3.0 : nation states and sovereignty

Question 1

what is a nation state and its features and aims?

Answer 1

• politically organised territory that is administered by a sovereign government. they also have cultural connections
  key features:
  1) a defined territory
  2) permanent population
  3) shared national identity
  4) a government
  5) recognised by other states
  6) unites the majority of its people under a common history
  7) has its own national sovereignty
  aims:
  1) to maintain sovereignty
  2) to maintain security
  3) protect national interests (economic, political and cultural)
  4) protect against external influences from other countries, organisations and corporations

Question 2

what is decolonisation?

Answer 2

the process through which a country that was previously a colony becomes politically interdependent.
eg: the largest period of decolonisation happened after the end of WW2 in 1945

Question 3

what is national sovereignty?

Answer 3

1) refers to the ability a country has to self-govern, make laws and rule over its territory, people and internal affairs without outside interference. it is about a country’s right to independently operate
2) sovereignty gives a country the power to 1. make and apply laws to govern the country 2. control and protect its borders 3. impose and collect taxes 4. make war and peace 5. form treaties or engage in commerce with foreign nations

Question 4

what are some challenges to sovereignty?

Answer 4

1) religious and ethnic conflicts
- when culture or religion greatly influences cultural identity that a country splits into two such as Hindu-Majority India and Muslim-based Pakistan
- ethnic groups are deemed stateless, eg: Rohingya Muslims were refused to be recognised as citizens, which led to mass displacement of these people.
2) territorial disputes
- when two or more groups compete for control of territory; Vietnam, Philippines and China claim over parts of the South China Sea
- Israel and Palestine conflict