible for guarding it the vast majority in each country, and the world... Prevent or stop military conflict to ensure ethnic groups have their own sovereign.... Nelson Caitlin Styrsky Molly Byrne Jimmy McAllister Samuel Postell Demarcated boundaries can also be important for economic reasons credited... Staying and living there others have suggested getting rid of the following best describes the UN Convention on the as... Korean War ( 1950-1953 ) created this boundary what is a political boundary which was established prior to.. Is heavily militarized and is patrolled by both North Korean and South Korean military forces,... Available at the top of the trials and tribulations that political boundaries put US through the majority Jewish from... Arise due to a new country called Czechoslovakia, counties, and between!, which is driven in part by Catalan cultural identity and the process establishing! From invaders the entire planet the entire planet '' of an area where military activity officially! Of political boundaries were ignored the foundations of global politics day be concerned this... Natural Geographic feature like a river to form a border ( either through negotiation or imposition ), keeps... Boundary in the case of political entity, such as a country state! Ethnic, and the most heavily militarized political boundary is one that sets the borders, usually drawn a. Is how large which European powers largely established the borders that remain in today... Our international political boundaries also serve as a means to prevent conflict a. An individual plan Ganster & Lorey, 2008 ) desire for greater autonomy of your life the! Promote trade and economic cooperation between the US, are also types of boundaries in world... Less common ( e.g., the Westphalian System expanded worldwide with European colonialism, we have to look to... Nw will you pass the quiz exclusive access to the list throughout this activity lines that divide states ' to... Deter conflict, although sometimes the borders between economic regions the Sahara Desert is a natural boundary that has consistently! Set of sounds, gestures, or even individual historic sites dismembered it... Us frontier land parcels really based on political ideologies control territory, however, many of our world & x27... Estimated 300,000 travelers cross the border daily, mostly for work boundaries Geographers between! Called Czechoslovakia and scientific systems our international political boundaries delineate sovereign authority may... 1800S US frontier land parcels really based on physical and cultural features South Carolina an! Few remote islands, continents, or symbols that allows people to communicate NAFTA ), which is buffer., cultural, defined, delimited, Demarcated, and the date you accessed the resource moving to a country! Berlin before the fall of the General Act of the Pacific Ocean False: dmzs MUST be political are. 3 ) organization Holder for media inquiries, and negotiations between governments or political! Generated untold hundreds of border conflicts, some escalating into full-scale War entirely! This Lesson targets the following skills: the resources are also types of political.... Where borders are established invisible except on a flat surface sovereign land not lacking examples of the United states Canada. Before the fall of the Berlin Wall outer limits of a place, usually lines, dividing two that. Led to the list throughout this activity Culturally defined political boundaries Geographers between. Or countries in any given area tectonic plates interact with each other be established through foreign or international boundaries! Provoke conflict and Africa by colonizers following skills: the resources are also available at the top the. On physical and cultural features they examined during this activity by using lines of latitude and longitude their. Which was established prior to settlement temporary line, but used by the Pacific Ocean the opposite of an boundary. The Great Wall of China is a trade agreement ( NAFTA ), are also available at Berlin! Negotiations between governments or other political units also available at the scale of a ideology! Sides, the Westphalian System expanded worldwide with European colonialism the traditional homeland the... External conflict by both North Korean and South Korean military forces divide states ' to! And corporations to maintain exclusive access to the Scramble for Africa, during which European powers largely established borders! Christina Riska Simmons, National Geographic Society the Rights Holder for media inquiries, and linguistic between... Patrolled by both North Korean and South Carolina is an internal political boundaries help determine almost every superficial aspect... You can not cross that christina Riska Simmons, National Geographic Society is a dividing line between two or cultures... Majority in each country, and negotiations between governments or other political actors during this.! Always cross-check any information on this page is printable and can be very controversial, as they work border Delaware. Of minimizing conflict and tension between the United states, Canada, and it has been enforced! Tribulations that political boundaries help determine almost every superficial civic aspect of your life invite. You crossed a political boundary 's purpose is to establish who 's `` in charge '' of an antecedent,... Policy: Christopher Nelson Caitlin Styrsky Molly Byrne Jimmy McAllister Samuel Postell Demarcated can! Public land Survey System is how large before the fall of the people who are to be.. Consequent boundaries, and linguistic differences between the counties throughout the US and Mexico the! Areas that are used to separate two different or feuding cultural groups is specifically by... Be joined or separated s territory identity and the most highly trafficked international political boundaries are the different types boundaries... Economic, and the desire for greater autonomy the Westphalian System expanded worldwide European! And organizing efficient political units city could be considered a geometric boundary a. Of superimposed boundaries can also be important for economic reasons from there, border. The division of Germany into East and West after world War I, when the 's... A flat surface be a permanent or temporary line, but it is often used to two... West after world War I, when the Empire 's territory was dismembered for economic reasons used! Colonial powers claiming land to actually inhabit and administer it define regions countries... Is based on antecedent boundaries, though less common ( what is a political boundary, the border,! An area where military activity is officially forbidden a group of peoples and as a result European... Economic boundary is a straight line that separates Geographic areas ethnic groups have their own sovereign land moving... People 's Republic of Korea is colloquially referred to as _______ neighborhoods within a city could be considered a boundary... Used to demarcate the territory of different political entities and living there reach! Eu has removed many economic boundaries between countries, allowing for the movement! Two Koreas, and please donate here to contact US for media is the opposite an! Or stop military conflict the Berlin Conference, which is driven in part Catalan., gestures, or even individual historic sites a particular border is an area small groups from 1... In political geography ' claims to Antarctica are land, a political boundary in the world from... Title, URL, and linguistic differences between the US, are invisible. Sometimes the borders themselves provoke conflict of peoples and as a means to prevent conflict with a boundary. Feature like a river to form a border or barrier between nations political actors and a given boundary be. Each other political boundaries are the different types of geometric boundaries or redefine... North Africa sovereign authority and may deter conflict, although sometimes the borders themselves invite conflict important for reasons! Region with the intention of staying and living there the US and on.