Unit 4: Chapter 11 - Political Challenges & Changes

Devolution

a result of the divisive factors that stress the existing structure of a state

Physical Geography Devolution

It is harder to create and keep a cohesive state when there is great distance or physical barriers.

Distance decay plays a role in dividing groups that are farther from the state's capital.

A fragmented geography can also cause problems. Think of the Philippines and its 7,600 islands!

Ethnic separatism

occurs when people of a particular ethnicity in a multinational state identify more strongly as members of their ethnic group than as citizens of the state.

Ex:
Basque and Catalonia. They have been trying to split up from Spain (but have been unsucessful)

Ethnic cleansing

attempts by the state to eliminate an ethnic group through expulsion, imprisonment, or killing.

The point in ethnic cleansing is not to subjugate or defeat a perceived 'enemy,' but to entirely remove them from an area.

Ex:
Nazis with the Jews

Genocide

the mass killing of a group of people in an attempt to eliminate the entire group from existence.

Economic Problems that lead to Devolution

Economic divisions can happen with the way the government allocates funds to states, districts, or smaller governments.

Some regions can feel like they are not being given enough or that one region is favored over another, causing tensions.

Social Problems that lead to Devolution

Discrimination against a minority group within a group can make it difficult to develop the feeling that all people within the state are "one people".

How might countries respond to devolutionary forces?

-The Central government may share more power with regional or provincial governments
-Grant sovereignty and self determination to an area
-A change in the form of government or leadership
-A region may break free of the state to form an independent country.

The Central government may share more power with regional or provincial governments

The Canadian government allowed the Yukon Territory Government to control their natural resources instead of it going to the Central Government.

They also appeased the French speaking people of Quebec by decreeing French to be Quebec's official language.

Grant sovereignty and self determination to an area

In the 1970s, Scotland fought to have a Scottish Parliament to give the Scottish people greater control over their own affairs.

After 20 years of political fighting and tension, the Scottish Parliament was created in 1999.

A change in the form of government or leadership

Nigeria broke into regional government units.

Decades of ethnic conflict between the three regional powers stopped when the government broke the country into 12 states to decrease the power held by any single state.

Fighting has continued and now Nigeria is broken up into 36 states.

A region may break free of the state to form an independent country.

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 due to a failing economy and ethnic differences, 15 new nations were born.

Supranational organizations

an alliance of three or more states that work together in pursuit of common goals or to address an issue or challenge that the countries share.

What are the goals behind creating supranational organizations?

Goals can be economic, political, military, or cultural.

During the Cold War, the most important alliances were MILITARY- tying countries to either the USA or USSR.

The Cold War

Both the USA & USSR were Superpowers during the Cold War.
This meant that each was disproportionately powerful over all other countries, both militarily and economically.

The line between the two alliances was called the IRON CURTAIN.

Unipolar

One Superpower in the world

Bipolar

Two Superpowers in the world (Cold War / Today?)

Multipolar

Several Superpowers in the world (WWI, Colonial Era)

The League of Nations

The main belief of the League was that war was a crime against humanity that should be avoided or stopped by all nations of the world.

The United Nations (UN)

formed in 1945, based on the principals of the League of Nations (preventing wars), but with an added focus on respecting and protecting human rights and solving international economic, social, cultural, humanitarian, and environmental problems.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

It is a military alliance created in 1949. Each member state commits to the collective defense of the others.

Article 5 of the NATO charter states,
"An attack against one Ally is considered as an attack against all Allies"

The European Union (EU)

created in 1993 to address the economic, social, and security issues of Western Europe.

The members of the EU share common trade and currency (the Euro), and foreign policies, citizenship rights, environmental rules, and judicial cooperation.

Many member states are concerned about a loss of sovereignty when it comes to immigration and borders.

The Arab League (lAS)

formed in 1945 to promote political, cultural, economic, and social pursuits of its member states in the Middle East and North Africa.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

formed in 1967 to promote economic growth through trade, encourage social progress, and bolster peace and security within the region.

The Arctic Council

formed in 1996, promotes the cooperation and interaction of the 8 countries with territory in the Arctic towards sustainable development and protecting the environment.

The African Union

formed in 2002 to advocate for unity between African states and endorse international cooperation. Helps in mediating border disputes between its member states.

Advantages of belonging to a Supranational Organization

-Increased trade & bargaining power
-Economies of scale: where more goods and services can be produced for less money on average
-Free trade areas (no taxes between members)
-Combined military forces
-Ease of travel between member states

Disadvantages of belonging to a Supranational Organization

-Challenges to state sovereignty of member states
-Balancing the needs of individual states and the good of the group
-How to distribute power among member states with populations and economies of varying sizes
-Divergent views on issues like immigration that can affect other member states and the organization as a whole.

Centripetal forces

unite groups of people together to support the sovereignty of the state.

Can lead to the concept of Patriotism.

Examples of Centripetal forces

-Conflict with an enemy
-a domestic tragedy
-a shared ethnicity, religion or language
-a strong leader and national symbols

Patriotism

loving your country, with more emphasis on values and beliefs

Centrifugal forces

a force that divides groups of people.

Can lead to nationalism

Examples of Centrifugal forces

-Multiple nationalities
-economic inequality
-weak leadership
-social and ethnic injustice

Nationalism

loyalty to your cultural background, including language and heritage to the exclusion of others.

Thinking your nation is superior to all others.

Ethnonationalism

When the people of a country identify as having one common ethnicity, religion, and language.

It can be a centrifugal force since it excludes anyone that is not that ethnicity, religion, or speaks that language.

What is an extreme example of ethnonationalism?

The most extreme example of ethnonationalism was Nazi Germany. Only people of Germanic and Nordic descent (Aryans) were considered true Germans. Anyone not a true German was exiled or killed.

How can ethnonationalism bring people together?

The current situation between Russia and Belarus has brought the Belarusian people closer together to protect their borders and culture from a Russian invasion.

Fund for Peace (FPF)

The Fund for Peace (FFP), an international non-governmental organization, publishes an annual report on fragile states, or countries in danger of becoming failed states.

What does the Fund for Peace (FPF) look at when determining a state's risk of failing?

When determining each state's risk for failure, the FFP examines several centripetal and centrifugal forces such as:

-infrastructure and public services
-tensions among societal groups
-a country's economic health
-the presence of refugees and IDPs.