Migration, Identity and Sovereignty EQ2

what is a nations state?

a political entity that has sovereignty over its territory

what is national identity?

a sense of a nation as a cohesive whole represented by distinctive trends, culture and language (an elusive concept)

how and why do nation sovereign states vary?

in ethnic, cultural and linguistic unity due to history of population growth, degree of isolation and the role of migration

describe and explain the level of unity in Iceland + statistic

largely homogenous due to physical isolation so Europe is too far away to have strong influence - 16% foreign born in 2022

describe linguistic unity in Iceland

list of children’s names to preserve language of Icelandic sagas

what is one cultural tradition of Iceland?

eating rotten shark

why may Iceland’s cultural mix change into the future + statistic

likely to have more tourism and therefore immigration

30,000 tourists per day

describe and explain the level of unity in Singapore + statistic

heterogenous as used to be a Colonial trading post and had brief Japanese and Malaysian rule

2020 - 74% Chinese, 13.5% Malay, 9% Indian

what is a homogenous culture?

one with with little cultural diversity, often sharing cultural traits

3 reasons for homogenous cultures?

physical isolation, political isolation and strict immigration policy

3 ways that national borders come about?

due to physical geography, historical development and colonial history

2 examples of how physical geography has determined national borders?

Pyrenees mountain range between France and Spain

Mekong river between Laos and Thailand

how has colonial history led to problematic borders in Africa?

partition of Africa (Berlin Conference 1884), borders drawn by lat./long. eg Egypt-Sudan border - didn’t take into account tribal or linguistic boundaries

an example of how borders drawn without consideration of ethnic groups have caused issues of sovereignty?

Rwanda - Tutsi (14%) and Hutu (85%)

1994 Hutu president killed → genocide of 800 000 Tutsi

2 contested borders?

Ukraine/Russia, Taiwan/China

contested borders lead to what?

potential conflict + population movements

which large body doesn’t recognise Taiwan as a nation state?

UN

what significance did 19th century nationalism have?

in development of empires and as a source of conflict

describe nationalism in 19th century France

nationalism by French Rev.: power to citizens to replace monarchy with government as Napoleon became emperor and extended French control through military victories -> increased patriotism

describe how the British Raj in India is an example of development of empires and a source of conflict

British East India Company influence over India leading to the Raj rule

since ___ , many new nation states have emerged as empires disintegrated?

1945

describe African independence, why is it called the ‘winds of change’?

in the 60s independence - British PM Harold Macmillan’s ‘winds of change’ speech signalling intention to grant many territories independence

why did the British Empire disintegrate?

UK left almost bankrupt after waging 2 world wars

growing resistance to foreign rule eg Gandhi campaign for Indian independence (1947)

Europe -> post-industrial economic activity (less dependent on raw materials from their colonies)

2 impacts of disintegrated empires