Unit 4

State

State

A political unit with defined boundaries, a population, recognition, and sovereignty

Nation

A cultural unit in a specific territory with a shared identity due to history/heritage

Nation-State

The political boundaries (state) and cultural boundaries (nation) match. Nation-states are homogeneous.

• This is not very common. Some of the best current examples are Iceland and Japan.

• The main advantage of a nation-state is that since there is cultural unity it is often easier to maintain political unity as well (since the population already identifies together).

Multinational State

A state (country) with more than one cultural group. Multinational states are heterogenous (diverse).

• This is much more common than nation-states, most countries are multinational states.

• Advantages of a multinational state can include-

  • Openness to immigrants

  • Political links to other countries

  • Economic links to other countries

  • Improved perspectives

Multi-state nation

When a nation stretches across state boundaries.

• The Kurdish people are found within the boundaries of six states.

Stateless nation

When a nation lacks control of a state.

• The Kurds are also an example of a stateless nation. They wish to create the country of Kurdistan shown on the map, but have received international recognition for the proposed state.

• Stateless nations can sometimes undermine established governments as they seek establishment of a state.

Semi Autonomous and Autonomous Regions

Self-determination

• Sometimes countries might do this because the region is geographically distinct OR, more commonly, that there is a dominant minority group (majority-minority) in the region.

• The creation of autonomous regions can help manage competing forces in multinational states and can help appease stateless nations so that the country can remain unified.

Self-determination

Ability of a country to make their own political choices

Political Power

Political Power is expressed geographically as control over people, land, and resources. Those who hold Political Power control the behavior of people through laws and regulations.

Choke Point

• A strategic strait or canal (geographical feature) which could be controlled by a country

• Makes it harder for an area to be captured

• Can be closed/blocked to stop or prohibit trade

• EX: The Strait of Hormuz which connects the Gulf of Oman with the Persian Gulf

Shatterbelt

• An area of instability between regions with opposing political and/or cultural views

• A region under persistent stress or tension, and often fragmented by rivals

  • EX: Israel and Kashmir today + Eastern Europe during the Cold War

Neocolonialism

• The use of economic, political, cultural, or other means to control or influence other countries, especially those of former colonies

• When nations and corporations dominate subject nations

• Can be applied to multinational corporations in MDCs controlling resources in LDCs

• EX: DeBeers is based in the UK but controls a large number of the diamond mines in African countries

Relic Boundary

Boundary that existed as an official boundary but does not anymore

• Ex. Berlin Wall between East and West Germany & Great Wall of China

Consequent Boundary(Cultural/Ethnographic)

Boundary between different cultures, languages, or religions

• Ex. border between India (Hinduism) and Pakistan (Islam) & Ireland (mostly Catholic) and Northern Ireland (mostly Protestant)

Superimposed Boundary

Boundary imposed by an outside power or force ignores existing cultures around the area

• Ex. Many African countries (Berlin Conference)

Antecedent Boundary

Boundary that existed before human settlement and (cultural) changes in landscape

• Ex. Western States in the U.S.

Subsequent Boundary

Boundary created during human settlement with changes in culture of landscape \n usually not geometric

• Ex. Northeast U.S. (colonization)

Defining Boundary

Deciding the geographic location of the boundary

Delimiting Boundary

The recording of the boundary on a map

Demarcating Boundary

Marking the boundary somehow physically

• Usually involves regulation of trade and passage across the boundary

Administering Boundary

Maintaining the boundary

Reasons for conflict over Borders

• Area is contested

• Political instability Between neighboring states

• Distribution of resources as a result of the border

Territorial Waters

Are waters that are enclosed by boundaries off the shore of costal and island states which are considered part of the state's territory.

Defined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLONS)

Is a belt of costal water extending, at most, 12 nautical miles (22.2 km or 13.8 mi) from the baseline (normally the average low-water mark) of a costal state

Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs)

Sea zone over which a state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources.

• For example: Any energy production, from wind or water, in these areas will be under control of the state which boundary it is within

• Unlike territorial waters, EEZs have a reduced sovereign right on the resources in them

Landlocked Countries

Landlocked countries are at a huge disadvantage because their international trade depends on transit through other countries.

Reapportionment

Reassigning legislative seats among districts after census reports so they each represent the same amount of people

Redistricting

Redrawing voting district lines (usually due to population change)

Gerrymandering

• Manipulating voting district boundaries to make people favor one political party over another

• Process is disliked, but not illegal

• Common tactics = packing and cracking

Packing

• Creating district where support for opposition is overwhelming Why: While they may win those districts, they aren't in others, so they can't win majority control.

  • (access vote gerrymandering: since the opposition has more votes than needed in districts they're packed in)

Cracking

Disperses the opposition among districts so that they lose everywhere (wasted vote gerrymandering: the votes for opposition are all wasted since none of them are expressed)

Unitary System

Central government is supreme Operates as one unit Centralized

• Ex. China

Federal System

Divides power between the different subdivisions Not as Centralized

• Ex. USA

Unitary Government Pros and Cons

• Pros

  • People follow same laws, have same policies

  • Decisions are more efficient

• Cons

  • Disconnects with minority regions within the country

  • Can't respond to unique needs as wel

Federal Government Pros and Cons

• Pros

  • Can help prevent disintegration of a state due to diverse interests

  • Subnational units can create their own solutions that are more effective in meeting localized needs

• Cons

  • Inequalities between subunits; not the same throughout the country

  • Less unified, conflict between the different levels; redundancy in services (ie. state police and local police

Devolution

The movement of power from the central government to a smaller, self-identified community within it.

• In the sub-units formed by devolution, the power is not evenly divided.

[Physical Geography] Factors that can lead to the devolution of states

Isolated villages, rugged topography, and islands often want to separate from the country

[Ethnic Separatism] Factors that can lead to the devolution of states

Groups with ethno-nationalist views often want independence and to control their own area within a country, the compromise being devolution

[Ethnic Cleansing ] Factors that can lead to the devolution of states

A country may want to wipe a certain ethnic group out of the state but grant them power over their territory instead

[Terrorism] Factors that can lead to the devolution of states

Violent uprising of a group can lead political powers to grant them some autonomy over their concentration within an area of a country

[Economic and Social Problems] Factors that can lead to the devolution of states

Poorer areas of the country can often feel disadvantaged and at the same time, richer areas don't want to provide for the poor

[Irredentism] Factors that can lead to the devolution of states

An state may want to claim or influence an area within another state that has a majority of people from that ethnicity, especially if it was part of it in the past.

Examples of Devolution

• The United Kingdom- Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have some degree of authority over their own territories but they are still a part of a larger country, the UK

• Belgium- The federal government divides power among different areas. These “communities” represent divided languages and cultures.

• Nigeria- The use of federalism in Nigeria refers to the devolution of self-governance of Nigeria to its federal states who share sovereignty with the federal government.

• Canada- devolution occurred in regards to the Northwest Territories (largely native peoples) by giving people in those areas decision-making power over resources and land use; Canada is also noted for giving Quebec concessions regarding language laws (French).

Disintegration

The process of a state breaking up into two or more independent parts

• Often disintegration is not only about politics within the country, but also the influence of other countries

Examples of Disintegration

• Sudan- South Sudan separated from Sudan in 2011 largely due to religious differences. The South was largely Christian and Animist and the North largely Islamic

• Soviet Union- It was broken into 15 different states. Different cultures, ideas, and poverty mainly caused the downfall of the Soviet Union.

• East Timor- Once part of Indonesia, they separated from the rest of Timor and they now have their own independence. Although, Timor is still part of Indonesia.

Supranationalism

Supranationalism is where 3 or more states work together for a common political, economic, military or cultural purpose.

Advantage and Disadvantage of Supranationalism

• KEY ADVANTAGE

  • More collective power, increase trade, political security.

• KEY DISADVANTAGE

  • When a state joins a supranational org they give up some of their own power to the org.(loss of sovereignty)

The United Nations

• Formed after WWII to promote peace in world

• Mission is to build peaceful relationships among states

  • Conflict is resolved peacefully

• Has many agencies or organs w/in it (ex: World Health Org)

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

• Largest military budget in world

• Main goal ls to protect the states involved through military

Association of Southeast Asian Nations

• Set up to promote cultural, economic and political development in the region

• Manages the water resource issues in the seas in the region

Arctic Council

• cooperation between Arctic states

• involvement of the many indigenous communities of the Arctic

• concerned with sustainable development and environmental issues of the Arctic

Centripetal Forces

Events or circumstances that help unite the people of a state

• Equality

• Cultural Homogeneity

• Shared Language

• Patriotism

• Good Leadership

• Geographic Boundaries keeping people inside

• Flourishing Economy

• Uniform Government Policies

• Strong Infrastructure

• Raison D'etre

Raison D'etre

The purpose or reason for the initial existence of a state

• Literally translated in French as "the reason for being

• It is the most significant centripetal force

• Example: Israel's Raison D'etre➔ to create a homeland for the Jews

Centrifugal Forces

Events or circumstances that divide and split the people of a state,

• Discrimination & Inequality

• Cultural Diversity

• Various Languages

• Various Religions

• Economic Disparities

• Government policies that exclude one or more groups

• Geographic Boundaries splitting a country

• Multinational States

• Poor Leadership

• Poverty

• Weak Infrastructure

• Lack of a Raison D'etre

  • Ex: Yugoslavia was created as a multinational state with split religions and languages and did not have a Raison D'etre. Eventually, the country broke apart.