Week 2 Flashcards
(22 cards)
Define ‘Nation’:
Sense of shared culture and identity based on language, religion, common ancestry, common history.
Define ‘state’:
A territorial entity. However, definition is a subjective, contested concept.
Example of nation-state:
Japan.
Example of nation without a state:
Palestinians.
Example of multinational state:
India, UK.
The ‘state’ is the product of what two separate but interconnected factors?
(1) State as an “organization”
(2) State as a sovereign entity
(5) Factors of a ‘state as an organisation’?
a) Structures of self-governance (practical machinery of the state)
b) Bureaucracies (hierarchical)
c) Institutions
d) Rule enforcement
e) Territorial control
How did the state as an ‘organisation’ emerge?
- Emerged out of the need to manage increasingly complex societies with the rise of agriculture/ urbanization – specifically due to conflict.
Factors of ‘state as an entity’? (3)
a) Recognition of self-governance (politically, legally, internationally)
b) Legitimisation
c) Autonomous/Independent
How did the state as an ‘entity’ emerge?
By gradual development of sovereignty and legal recognition. Foundation is Treaty of Westphalia (concept of sovereignty).
Which predates: ‘state as an organisation’ or ‘state as a sovereign entity’?
State as an organization long pre-dates state as a concept or entity.
3 requirements for ‘state’ classification:
- A territory.
- A population.
- A sovereign government.
Others factors argued for state classification:
- Idea of common culture/identity
- Stability
- Currency
Key factor argued for state classification:
Recognition: in order to be a sovereign state, another sovereign state must recognize you as such.
Purpose of the ‘state’:
a) Promotion of international order
b) As a means of survival; security
c) Protection of a particular “way of life” or ideology
d) Defence of dominant class interests
Post cold-war: Consequences for statehood:
a) State creation and viability
- New States, weakening of old States, emergence of “quasi-states”
b) Changes to ideas of non-interference
c) Integration into World economy
Define sovereignty:
Exclusive say over territory and its population/resources.
What are 4 key outcomes of the Treaty of Westphalia?
(1) Territory: Establishment of firm territorial boundaries (territorial sovereignty)
(2) Equal right to exist: equal standings regardless of power/size.
(3) Autonomy: Non-interference in the domestic affairs of sovereign states
(4) Religion: Extended religious toleration / protection of religious minorities.
Challenges to sovereignty (3):
- Domination – control/coercive influence.
- Imposition – of policy/sanctions/mandates etc.
- Intrusion – violation of territorial integrity.
What are grounds for violating sovereignty?
- Self Defence: pre-emption or retaliation
- Humanitarian intervention: rescue one’s nationals/end human rights abuses.
- Civil War: in response to a previous intervention by an external state in a civil war (for purposes of counterbalance/protect civilians/restore peace).
Why are the grounds for legitimate state-sovereignty violations problematic?
Arbitrarily and subjective basis.
Invoking self-defence or humanitarian intervention = opinion based.
What are come indicators of a failed state:?
a) Mounting demographic pressures
b) Massive movement of people/refugees
c) Vengeance seeking group
d) Uneven economic development
e) Sharp or severe decline in economics
f) Absence of government legitimacy
g) Progressive deterioration of public services
h) Violations of human rights
i) Security challenges
j) Rise of factionalized elites
k) Intervention of foreign actors
