Centrifugal & Centripetal Forces (College Board AP® Human Geography): Study Guide
Centrifugal forces & state sovereignty
A centrifugal force undermines national unity
Centrifugal forces within a state can lead to a lack of strong national identity and decreases in state sovereignty
Centrifugal forces may be political, economic, or cultural
Political examples of centrifugal forces include:
armed conflicts
territorial disputes
poor relationships between minority and majority groups within the state
Uneven economic development, economic inequality, or lack of infrastructure can be a centrifugal force
The existence of multiple ethnicities or nationalities within one state, or the existence of multiple distinct languages, religions, and regions can serve as cultural centrifugal forces
Centrifugal forces can lead to failed states, the existence of stateless nations, and ethnic separatist movements
Failed states: divisions can become so severe that the government loses control of its territory and can no longer provide security or basic services
Somalia, after its central government collapsed in 1991, is a common example
Uneven development: conflict and division discourage investment, so wealth and infrastructure concentrate in some regions while others fall behind, which deepens division further
Stateless nations: when a state resists a nation’s demands for self-government, that nation remains without a state of its own, such as the Kurds
Ethnic nationalist (separatist) movements: groups that feel excluded push for autonomy or independence, such as in Catalonia and Quebec
Examiner Tips and Tricks
A task verb on the AP Exam is “define.” The “define” task requires you to provide the meaning of a term or concept. For example, a potential question would be: Define centrifugal forces. In this case, correct answers would include one of the following: Forces that:
divide or weaken a state
separate a state’s population,
destabilize a state
lead to internal disruption or disunion.
Here, you are providing the meaning of the term. The “define” task verb is often the first in a free-response question series. In this example, you might be asked to define centrifugal forces, then identify several, and then explain their causes or apply them to a specific scenario.
Centripetal forces & state sovereignty
A centripetal force tends to unify people and increase support for the state
Centripetal forces can lead to the development of a strong national identity and increased state sovereignty
Centripetal forces can be political, economic, or cultural
Political centripetal forces include celebrations of national identity, such as national holidays, strong central governments, and uniting against an external threat
Economic development and equitable infrastructure development are examples of economic centripetal forces
Cultural centripetal forces include the presence of a shared history and a common language, religion, or ethnicity
Centripetal forces can lead to ethnonationalism and increased cultural unity
Ethnonationalism: strong national pride based on a shared ethnic identity unites the majority behind the state, though it can exclude minorities
More equitable infrastructure development: a united state invests in roads, railways and communications across all regions, linking the periphery to the core
The US Interstate Highway System, begun in 1956, connected regions across the country
Increased cultural cohesion: shared symbols, holidays, language and history strengthen a common national identity
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