State vs. Nation Concepts

State vs. Nation

• A state is a geographically defined area with permanent residents, clearly defined borders, a sovereign government, and recognition by other states.
• A sovereign government controls its domestic and international affairs.
• A nation is a group of people united by shared culture, history, homeland, and a desire for self-governance.
• Self-determination is a nation's right or desire for self-governance.

Types of Political Entities

• A nation-state is a self-governing state with a relatively uniform population sharing a common language, culture, and history. Examples: Japan, Iceland, South Korea.
• A multinational state contains multiple nations within its borders, each with distinct identities and traditions. Example: Canada (English and French).
• A multi-state nation is a nation that exists across multiple states. Example: Kurds (Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria).
• A stateless nation is a nation with a history of self-determination but no officially recognized state. Examples: Kurds, Basques.
• An autonomous region is a region within a state that enjoys a certain degree of independence. Example: Native American reservations in the United States.
• A semi-autonomous region is controlled by another state but has a moderate degree of self-governance. Example: Hong Kong.

Colonialism and Imperialism

• Colonialism is acquiring territories and settling there to control politically, economically, and socially.
• Imperialism is exerting force over other nations for economic and political power without settlement.
• The Berlin Conference saw European powers divide Africa by longitude and latitude, ignoring local populations and cultures.
• Decolonization is the process where colonies gain independence from their colonizers.
• Devolution is the transfer of political power from central to regional governments. Example: The UK creating the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly.

Political Power and Territoriality

• Territoriality is the tendency to establish and defend a specific geographic area.
• Neocolonialism is indirectly influencing or controlling another country through political, cultural, or economic power. Example: China's investments in Africa.
• A shatterbelt is an area subject to external political, cultural, and economic pressure from conflicting powers. Example: Eastern Europe during the Cold War.
• A choke point is a geographically crucial area for transit, often controlled by a powerful nation. Examples: Panama Canal, Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal.

Political Boundaries

• Defining involves agreeing on a boundary line.
• Delimiting is drawing the boundary line on a map.
• Demarcating is marking the boundary using permanent physical markers.
• A geometric boundary uses straight lines along latitude and longitude. Example: 49th parallel between Canada and the US.
• An antecedent boundary existed before human settlement or the development of the cultural landscape. Example: Argentina-Chile border formed by a mountain range.
• A relic boundary is no longer officially recognized but still impacts the cultural landscape. Example: Berlin Wall.
• A superimposed boundary is created by an external power without regard for local populations. Example: Boundaries established at the Berlin Conference.
• A subsequent boundary develops along with the development of the cultural landscape. Example: Most European boundaries.
• A consequent boundary separates ethnic, religious, or linguistic groups. Example: Pakistan-India border, post-Yugoslavia boundaries.
• A frontier is a region where no state has direct power or control.

Functions of Boundaries

• An international boundary separates different sovereign states.
• An internal boundary divides regions within a single state.
• Definitional boundary disputes involve interpreting boundary agreements.
• Locational boundary disputes concern the actual location of the boundary.
• Operational boundary disputes relate to the management of the boundary.
• Allocational boundary disputes concern the use of resources on the boundary.

International Boundaries and the Law of the Sea

• The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) governs maritime boundaries and resource allocation.
• UNCLOS divides maritime zones: territorial waters (12 nautical miles), contiguous zone (12-24 nautical miles), and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) (24-200 nautical miles).
• International waters are beyond the EEZ, with no state control.
• Disputes over UNCLOS are handled by the International Court of Justice.
• The South China Sea dispute involves seven countries claiming territorial rights, often citing UNCLOS, while China argues historical rights outside the UNCLOS framework.

Internal Boundaries

• Internal boundaries are government-created divisions, like congressional districts, county boundaries, city boundaries, school districts, and voting districts.

Redistricting

• Redistricting redraws voting districts to reflect population shifts.
• Most European countries use independent commissions for compact, homogenous districts.
• In the US, state legislators often handle redistricting, although some states use independent commissions.

Gerrymandering

• Gerrymandering manipulates district boundaries to favor one political party.
• Cracking dilutes a party’s power by spreading their supporters across multiple districts.
• Packing concentrates a party’s supporters into a few districts, securing wins in those while giving the opposition an advantage elsewhere.

Consequences of Gerrymandering

• Gerrymandering can result in unfair representation, decreased electoral competition, and reduced democratic processes due to safe seats and reduced competition.

Forms of Governance

• Unitary states concentrate power at the national level.
• Federal states share power between national and regional governments.

Devolution

• Devolution transfers political power from central to regional governments.
• Factors contributing to devolution include geographical fragmentation, cultural divisions, political instability, economic and social inequalities, government corruption, and irredentism (a nation seeking to unite with parts of its people in another state’s territory).

State Disintegration

• State disintegration involves a state breaking into smaller, independent states.
• Examples include Sudan and South Sudan, and the former Soviet Union.

Technological Advancements and Globalization

• Technology, especially the internet and social media, challenge state sovereignty by enabling information access, dissent, and citizen organization.
• Globalized economies decrease state autonomy due to international trade and foreign resource dependence.

Supernational Organizations

• Supernational organizations are alliances of three or more states working toward shared goals.
• Types include political (e.g., UN, AU, NATO), economic (e.g., EU, ASEAN), and environmental (e.g., Arctic Council).

Centrifugal and Centripetal Forces

• Centrifugal forces divide; examples are uneven economic/social development, cultural differences, and political corruption.
• Centripetal forces unite; examples are nationalism, shared cultural identity, and effective governance. A state may become a failed state when centrifugal forces overwhelm centripetal forces.

Ethnonationalism

• Ethnonationalism is a movement where a cultural group seeks separation or control based on ethnicity or nationality. Example: Catalonians seeking their own state.

Centripetal Forces

• Centripetal forces unite entities.
• Ethnonationalism can be a centripetal force (e.g., Japan's national identity).
• Strong patriotism, economic/social opportunities, lack of corruption and discrimination, shared history, language, religion, and a strong national government are examples.