State and Nation in Global Politics

State and Nation

• A state is a political unit with authority over its own affairs, recognized by other countries through its borders.
• The concept of state and sovereignty was established by the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648.
• With globalization, the power of the state may be decreasing, and other actors may be gaining power.

Defining State

• A state is a distinct political community with its own rules, practices, and separation from other communities.
• Four essential elements of a state:
  • Permanent population (a group of people living in a place)
  • Territory (an area of land and body of water controlled by a government)
  • Government (regulates relations among its own people and with other states)
  • Sovereignty (a country's independent authority and right to govern itself)

Strengthening Sovereignty

• Effective control over its territory
• Formal constitution
• Recognition by other states

Nation vs State

• A nation refers to a group of people sharing a common history and culture, rather than a specific territory or institution.
• A nation is a collective identity, distinct from the concept of state.
• The idea of nation emphasizes people, while the idea of state emphasizes formal territorial boundaries and institutions.