GS w2.1

GS150LectureNationStateweek2.pptx

Nations, States and Nation- States

Introduction

As pointed out in week 1, many if not most people tend to readily identify themselves with the countries that they are from. As we shall see, for some this country is the one that they are living in. For others, the country that they are living in is not an ideal one. As a result, they may hope to create a separate country of their own. You may have heard about the Kurds of Iraq contemplating independence, for example. You may read more here: Kurds of Iraq.

In either case, many, if not most, people around the world tend to identify with the ideal of a country, whether real or imagined. What do we mean by “country?” And what does identification with and loyalty to a country entail? Finally, how has globalization impacted the dominant position of countries in the international system, as well as identities rooted in the histories of individual countries? These are some of the questions that we will be addressing this week. More specifically, chapter 2 of An Introduction to Global Studies suggests the following learning outcomes for this week:

How does the term “nation-state” differ from the terms “nation” and “state”?

What factors contributed to the development of the nation-state system in Europe?

How did the nation-state become the primary organizing structure of human societies?

What factors pose a challenge to the dominance of the nation-state as the primary actor in the international arena?

I. What is a “nation-state?”

1. Although the terms “country” “nation,” “state,” and “nation-state” are often used interchangeably today, they also have distinct meanings and histories. It would be helpful to define each term clearly, and understand the relationship between them. The following, when combined, constitute a nation-state:

Internationally recognized borders. It is not enough for a people to demand statehood. Their demand must also receive international recognition.

People – the nation. These can be relatively homogenous or relatively heterogeneous. Most states contain some degree of diversity in terms of ethnicity, language, religion and the like. This diversity in many instances is a legacy of colonialism. Colonial powers often drew up the maps of regions in accordance with their own interests, disregarding the interests of the people who were living in those territories. See, for example, the map of colonial Africa:

Colonial africa

One consequence is that once theses territories became independent, people lacked as sense of communal identity or loyalty to the state. This may partially explain the civil strife in many of the newer states of the world.

Nationalism – identification with and loyalty to the ideal of a nation-state. For some, that ideal is reality. They feel loyal to and identify with the country that they are living in. Others may be unhappy with the nation-state that they are living in. They may still be nationalistic; however their loyalty is to a different nation-state. Sometimes this disaffection leads to wars of secession.

Government – individuals and organizations that make and enforce law. Some governments have greater difficulty performing their tasks than others.

Sovereignty – the recognition that no higher authority exists. It is a truism that in international relations, powerful states often undermine the sovereignty of weaker ones. This may take the form of covert operations or outright invasion.

Question: Is it possible to be a “nation” with a high sense of nationalism, but not have a state? The answer is yet. Imagine a people who believe that they deserve an independent state of their own. They are loyal to the ideal of a nation-state, though they have not attained that ideal yet. The Palestinians and the Kurds are often referred to as two such peoples.

II. How many nation-states are there in the international system?

The number can vary depending on a number of factors.

When the United Nations was formed a relatively few countries joined because there were only a relatively few countries in the world!

With decolonization new states emerged. These are sometimes referred to as “post-colonial states. (p. 36-37)

Another reason for the rise of number of states is the breakup of the former Soviet Union. Often called “successor states to the Soviet Union”, these states subsequently joined the United Nations as independent states.

We can imagine that in the future the number of independent states may rise or decline. For example, if Palestine or Kurdistan became independent states, the number of states would rise. On the other hand, if the European Union became a “United States of Europe”, the number of states in the international system would decline.

How many states are there in the world today? You find an answer by going to the official website for the United Nations.