Centripetal & Centrifugal Forces (College Board AP® Human Geography)
Study Guide
Written by: Kristin Tassin
Reviewed by: Jacque Cartwright
Centripetal Forces
A centripetal force is one that unites a group of people
Examples of centripetal forces include:
nationalism: pride in a national or Olympic team
ethnic or religious homogeneity
An example of a centripetal force is Kurdistan. Kurds are united by:
ethnic homogeneity
religious homogeneity
a common flag
the desire for a nation-state
North and South Korea experience both centripetal and centrifugal forces
Centripetal forces exerted on North and South Korea include territorial disputes with Japan and ethnic homogeneity
Centrifugal forces exerted on the two Koreas are different forms of government in the North and the South and the alliance of South Korea with the United States while North Korea is allied with China
Centrifugal Forces
Centrifugal forces emphasize differences and divide a group of people
They are factors which destabilize a country, region, or group
Examples of centrifugal forces are:
ethnic discrimination
political unrest and division
economic inequality
use of multiple languages
differences in religion or ethnicity
Ethnic and religious differences in Nigeria: differences between the Muslim North and Christian South create significant tension and weaken unity
Catalan independence movement in Spain: the movement for Catalan independence comes from linguistic differences (Spanish and Catalan) and perceptions of unequal political representation
Alliances in North and South Korea: the division between North and South Korea is worsened by their opposing international alliances. South Korea is allied with the United States while North Korea is allied with China
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Centrifugal and centripetal forces are common subjects of both multiple-choice and free-response questions. You should be familiar with general examples of both, as well as be comfortable applying your knowledge to specific contexts. The most commonly-used real world scenarios are Spain (Catalan and Basque movements), Quebec, North and South Korea, and Nigeria
Worked Example
Using the map below, answer the following questions:
Describe why language is distributed in Canada as indicated by the map below.
Explain how the French language could act as both a centripetal and centrifugal force in Canada.
Give examples of ways in which French might shape the cultural landscape in Quebec.
Image: French language distribution in Canada
Answer
Canada’s language distribution is an effect of colonization by Europeans. Much of Canada was formally colonized by the British, and therefore speaks English. The province of Quebec was originally held by the French and, so, has a preponderance of French speakers.
French acts as a centripetal force within Quebec, as the common language is a unifying characteristic among the residents of Quebec. However, it acts as a centrifugal force in Canada as a whole, separating Quebec from the English-speaking majority in the rest of the country.
French would shape the cultural landscape of Quebec because French is an official language in the province. Therefore, all public signs would be in French. In addition, the working language of media, education, and politics would be French rather than English, making Quebec’s cultural landscape unique in Canada.
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