2025 Unit 5 HUG Slides PDF

Objective: To understand key terms for this unit, such as state, nation-state, nation, and sovereignty.  With your partner: What characteristics do ALL countries have? Come up with at least 3 4 Characteristics ALL Countries have 1) Defined Boundaries 2) Permanent Population 3...

Objective: To understand key terms for this unit, such as state, nation-state, nation, and sovereignty.  With your partner: What characteristics do ALL countries have? Come up with at least 3 4 Characteristics ALL Countries have 1) Defined Boundaries 2) Permanent Population 3) Recognized by other States 4) Sovereignty a) Power to control own affairs What comes to mind when you hear the following words? Country State Microstate Nation Nation-State Politics and Geography Country is a synonym for state A state is an area on the Earth’s surface that has a defined territory,contains a permanent population, and is in control of its internal and foreign affairs. A microstate is a state with a very small land area. Monaco (0.8 square miles) and the Vatican (0.17 square miles) are prime examples of microstates Politics and Geography Nation: a group of people who have certain things in common with each other ○ Common Cultural Heritage ○ Beliefs & Values to unify ○ Claim a particular homeland ○ Exhibit want for self-determination (self-rule) Nation-State: A state in which a nation (group) lives in ○ Japan, Koreas, Iceland, Portugal, etc What is the US then?!?! Multinational State: a country that contains many nations (ethnic groups) - other examples: Russia, Canada, etc Sovereignty A state has sovereignty, which means total control of its own internal and foreign affairs The sovereignty of several states remains in question. Examples: 1. North and South Korea claim each other 2. Chinese claims on Taiwan 3. Claims on the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands by China and Japan 4. Sahrawi Republic (Western Sahara) Challenges in Defining States Western Sahara is claimed by Morocco, which controls most of the territory (left). The Polisario Front controls the far eastern portion, behind a sand berm (right) built by the Moroccan government. United Nations Convention Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) A major aspect of UNCLOS is its extension of a state's territorial waters from 3 to 12 nautical miles from shore. Foreign commercial vessels are granted the right of innocent passage through the 12-mile zone. Beyond the zone all vessels and aircraft may proceed freely. Coastal nations are granted exclusive rights to the fish and marine life in waters extending 200 nautical miles from shore. Every nation that has a continental shelf is granted exclusive rights to the oil, gas, and other resources in the shelf up to 200 miles from shore.