GP- The State And Globalisation: The Nation State And National Sovereignty Flashcards
What are individual nation states often described as in global politics, and what does this mean?
Individual nation states are often described as the ‘building blocks’ of global politics, meaning they have primary power and influence over events.
What actions can states take in global politics?
States can decide to form alliances, sign international agreements, cooperate in regional organizations, or engage in violent conflict with each other. They can also make their own decisions and implement their own policies within their borders; they can be democratic or undemocratic.
Why is it difficult for other institutions to have power, authority, or influence over a nation state?
It is difficult for other institutions or actors in global politics (such as the United Nations) to have power, authority, or influence over a nation state because nation states exercise sovereignty over what happens within their own borders.
What does this sovereignty allow nation states to do?
This sovereignty allows nation states to set laws and govern their own population without outside interference.
How do nation states frequently act, and what are the examples given?
Frequently, nation states act in their own national interest, but sometimes they work together to pursue common goals. The former is an example of realism, and the latter is an example of liberalism.
Since when has modern global politics been dominated by nation states?
Modern global politics has been dominated by nation states since the Peace of Westphalia was signed in 1648, ending the Thirty Years’ War (1618-48).
What was the principle on which the Peace of Westphalia was based?
The treaty was based on the principle that states had no justification to intervene within the sovereign affairs of other states.
What does the principle of ‘Westphalian sovereignty’ refer to today?
Today, the principle of ‘Westphalian sovereignty’ refers to the notion that nation state borders should be respected and that nation states should be able to conduct their own internal affairs without outside interference.
What is a nation state, as described in the text?
The term nation state is used to describe a political community that possesses sovereignty and in international affairs acts with independence and autonomy. A nation state is united by a common nationality and citizenship, together with a shared sense of cultural identity and historic tradition.
What was the 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States?
The 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States was an international treaty that states signed to clarify the four defining characteristics of a nation state.
What are the four defining characteristics of a nation state according to the Montevideo Convention?
The four defining characteristics are: clear, defined external borders; a population defined by citizenship and nationality; a government able to exercise authority over its territory and population; and the ability to form diplomatic relationships with other states.
How is sovereignty defined?
Sovereignty is defined as the ability of a state to govern itself independently (internal sovereignty) and the principle that all states must recognise each other’s sovereignty (external sovereignty).
What are the two ways sovereignty can be thought of?
Sovereignty can be thought of in two ways: internal sovereignty — the ability of a state to govern itself independently, for example by making its own laws, and external sovereignty — the principle that all states must recognise each other’s sovereignty.
What are some indicators used to assess statehood, and what are the pressure points that can challenge these indicators?
Indicators include defined external borders (pressure points: challenged or breached borders, like Ukraine invaded by Russia), population defined by citizenship (pressure points: changing populations, refugee crises, like those from Libya and Syria), government with authority (pressure points: failed states losing control, like Somalia losing territory to Al-Shabaab), and ability to form relationships (pressure points: limitations due to international organization memberships, like EU states).
How do realist and liberal views differ on the importance of sovereignty?
A realist would see respect for national sovereignty as vital to the maintenance of peace and stability. In contrast, a liberal would view national sovereignty as less important and would be more willing to sacrifice some sovereign power for the sake of shared global interests, for example by accepting the supranational jurisdiction of certain institutions of global governance. Liberals would also be motivated to look for trading opportunities in an interconnected world.
What does Article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights state?
Article 15 states: “Everyone has the right to a nationality. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.”
Why is it difficult for aspiring nationalities to become independent sovereign states?
It is difficult because they need recognition from the international community and must possess all the Montevideo criteria.
What are the situations regarding Kurdistan and Palestine?
The Kurds, spread across northern Iraq, southeastern Turkey, northwest Iran, and northern Syria, lack a sovereign state due to opposition from those countries. Palestinians have not achieved statehood since Israel has been unprepared to relinquish the Occupied Territories (acquired as a result of the 1967 Six Day War) as a basis for full Palestinian statehood.
What are the situations regarding Kosovo and East Timor?
Kosovo declared independence in 2008 after NATO intervention, but its sovereignty is not universally recognized by all, with Serbia, Russia, and China not recognizing it. East Timor achieved independence after a successful referendum and UN-led intervention, and is now a fully recognized independent sovereign state and member of the United Nations.
Why do international human rights courts struggle to convict war criminals?
Because some states choose not to sign up to laws or cooperate with the courts.
Why are international goals like climate change and universal human rights difficult to achieve?
Because states often choose to protect their sovereignty and act in their national interest.
What happened with the United States and the Paris Climate Agreement?
President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, although this was reversed by President Joe Biden in 2021.
What are some arguments for and against state sovereignty being an outdated concept?
Arguments for: State borders are becoming less significant, with international travel and migration becoming easier; states are increasingly affected by issues that cross borders, such as climate change and terrorism; and economic globalization is reducing the importance of borders in the global economy.
Arguments against: Borders still define the territory of independent states, which retain control over immigration and can take their own decisions; national identity still matters and is a unifying force within states; violent non-state actors are not taking over territory on a widespread scale and can face severe military action from powerful states wishing to reassert their sovereignty; and states still have control over many policy areas, ranging from the economy to human rights and the environment.
What are non-state actors?
Participants in international relations with significant power and influence, which are not states.
What are some examples of non-state actors?
Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), regional organizations, multinational corporations (MNCs), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
What are IGOs?
IGOs are organizations created to bring states together to resolve collective challenges. Examples of IGOs include the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which brings together 38 free-market democratic nation states to share and develop economic policy.
How do regional organizations vary in their impact on sovereignty?
Some, like the European Union (EU), significantly challenge the sovereignty of their member states. Other regional organizations like the African Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Arab League, and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) have a much less considerable impact on their members’ sovereignty.
What are MNCs and what influence do they have?
MNCs are multinational corporations like Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft that possess significant economic power and influence, particularly over less economically powerful states. They can also be important drivers of cultural homogenisation, whereby national cultures become increasingly indistinguishable from each other.
What are NGOs and what do they do?
NGOs are institutions independent of state or international global governance. They can be charities, aiming to address various global problems such as poverty, human rights and sustainable development. In 2023, the three biggest NGOs were Save the Children (1), Oxfam International (2) and Doctors Without Borders (3). Other NGOs include global foundations such as the Gates Foundation, the Clinton Foundation and the Carter Foundation. NGOs often seek to influence decision makers within nation states and regional organisations and are likely to have a significant lobbying presence on IGOs.
What is cultural homogenization?
The concept that cultural globalisation has eroded national cultures to such a degree that there are no longer significant cultural differences between states.
How have global opinion formers achieved worldwide influence?
Global opinion formers have achieved worldwide influence through new opportunities provided by the internet and social media. For example, Ugandan campaigner Vanessa Nakate and Txai Suruí, who is campaigning on behalf of indigenous people to protect the Brazilian Amazon rainforest from deforestation, have used their platforms to bring attention to climate change.
What was the focus of the Brexit referendum debate?
During the 2016 referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU, the debate between the Remain and Leave campaigns often focused on the notion of ‘sovereignty’. Leave’s slogan was ‘Take Back Control’, meaning that as an EU member, the UK could not agree its own trade deals with non-EU states and that EU law had authority over UK law.
What were the arguments of the Remain and Leave campaigns regarding sovereignty during the Brexit referendum?
Prime Minister David Cameron, leading the Remain campaign, criticized the Leave campaign as being obsessed
