The State The Nation and The Nation 1
The State, The Nation and The Nation-State
AP Human Geography Overview
5 "Great Questions" of Politics
Relation of People to GovernmentAsks key questions:
What is the nature of equality vs. inequality?
How should "citizenship" be defined?
Who controls political power?
In what ways is power wielded?
Additionally, one might explore the impact of socioeconomic status and education on citizenship and political power dynamics.
Role and Powers of Government
What is appropriate for government intervention?
Investigate limited power vs. unlimited power, analyzing case studies of authoritarian regimes vs. democratic governance.
Explore the mechanisms that limit power: checks and balances, judicial review, and civil society's role in holding power accountable.
Sources of Political Power
Where does power originate?
Answers to consider:
From the People? Popular sovereignty, social movements, and civil disobedience.
From the Government (ruler, king, dictator)? Constitutional monarchy vs. absolute monarchy.
From a divine source (God)? Theocratic systems and secularization trends in contemporary politics.
Concentration of Political Power
Political power can be characterized as:
Confederal: Highly dispersed, sovereignty held by states or regions. Examples include the early Articles of Confederation in the U.S.
Unitary: Highly concentrated. Central authority retains significant power over regions (e.g., France, Japan).
Federal: A mixture of both. Balance of powers, with defined responsibilities for national vs. state governments (e.g., USA, India).
Territorial Size of the State
Factors to consider regarding state size:
Borders and territory. Issues of border disputes and national security.
Geographical shape or morphology. The impact of geography on political stability and governance.
Politics as a quest for clarity on these aspects, including self-determination and nationalist movements.
The State
Definition
An organized political structure that formalizes politics through institutions and frameworks.
Components of a state include:
Defined territory: Boundaries that are recognized both internally and globally.
Permanent population: A stable group of individuals who reside continuously within the state.
Government authority: The recognized political leadership that directs state affairs.
Ability to engage diplomatically: Recognition by other states and participation in international organizations.
State Sovereignty
Sovereignty is defined as complete self-governance without external interference.
Examples of failed states highlighting loss of sovereignty:
Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen: Each of these states exemplifies different pathways to instability, including civil war, foreign invasion, and ethnic conflict that undermines national sovereignty.
The Government
Definition
The individuals or groups that hold power on behalf of the state and implement its laws and policies.
Necessity of a government:
Provides a monopoly on coercive force necessary for maintaining public order and protecting citizens.
Factors shaping government legitimacy include:
Duration of rule: Longer periods of stable governance often lead to greater legitimacy.
Presence of dynasties: Traditional authority can enhance legitimacy, but may also lead to popular discontent.
Operational effectiveness: The ability to respond to crises, manage the economy, and deliver public services.
Type of governing structure: Democracies typically fare better in terms of legitimacy than authoritarian regimes.
Power and Government Structure
Government structures categorized by the concentration of power:
Unitary: Most common, with all power held centrally; local entities have limited authority but administer central policies (e.g., education standards).
Confederal: Weaker central government; regional governments retain significant authority (e.g., European Union’s intergovernmental cooperation).
Federal: Balance of power between central and regional governments, varying responsibilities for each level (e.g., fiscal policies in the USA, India).
Government Power Spectrum
Scale illustrating the centralization of power:
Confederal (e.g., Switzerland, Belgium): Limited central authority, substantial regional autonomy.
Federal (e.g., USA, India): Clearly defined powers for national and regional governments.
Unitary (e.g., China, UK, France): Centralized power with significant control over local governments.
The Nation
Definition
A group of people unified by shared characteristics such as religion, language, location, ethnicity, history, and culture.
Distinction between ethnic groups:
Ethnic groups may not aspire to self-governance and often exist within multiple nation-states.
Example:
In the USA, identity shaped by political beliefs and core values such as equality before the law, freedom, and civic responsibility delineated in the Bill of Rights.
Citizenship vs. Nationality
Citizen: Recognized and protected member of a state, engages actively in the political process through voting and civic duties.
Nationality: Membership in a state; may involve limited political rights, especially regarding participation in elections and holding public office.
Definitions vary by country, illustrating complexities in legal status and rights (specifically in the USA concerning undocumented immigrants).
The Nation vs. The State
Complex relationships:
One state may house multiple nations (e.g., Yugoslavia with Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes): ethnic and national identities can lead to conflict and calls for autonomy.
Stateless nations (e.g., Kurds): desire self-determination but lack a recognized state.
Nations divided across multiple states: As seen with Germans in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, affecting national coherence and policy considerations.
Multinational states, such as the USA, consist of diverse national identities coexisting within a single political framework.
Major Global Players
Identification of key global actors and their power dynamics:
What groups currently wield political influence? This includes states, multinational corporations, and international organizations.
Discussion of the relevance of "Great Powers" today: implications for international relations and global stability.
Historical Power Dynamics
Historical power structures:
Multilateral Powers: During WWI & WWII, many competing states lacked clear leadership, contributing to global instability.
Bipolar Powers: Characterized by the Cold War framework; two dominant powers (USA and USSR) led to a landscape of ideological conflict.
Unipolar Power dynamics: Post-1990, with the dominance of the USA defined a new world order and prompted discussions on rising challengers.
Current perspectives on potential future trends: considerations for bipolar or multipolar systems emerging, particularly regarding China’s rise and regional powers.
Status Quo and Challenging Powers
Status Quo Powers (set the global agenda):
Include USA, EU, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Israel, maintaining post-WWII legacy focused on democracy and human rights. Their policies often shape international norms.
Challenging Powers (More nationalistic):
Nations such as Russia, China, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia challenge established norms and pursue alternative models of governance with different emphases on democracy and development.
BRICs: Brazil, Russia, India, China exemplify the shift towards nations seeking expanded global influence through economic growth and cooperative diplomacy.
Rising Powers
Emerging nations poised between status quo and challengers include:
India, Nigeria, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Indonesia, Pakistan navigating the global landscape while balancing democratic aspirations, human rights concerns, and economic growth, often emulating either USA or China's governance models.
Rogue States and Failed States
Rogue States: States that defy global governance norms (e.g., North Korea, Syria), often engaging in human rights abuses and stigmatized behaviors undermining global cooperation.
Failed States: Exhibiting a lack of central governance, these states (e.g., Somalia, Afghanistan, Libya) face internal strife that complicates sovereignty and human security.
Non-state Actors
Definition and significance of entities operating outside formal state governance:
Transnational Organizations (e.g., UN, EU, WTO): Facilitate cooperation on global issues, but also face challenges regarding member sovereignty.
Multinational Corporations (e.g., Sony, Apple): Their economic power can influence political decisions on such matters as trade and globalization.
Non-Governmental Organizations (e.g., Red Cross, Greenpeace): Play critical roles in humanitarian aid and environmental advocacy, influencing international norms.
Organized crime and terrorism groups (e.g., Al-Qaeda, ISIS): Operate transnationally, posing significant challenges to state authority and global security.
International Law
Discussion on the existence and enforcement of international laws:
Not really enforced
General principles such as sovereignty, non-interference, and mutual respect among nations.
Important concepts: Jus cogens, referring to principles recognized as fundamental norms overriding domestic law (e.g., prohibitions against genocide, slavery).
Mechanisms of enforcement: International Criminal Court, War Crimes Tribunals, with ongoing questions about the appropriateness of international interference in state sovereignty and matters of human rights violations.