GEOG110 Territory, Sovereignty, and the Nation State

Territory, Sovereignty, and Region

Territory includes ownership or jurisdiction over a place. Territoriality refers to the attachment people have to a specific land. Constructivist theory divides territory into "us" and "them". Sovereignty is the authority of a state to govern itself without external interference. This concept can lead to tension and conflict, such as the Treaty of Waitangi, where interpretations of rangatiratanga (sovereignty) and kawanatanga (governorship) differed.

Regions are areas with common features like language, religion or climate which are not restricted to sovereign nations and often have fluid borders.

Borders

Borders are formal or informal boundaries that differentiate areas, influencing laws and social norms. Borders can be natural (rivers, mountains) or based on ethnic and linguistic groups. Imposed borders, often a result of colonization, have led to unequal relationships and dramatic societal changes. An example is the "scramble for Africa" in which European powers divided the continent without regard for indigenous populations.

Political Entities

A state is a political unit with power over a geographic territory, a defined population, and sovereignty. A nation is a group of people sharing common language, history, and culture. A nation-state is a state made up of a single, unified nation. There are also stateless nations (e.g., the Kurdish), multi-state nations, and multinational states. Autonomous regions have some authority to operate independently within a state.

The Nation State

The nation-state concept emerged in Europe with the Peace of Westphalia, which recognized states' sovereignty over specific territories. This led to the creation of precise borders and the rise of nationalism, with citizens developing a strong sense of national identity. Standardized forms of personal identification, such as passports, were introduced.

How many countries are there?

The term "country" is flexible and can refer to nations, sovereign states, or territories with limited recognition. The number of countries varies depending on the criteria used. The United Nations currently recognizes 193 member states. However, entities like Vatican City and Palestine have unique statuses, further complicating the count. Some sources, like the US State Department, may include additional territories. The inclusion of constituent countries (e.g., Scotland within the UK) and territories with free association (e.g. Cook Islands with New Zealand) also affects the total. Additionally, there are unrecognized countries such as Northern Cyprus and micronations.