doctrine of the hinterland

1 definition found

doctrine of the hinterland - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  hinterland \hin"ter*land`\, n. [G.; hinter behind + land land.]
     a remote and undeveloped area; originally, the land or region
     lying behind the coast district. The term is used esp. with
     reference to the so-called
  
     doctrine of the hinterland, sometimes advanced, that
        occupation of the coast supports a claim to an exclusive
        right to occupy, from time to time, the territory lying
        inland of the coast.
  
     Syn: backwoods, back country, boondocks.
          [Webster 1913 Suppl. + WordNet 1.5]