Student ______January 2018

APHGMiss Canone

Political Geography FRQ’s

The following free response questions were asked on AP exams in the past few years.

  1. The international borders of African countries are a legacy of colonialism.
  1. Describe the concept of a superimposed boundary.
  2. Describe three political or cultural consequences of superimposed boundaries in Africa.
  3. Identify and explain one challenge landlocked African countries face in developing viable economies.
  1. Walls and other barriers built by countries to establish their borders are some of the oldest and most controversial elements in the cultural landscape.
  1. Identify three examples of walls or other barriers built by countries in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
  2. Explain the purpose of one of the examples you identified in part a.
  3. For each of the categories listed below, discuss a consequence faced by countries as a result of walls or other barriers established along their borders.

i. social or political

ii. economic

iii. environmental

  1. Since 1950 many states have faced challenges in developing a strong national identity.
  1. Using contemporary examples, explain how each of the following has contributed to the development of national identity and the strengthening of a state.

1. Economic development

2. Relocation of a state’s capital (since 1950)

  1. Using contemporary examples, explain how each of the following may detract from the development of national identity and weaken a state.

1. Ethnicity

2. Transportation infrastructure

  1. The modern state system is engaged in a struggle between the forces of supranationalism and devolution.
  1. Define supranationalism and devolution and give a geographic example of each.
  2. With reference to political and economic geography of Europe, briefly discuss three changes resulting from supranationalism.
  3. With reference to the political and economic geography of Europe, briefly discuss three changes resulting from devolution.

5.

  1. Define the following concepts as they are used in political geography.
  2. Nation
  3. State
  4. Nation-state
  5. For each of these concepts, name a specific late 20th century example from Region A and a specific late 20th century example from Region B on the map above.
  6. Explain how the pursuit of the nation-state ideal during recent decades has led to conflict in each of the two Regions A and B on the map above.
  1. The viability of any state depends on a balance between centripetal and centrifugalforces.

  1. Define the concepts “centripetal force” and “centrifugal force.”
  2. Give a specific example of and explain a centripetal force that affects the viability of any of the states shown on the map above.
  3. With reference to a different specific example, explain a centrifugal force that affects the viability of any of the states shown on the map above.

  1. In the redistricting that occurred in 2012, voters in Maryland approved a redrawn Third Congressional District, as shown in the map above. A geospatial analysis firm named it the least compact district in the nation.
  2. Identify the political phenomenon represented on the map.
  3. Explain the relationship between redistricting and the census.
  4. Identify and discuss TWO political consequences that could result from redistricting.