1.A - What is meant by sovereignty and territorial integrity?

Question 1

what is a state?

Answer 1

• the term state refers to the area of land of an independent country with:
  
  • well defined boundaries
  • within which there is a politically organised body of people under a single government.
  • states therefore are POLITICAL ENTITIES THAT HAVE TERRITORIES OVER WHICH THE POLITICAL BODY EXERCISES SOVEREIGNTY.

Question 2

What are the 6 characteristics of a state?

Answer 2

1. defined territory that is internationally recognised
2. sovereignty in which the political authority is effective and strong enough to assert itself throughout the bounded territory
3. government is recognised by other states (often achieved by UN elected membership.)
4. capacity to engage in formal relation with other states
5. independence/self governing
6. permanent population which has the right to self determination

Question 3

what is self determination?

Answer 3

• right of a group with distinctive territorial integrity to freely determine its political status
• and freely pursue its economic, social and cultural development

Question 4

what is self determination?

Answer 4

• right of a group with distinctive territorial integrity to freely determine its political status
• and freely pursue its economic, social and cultural development

Question 5

what is a NATION?

Answer 5

• the term nation refers to a large group of people with strong bonds of identity
• they are united by shared descent, history, traditions, culture and language.

Question 5

how is a nation different to a state?

Answer 5

• a nation may be confined to one country, or its people may live in an area across adjoining countries, and some may be scattered globally in the diaspora.
• many states contain several national groups
• nations do not have sovereignty (e.g. Kurds)

Question 6

what is a nation-state?

Answer 6

• when a nation has an independent state of its own it is referred to as a NATION-STATE.
• which is a state that has sovereignty over a single nation
• e.g. Japan/France.
• nearly all states refer to themselves as nation-states, even though many contain citizens of many nationalities. this is partly because every government attempts to build a sense of national identity among its citizens.

Question 7

what is sovereignty?

Answer 7

• the term sovereignty refers to the absolute authority which independent states exercise in the government of the land and the people in their territories.
• sovereign authority also applies to materials beneath the surface, agreed areas of sea and sea-bed resources and agreed air space.

Question 8

by which 2 political processes is sovereignty sustained?

Answer 8

1. INTERNAL SOVEREIGNTY - a state has exclusive authority within its bounded territory and no other state can intervene in its domestic politics.
2. EXTERNAL SOVEREIGNTY - a state cannot simply proclaim sovereignty, there has to be a mutual recognition among other sovereign states. this ensures its territorial integrity and enables it to enter into international relations with other states.

Question 9

what is TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY?

Answer 9

• territorial integrity and sovereignty are interrelated
• states exercise their sovereignty within a specific territory, the boundaries of which have been established by international law.
• the preservation of territorial integrity and sovereignty is important in achieving and maintaining international security and stability in the world.

Question 10

what are NORMS?

Answer 10

• norms are derived from moral principles, customs and behaviours which have developed over time throughout the world.
• they are embedded in international law to be upheld by state governments and their citizens.
• some states are said to be fragile because the sovereign government cannot fulfill these obligations or responsibilities, often because state apparatus is ineffective.

Question 11

what is INTERVENTION?

Answer 11

• action of international organisations in resolving conflicts or humanitarian crises arising from challenges to sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• necessary in circumstances such as a state government failing to protect its citizens from violation of human rights, or a direct act of aggression by another state, perhaps over territorial claims.
• also where, for example, civil war is the result of poor or corrupt governance, where there is conflict between ethnic groups or where religious fundamentalism and terrorist activity have serious effects.
• There is also intervention where TNCs have negative economic, social or environmental impacts on countries in which they invest.

Question 12

what is GEOPOLITICS?

Answer 12

Geopolitics involves the global balance of political power and international relations.