4.8 Defining Devolutionary Factors
SPS-4.A.1: Factors that can lead to the devolution of states include the division of groups by physical geography, ethnic separatism, ethnic cleansing, terrorism, economic and social problems, and irredentism.
4.8 Standards
Define factors that lead to the devolution of states.
4.8 Learning Objective
Causes of Devolution
Devolution: the transfer of political power from the central government to subnational levels of government, mostly follows regional lines
Division of powers (administrative, judicial, legislative)=divided among national government and subnational levels→ provincial, regional, and local
Division varies among countries and is influenced by whether a state has a unitary or federal system
Forces that lead to/accelerate devolution: physical geography, ethno-linguistic divisions, terrorism, economic factors, and social conditions
SPS 4A1
Causes of Devolution
II. Physical Geography- can cause isolation + increase likelihood of separatist movements (advocating separating from the larger group) + devolution.
Ex: Kurdish Region
Landlocked
Dependent on neighbors for trade
High mountains, difficult to navigate
SPS 4A1
Causes of Devolution
III. Ethnic Separatism- Many ethnic separatist movements occur along regional lines within states. Ethnic groups and minorities are often concentrated in specific regions. This clustering can lead to independence movements. In order to avoid separation, a centralized government will grant some autonomy to individual ethnic regions.
Basque and Catalan
Two culturally and linguistically distinct groups
Intensity of separatism increases with government regulation
More autonomy=Spain HOPES desire for independence will subside
Basque
Catalan
SPS 4A1
II. Ethnic Cleansing
Separatist or independence movements can result in ethnic cleansing, rather than devolution. Ethnic cleansing refers to the forced removal of a minority ethnic group from a territory, often through violence.
Ex: The breakup of Yugoslavia (1991)
Long-standing ethnic tensions erupted
Hundreds of thousands died in clashes between Serbs, Bosnians, and others
A handful of independent countries emerged
SPS 4A1
How can physical geography lead to devolution?
How can ethnic separatism lead to devolution?
How can ethnic cleansing be a result of ethnic separatism?
4.8 Check for Understanding
4.9 Challenges to Sovereignty
SPS-4.B.1: Devolution occurs when states fragment into autonomous regions; subnational political-territorial units, such as those within Spain, Belgium, Canada, and Nigeria; or when states disintegrate, as happened in Sudan and the former Soviet Union.
SPS-4.B.2: Advances in communication technology have facilitated devolution, supranationalism, and democratization.
SPS-4.B.3: Global efforts to address transnational and environmental challenges and to create economies of scale, trade agreements, and military alliances help to further supranationalism.
SPS-4.B.4: Supranational organizations- including the United Nations (UN), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), European Union (EU), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Arctic Council, and African Union- can challenge state sovereignty by limiting the economic or political actions of member states.
4.9 Standards
Explain how political, economic, cultural, and technological changes challenge state sovereignty.
4.9 Learning Objective
Devolution + Autonomous Regions
Devolution and autonomous regions challenge sovereignty by forcing a shift in power from the central government to local governments, creating or increasing the number of subnational political units.
This shift in power can:
Empower ethnic groups or autonomous regions to seek greater independence
Further the separation or polarization of a state’s total population, leading to ethnic or internal conflict
Examples of Devolution:
State governments within the United States
Examples of Devolution AND Autonomous regions:
Catalonia (Spain)
Greenland (Denmark)
Hong Kong (China)
Scotland (UK)
Tibet (China)
SPS 4B1
II. Advances in Communication Technology
Space-Time Compression - as communication and transportation technologies improve, the amount of time it takes for an idea to travel across space becomes compressed (shorter).
Advances in communication technology connect people all over the globe and spread significant ideas such as independence, self-determination, autonomy, and democracy.
As groups learn about these ideas, many will increase their efforts for separatist/independence movements, devolution, or democratization.
SPS 4B1
III. Global Efforts + Supranationalism
Globalization has increased the amount of collaboration between states to achieve shared goals. These global efforts and collaboration result in supranationalism.
Supranationalism - an alliance involving 3 or more states in which each state gives up a degree of its sovereignty/autonomy in order to achieve a shared goal.
Supranational organizations are often created to achieve mutual benefits in areas such as economic development, cultural preservation, political stability, or militaristic protection.
SPS 4B3
SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Type
Name
Goal
Members
Date Founded
Logo
Social/
Cultural
World Health Organization (WHO)
the attainment of all peoples of the highest possible level of health
194 member states
1948
Red Cross
AKA Red Crescent
AKA Red Crystal
prevent and alleviate human suffering
97 million volunteers, members, + staff
1863
SPS 4B4
SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Type
Name
Goal
Members
Date Founded
Logo
Economic
European Union (EU)
promotion of human rights, trade, development, and humanitarian aid
27 member states
1993
World Trade Organization (WTO)
regulate and facilitate international trade between states
164 member states
1995
United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA)
eliminate all tariff and non-tariff barriers of trade between members
Canada, Mexico, and the US
2020
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, and reduce poverty around the world
190 member states
1944
SPS 4B4
European Union
WTO
SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Type
Name
Goal
Members
Date Founded
Logo
Economic
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
coordinate and unify its members' petroleum policies in order to stabilize oil markets
13 member states
1960
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
improving development in SE Asian member states
10 member states
1967
OPEC
ASEAN
SPS 4B4
SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Type
Name
Goal
Members
Date Founded
Logo
Political/ Military
United Nations (UN)
international peace and security
193 member states
1945
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Military alliance
32 member states
1949
Arab League
promote trade and economic growth as well as sovereignty and political stability
22 member states
1945
African Union
promote trade and economic growth as well as sovereignty and political stability
55 member states
2002
International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)
facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime control
194 member states
1923
SPS 4B4
NATO
Arab League
SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Type
Name
Goal
Members
Date Founded
Logo
Environmental
Arctic Council
promote cooperation among Arctic countries and indigenous communities to address environmental protection, sustainable development, and scientific research in the Arctic region
8 member states
1996
SPS 4B4
How does the process of devolution challenge a state’s sovereignty?
How do advances in communication technology challenge a state’s sovereignty?
How are supranational organizations an example of a shift, or change, in a state’s sovereignty?
4.9 Check for Understanding
4.10 Consequences of Centrifugal + Centripetal Forces
SPS: 4.C.1: Centrifugal forces may lead to failed states, uneven development, stateless nations, and ethnic nationalist movements.
SPS: 4.C.2: Centripetal forces can lead to ethnonationalism, more equitable infrastructure development, and increased cultural cohesion.
4.10 Standards
Explain how the concepts of centrifugal and centripetal forces apply at the state scale.
4.10 Learning Objective
Centrifugal Forces
Centrifugal forces are forces that DIVIDE people.
Examples:
Differing religion
Differing languages
Unstable government
Internal conflict
Physical geography
Centrifugal forces can lead to:
Failed states (government is so weak that it is no longer in control)
Uneven development (some areas of the country are more/less developed than other areas)
Stateless nations
Ethnic nationalist movements
Separatist movements
Ethnic tension or violence
SPS 4C1
II. Centripetal Forces
Centripetal forces are forces that UNITE people.
Examples:
Shared religion
Shared language
Stable governments
External threats
Lack of physical barriers like mountains, bodies of water, etc.
Centripetal forces can lead to:
Ethnonationalism (support for the political interests of a particular ethnic group, especially its national independence or self-determination)
Equitable infrastructure development
Cultural cohesion
Advances in technology/ various fields
Economic growth
Peace, social stability
SPS 4C2
Compare and contrast centrifugal and centripetal forces.
Describe the impact of centrifugal forces on the success of a state.
Describe the impact of centripetal forces on the success of a state.
4.10 Check for Understanding