There are no territorial borders in the game.
You are reffering to the cultural border, which show just the places where your cultural influence is bigger than factor 1.

If they worked the way you suggest, then influence starbases would become ridiculously powerful

I think it is more exciting the way they have it at the moment. Other races can install their starbases in what you name your territory, because they don`t name it your territory . So, if you want them to accept your territory that means...yes...you have to declare war and destroy it and hope they`ll learn from it. So it is on you to establish "your" territory in the universe. The only thing that would be really great is to be able to have the option by solving this "crisis" comming up at the moment where a different race builds a starbase you don`t like using the diplomacy screen. At the moment you can`t really talk to them about this. Normaly, if you are strong enough, you should be able to say : ok, guys, nice try, now get your starbase and go home to momie or get the butt kicked....to be able to avoid war.

Iam bit of crossroads with this guestion.

I like the extra action that the cultural borders bring. Example I had weak military and the other races started to pop bases on my cultural zone. I got pissed naturally and was thinking "you bastards get away from my territory". Then again if this was not to happen , Iam sure they would have mustered a gigantic fleet and wipe me out.

There is actually a Galactic Proposal about this very thing, something like "no starbases on foreing cultural zone". Now if only we could have a "galactic leader" and choice to implement what ever bill this would be great. Now it just pops up randomly.

I'm not sure the AI realises that military bases near your colonies is a hostile act - it certainly gets annoyed when you build influence starbases near it's planets, which is a clear double standard

No, its not. The AI is culturally attacking you, it knows exactly what it's doing. The AI tries to see to what extent you could be pushed around, especially if your military is alot weaker than his.

As a member of the UP and friendly with most other nations, its hard to get too upset by cultural starbases when you consider what they are. They are shopping malls and embassies and such, which are not really a bad thing. Obviously they have a cultural effect and yes, other civs don't like them, with their horrible racist attitudes, but they are signed up to the UP and have to lump it. Unless they declare war of course.... I do agree it would be nice to have a list of proposals that could be put forward for consideration - great idea.

I would really like to hear Stardock comment on those suggestions...

"There are no territorial borders in the game"

This is simply not true. I know it's the Stardock line too, but their own text says otherwise. Five UP proposals talk about ownership of sectors:

• "...a tax on starbases residing in sectors not controlled by their empire...when occupying another race's territory"
• "starbase overcrowding in foreign sectors"
• "In fairness to sector owners..."
• "Colonies located in a sector not their own..."
• "...abnormalities that lie within either their own territory..."

The tool tips says "Show Sector Ownership".

If you own a sector based on the displayed boundaries, then how are they not territorial borders?

@Hykin:
Sounds somewhat misleading

But the manual states also at page 16:

"A colored line on the mao represents that civilizantions's influence.
Influence is not the same as the borders of one's civilization.
In GCII borders go only as far as one planet."

Who would ever allow a foreign, potential hostile nation to install/establish a (potential military) colony in its own territory?

What choice do you have? Space is big, real big. This is the exact same situation that the European powers had in the Ages of Colonialism and Imperialism. Powers claimed large parts of the world, yet other powers founded colonies in the Americas and elsewhere that were clearly in other powers areas of influence. The powers of the era were not able to enforce their "borders" as the ocean is big and sailing ships can only go so fast and you can only put so many troops in them.

I'm sorry, but these cultural/political/territory borders (whatever you want to call them) are implemented CORRECTLY in GALVCIV2.

I believe we have all just become accustomed to Civilization-style border behaviour.

Here on earth, there is NOTHING stopping Canada from moving our troops into the U.S. and setting up a military base etc.. EXCEPT the fact that the US "might attack", "might use diplomacy, the UN etc.."

The US has declared cocaine illegal within their borders, but that doesn't stop drug smugglers from bringing it into the country!! It's up to the US to patrol their borders to detect and prevent it.

And the earth is just a couple million square miles........ space is ............ well...........INFINITE........

Civilization just automates the process of declaring WAR as soon as someone enters your territory (without Open Borders)....it still doesn't prevent you.

But there does need to be MORE diplomatic activities (e.g. war declaration, open borders etc..) around cultural/political/territory border incursions IF DETECTED.

-- just my two cents

As stated by others, cultural border=/=political border.
On earth we have this thing called international waters, i'm sure such concept would apply to space too.
"what do you mean our freighters can't go over cause it's your territory, your nearest colony is 200 lightyears away!"


With that said, it would be nice to have some kind of politicla border, but i'd imagine the border would only be a few parasec away from your colonized planet. Perhaps something like 3 parasec raidus of your planet (not your starbase.)

The tool tips says "Show Sector Ownership". If you own a sector based on the displayed boundaries, then how are they not territorial borders?

a Lot of the UP resolutions are relic from GC1. If you look in the xml, you can find a resolution about terror stars (won't see it in game though).

The OP is thinking too much like a Huuumahn and not about futuristic galaxy policy. Space cannot be owned it must be taken and held by power of the strongest, no longer will huuumahn's rule with their corruptive political mumbo jumbo. The Empire shall strike back and the Huuumahns will conform to the policy of the Galactic Empire. Show us your power, quit whinning about your political desires. The Huuumahns show their weaknesses, they don't have the "intelligence" to take what they want physically, so, they attempt to thwart their inevitable end by crying for political protection, a mere delaying action a cry for salvation since there will be no more "Independence" days for them.