The State and Globalisation Flashcards
(48 cards)
What is sovereignty?
Sovereignty is the principle that the state has supreme authority within its territory. It is both a legal and political concept meaning the ability of a state to make laws, enforce them, and govern itself without external interference. It is often considered absolute, but in practice it is limited by external obligations and internal challenges.
What is internal sovereignty?
Internal sovereignty refers to a state’s ability to exercise supreme authority and control within its own borders. This includes law-making powers, monopoly on the use of force (as per Max Weber), maintaining order, and governing effectively without being challenged by internal actors such as separatist groups or non-state actors.
What is external sovereignty?
External sovereignty is a state’s status as an independent entity in the international system, recognised by other states and international organisations. It enables the state to conduct foreign policy, sign treaties, engage in diplomacy, and join intergovernmental organisations such as the UN or WTO.
How does political globalisation challenge state sovereignty?
Political globalisation increases the influence of intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) like the UN, WTO, IMF, and especially supranational organisations like the EU. Membership requires states to cede some sovereign powers. For example, EU member states agree to abide by EU law and may be overruled by the European Court of Justice, compromising traditional notions of legal supremacy.
How does humanitarian intervention challenge sovereignty?
Humanitarian intervention, often carried out by the UN or coalitions, involves breaching a country’s sovereignty to prevent mass atrocities or restore peace. Examples include NATO’s intervention in Libya (2011), authorised by UN Resolution 1973, and UN peacekeepers in South Sudan (2017). Such actions override the Westphalian principle of non-intervention for moral or strategic reasons.
How does economic globalisation challenge sovereignty?
Global financial institutions like the IMF and WTO impose structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) and conditions on countries in exchange for economic aid, limiting states’ freedom to set their own policies. Multinational corporations (e.g., Amazon, Apple) may pressure states to change tax laws or regulations, reducing state autonomy. The IMF’s role in the Eurozone crisis demanded austerity from Greece.
How do terrorist and separatist groups challenge sovereignty?
Non-state actors like ISIS (Iraq and Syria, 2014–2019) seized and controlled territory, undermining the state’s monopoly on violence and law enforcement. Separatist movements (e.g., Catalonia, Spain, 2017) challenge territorial integrity and internal sovereignty by seeking independence or autonomy outside legal frameworks.
What is neocolonialism and how does it affect sovereignty?
Neocolonialism is indirect control of developing states by powerful countries through economic, political, or cultural pressures rather than direct rule. China’s Belt and Road Initiative lends large sums to developing countries, creating debt dependency. Sri Lanka leased Hambantota Port to China after failing to repay loans, compromising sovereignty.
How was Ukraine’s sovereignty violated by Russia?
In 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, occupying regions like Donetsk and Luhansk and attempting annexation, directly violating Ukraine’s external and territorial sovereignty. The international community condemned the action, imposed sanctions, and supplied aid to Ukraine.
What is globalisation?
Globalisation is the process of increasing interconnectedness and interdependence in political, economic, cultural, and technological domains. It involves flows of goods, services, capital, people, ideas, and information across borders, accelerated by communication, transport, and trade liberalisation.
What is a nation state?
A nation state is a sovereign political entity where the state boundaries coincide broadly with a particular nation—a group of people with shared culture, language, or identity. It has four characteristics: permanent population, defined territory, functioning government, and diplomatic recognition.
What are the four key characteristics of a state?
- Defined territory with internationally recognised borders. 2. Permanent population. 3. Functioning government with control over territory. 4. Capacity to enter relations with other states and be recognised under international law (Montevideo Convention, 1933).
How did the Treaty of Westphalia shape modern states?
The Treaty of Westphalia (1648) ended the Thirty Years’ War and established principles of territorial integrity, legal equality of states, and non-intervention, creating the foundation for state sovereignty and national borders in the modern system.
How did colonialism spread the nation-state model globally?
European colonial powers exported the nation-state model to colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. They drew arbitrary borders ignoring ethnic or cultural divisions, causing political instability. Newly independent states often retained these borders and Western institutions.
How did decolonisation shape modern nation states?
Post-WWII anti-colonial movements led to widespread decolonisation, especially in Africa and Asia. Former colonies established sovereign states but often retained economic or political dependencies on former colonisers, creating neocolonial relationships limiting true sovereignty.
What is a nation?
A nation is a group sharing common culture, language, ethnicity, religion, or history. Nations may not have their own states (e.g., Kurds, Palestinians), and some states contain multiple nations (e.g., UK, Spain). Nations often seek self-determination, leading to demands for independence or autonomy.
What is Max Weber’s definition of the state?
Max Weber defined the state as a human community that successfully claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a territory. Only the state has the legal right to use or authorise violence (e.g., police, military).
What is the difference between nationality and citizenship?
Citizenship is legal membership in a state with rights and responsibilities. Nationality is identity based on culture, ethnicity, or heritage. A person can be a citizen of one state but identify with a different nationality (e.g., British citizen, Kurdish national).
How can multi-national states challenge sovereignty?
States with more than one nation (e.g., Spain with Catalans, Basques) may face demands for independence or autonomy, undermining central authority, causing instability or conflict. The UK’s Brexit and Scottish independence debates reflect internal sovereignty challenges.
What is the issue with national identities crossing state borders?
When national identities extend across multiple states (e.g., Kurds in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria), tensions arise between states and groups seeking unification or autonomy, possibly leading to conflict or repression to preserve territorial integrity.
What is an unrecognised state and how does it relate to sovereignty?
Unrecognised or partially recognised states (e.g., Taiwan, Kosovo, Palestine, Sealand) claim sovereignty and have government structures but lack widespread recognition, limiting participation in global institutions and complicating diplomacy despite controlling territory and population.
What is the realist view of sovereignty?
Realists see sovereignty as central to the international system. States pursue power and security in an anarchic world. Sovereignty must be defended; surrendering power to IGOs threatens national interest and security.
What is the liberal view of sovereignty?
Liberals believe sovereignty is not absolute and can be shared or pooled through international cooperation. IGOs, international law, and treaties improve global governance and address collective issues more effectively than states alone. Sovereignty evolves with cooperation.
What is the key difference between realist and liberal perspectives on global politics?
Realists view global politics as zero-sum with states pursuing power and self-interest, seeing sovereignty as inviolable and cooperation limited by distrust. Liberals see international politics as cooperative, with states benefiting from shared rules and institutions, even if it means some sovereignty loss.
