AP Human Geography Flashcards: Defining Devolutionary Factors
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What is ethnic cleansing in the context of devolution?
Ethnic cleansing is the forced removal of a less powerful ethnic group by a more powerful one, which can severely destabilize a state and lead to its fragmentation.
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What is ethnic cleansing in the context of devolution?
Ethnic cleansing is the forced removal of a less powerful ethnic group by a more powerful one, which can severely destabilize a state and lead to its fragmentation.
List three distinct factors that can lead to the devolution of states.
Three factors that can lead to devolution are ethnic separatism, economic problems, and irredentism.
Which devolutionary factor involves a state wanting to claim land in a neighboring country?
Irredentism is the factor that involves a state seeking to annex territory in another country based on shared ethnicity or historical claims.
Define ethnic separatism.
Ethnic separatism is a devolutionary factor where a distinct ethnic group desires to break away from a state to form its own independent nation or join a culturally similar one.
Explain how economic and social problems can cause devolution.
Disparities in wealth, resource allocation, or social services can create regional grievances, leading to demands for more local control or even separation from the state.
How can physical geography lead to the devolution of a state?
The division of groups by physical geography, such as mountains or vast distances, can isolate populations, fostering distinct identities and weakening ties to the central state.
Define irredentism.
Irredentism is the desire of a state to annex territories of another state that are inhabited by people who share a common ethnicity or historical connection.
How does terrorism contribute to devolution?
Terrorism can weaken a state's authority, create fear and division among the populace, and fuel separatist movements, thereby acting as a powerful devolutionary force.
A minority group in a coastal region, separated from the rest of the country by a large mountain range, begins to demand independence. Which two devolutionary factors are at play?
The two factors are the division of groups by physical geography (the mountains) and ethnic separatism (the demand for independence).
What are devolutionary factors?
Devolutionary factors are forces that can lead to the fragmentation of a state or the transfer of power from a central government to regional governments.