Chapter 1 Flashcards
What is a nation state?
Countries in which the territories of both the state and nation coincide.
State vs nation
State: political community with precise territory
Nation: sizable group of people united by common race, language, custom, or religion. (Think “nation of al Qaeda)
What does a STATE have?
A state has sovereignty meaning that it’s government makes and enforces it’s own laws without approval from any other authority
What are the four essential features of a state?
Population (the people), territory (established boundaries), sovereignty (supreme and absolute authority in it’s boundaries) and government (central institution
States with the most stable governments share what?
A consensus about basic beliefs and values
Government is the institution through which a state:
Maintains social order; provides public services; and enforces decisions that are binding on all it’s residents
What are the 4 theories on origins of the state?
Evolutionary theory, force theory, divine right theory, and social contract theory
Evolutionary theory
The state evolved from the FAMILY
Force theory
The state was born of force, or the need to resist an enemy
Social contract theory
Thomas Hobbes promoted the idea of the social contract theory in which people surrender freedom to the state and in return receive order and security
John Locke
Believed men and women had natural rights to life, liberty, and property.
Locke’s social contract was made…
Between the government and people that promised to preserve these natural rights
Four primary purposes of government?
Maintain social order, provide public services (make community life possible), provide security and defense, and provide for economy.
There are ____ primary systems of government
2
What is a unitary system of government?
Gives key powers to the central government (China, Korea, dictators)
