Nation-State Globalization

What is a State?

A state is an independent, self-governing political community whose government can make rules that are binding on the population within a particular territory.

The government is set of institutions that makes decisions and oversees their implementation on behalf of the state for a particular period of time.

State = territory + people + sovereignty

Nation-state = territory + nation + sovereignty

Sovereignty and the State

Dimensions of state sovereignty:

  • states claim to be the highest authority for their population and their territory

  • States are not subject to any external authority

All states are viewed as legally equal regardless of differences in power.

The number of sovereign states has grown and today 193 are members of the United Nations.

The Vatican and Palestine are non-member observer states.

The Increasing Number of Sovereign States: United Nations Members

Almost all recognized sovereign states are members of the United Nations.

Failed States

States that are unable to enforece laws, maintain order, protect the lives of citizens, and provide basic services.

In somme countries, state institutions only have a weak governing capacity and can be termed fragile states.

Somalia remained a failed state, even after 2012 when recognized government was established after intervention by African Union troops.

Power disparities

Due to the great power disparities among states, some weaker countries have found their sovereignty limited or ignored.

Various elements of the international community have intervened in sovereignstates to protecte human rights.

The UN mandated that there is a collective international responsibility to protect people if genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity are involved.

Nations and Nation-States

Nation-state: a sovereign state based on people living in a country who share a sense of common identity as members of a nation.

Many states are not based on a single nation as most countries have a diverse popuation.

A nation is group of people who have a sense of common identity and who typically believe they should be self-governing within their homeland.

National identity

A sens od national identity exists where people with ties to a territory chare common characteristics - culture, ethnicity, language, religion, or shared experiences.

To promote a national identity, governments have often made deliberate efforts to replace local and regional dialects, cultures, and identities with a national culture.

Creating a national identity has often involved trying to persuade different people to adopt the culture, language, and values of the dominant group.

Nationalism

Nationalism is based on the view that:

  • the nation-state is the best form of politicall community,

  • a nation should have its own self-governing state, and

  • the interests, culture, and values of the nation should be promoted.

Types of nationalism:

  • Ethnic: based on common ancestry along with the cultural traditions and language associated with a particular ethnic group (Ex. Romania)

  • Civic: based on shared political values and political history of those who are citizens of a country (Ex. France)

Multiculturalism

Instead of encouraging or persuading different ethnic, cultural, and linguistic groups to assimimlate into the dominant group, Canada adopted multiculturalism.

Official multiculturalism involves recognizing the cultural diversity of the country and supporting and fostering different cultures and traditions.

Multiculturalism has been challenged in many countries, particularly as aresponse to the immigration of Muslims who some see as a threat to social culture and values.

Is the Nation-State the Most Desirable Form of Political Community?

In nation-states a sense of trust in government and other institutions may be easier to develop.

The legitimacy of the state and governing authorities is less likely to be questioned when the state is based on people who consider themselves part of a common nation.

Critics argue that ntions with small populations in small geographic areas are unable to have large internal markets, spread the cost of government services across a large population, and defend the country militarily.

Citizenship

A country’s permanent residents are full members of the political community with certain duties and rights.

Citizenship cannot be revked in most countries.

Involves obligations and benefits.

Citizenship means being equal members of a political community, regardless of social status, ethnicity, gender, wealth or other characteristics.

Statelessness - no state recognizes the person as a citizen. Millions of persons are stateless today.

Globalization

Globalization: processe that increase the interconnectedness of the world in the economic. political and cultural realms.

Government policies can accelerate, slow down, or even reverse globalization.

Globalization is eroding the power of the state by:

  • Shiftinf power upward towards global institutions (ex. World Trade Organization)

  • Increasing the reach of global markets and the power of global corporations

  • Stimulating separatist movements

Economic globalization:

  • Many corporatinos have become global and global trade has increased greatly since 1950

  • Tends to reduce the ability of national governmets to manage their own economies

Cultural globalization:

  • Advances in communications allow wider distribution of cultural products and values (Western) around the world

Political globalization:

  • Globalization has led to the need for international institutions

  • United Nations, international financial institutions, and global NGOs are all examples