How are nations states defined/evolving Flashcards
Explain how physical borders work
Physical borders are due to the physical landscape of the area such as river, mountains
UK/France- English Channel
France- Alps
Explain how colonial borders work
Borders set up during colonial times without considering religious/ethnic/ tribal groups
Egypt/Sudan-1899 set up by Britain
Africa- Berlin conference 1884 EU power meet to divide Africa no involvement of indigenous people
Define nation state
Sovereign state where most citizens are unified by language/culture
Case study: Taiwan (border conflict)
Independent 1950, China sees as rebel nation
China still claiming sovereignty over T , insisting nations can’t have official relations, go through China
Despite restrictions T has become major Asian trader close links with USA
2021: China sending military aircraft into T airspace
2022: China launches missiles into surrounding water
2024: President wants independence
Name another example of border conflict
Russia/Ukraine
Define nationalism
Identifying with and developing a sense of belong to a nation through ties to cultural symbols such as flag, sports, foods
Case study: French Revolution (nationalism)
Removing power from french monarchy placing power into the hands of ordinary citizens.
New laws applied to make everyone equal, standardised form of french taught across country
Loyalty towards France grew/ new national identity emerged
Strong identity means sign of countries wanting to expand empire
French now seen as threat 1804 Emperor had plans to expand over EU.
Military victories boost patriotism led to tensions with Austria/Russia
Case study: German unification (Nationalism)
In order to unify Germany provoke war with France
German states unified to win France. Winning produced boost of patriotism
Becoming large unified state in EU, quickly industrialise
Germany created alliances to isolate France
Backfired as France and Britain grew closer creating tensions
Define imperialism
policy extending country’s power/influence through colonial isolation, using military force
Define colonialism
policy/practice of acquiting full/partial political control over another country occupying it with settlers exploiting their economy
Define reverse colonialism
the return of colonised people to their native land
Case study: Reverse colonialism UK to India
OCI (overseas citizens of India) allows one to retain their nationalism but have a life long visa for India.
Push factors (out England)
Struggle to diffuse into identity, felt marginalised (racism)
Globalisation/technology work from anywhere
OCI benefits India as people move back bringing their skills with
Pull (to India)
Increasing westernisation in India
India’s economy expanding
larger market 1.2 billion
low cost of living
home comforts/culture
How to new nation states emerge
Tax havens
Case study: Iraq borders
Iraq has history of multiple empires (Ottoman Empire)
UK gained authority in 1920
Iraq gained independence 1932 inheriting UK historical borders. These borders were influenced by France to divide spheres of influence.
Since independence Iraq experienced civil conflict due to tensions between 3 ethnic group
Sunni Shiite, Kurdish
colonial borders being root cause of civil war
Examples of contested borders
Arctic ocean
Taiwan
Case study: Ukraine conflict (contested borders)
Independence Soviet Union 1991 become sovereign land developing own culture.
Border now contested because Russia believes that they share same culture/language/cultural identity therefore explaining/justifying invasion
Ukraine fight back with increased military presence and NATO membership
Explain wind of change
Creation of new nation states in 1960’s from previous British colonies in Africa known as wind of change
Explain post-colonial conflict
The process of decolonising can leave a country unstable/ costly to social/environmentally/economically due to fighting.
Country unstable
Case study: South Sudan (Post colonial conflict)
World’s newest country due to civil war but didn’t bring peace as war between 60 ethnic groups as they compete for power
Civil war displacing 2.2 million people
Case study: Vietnam (Post colonial conflict)
Colonised by France, occupied by Japan
1940’s Vietnamese people fought French rule but divided the country into two rival states:
North- allied w/ communist states China
South- saw post colonial future/ capitalist/ support from USA
Conflict intensified, intervention from USA developed into The Vietnam War. North won in 1975, country unified under communist govern.
Explain post-colonial migration
Decolonisation often associated with conflicts/poor governance creating strong push factors from new independent states to imperial powers.
Changing the ethnic composition of former colonies
Case study: Immigration changing the UK (post-colonial migration)
British Commonwealth- 500,000 workers from Caribbean work needed to rebuild industry/services (TFL).
Poverty in Caribbean due to economic transition after independence
(Wind rush generation)
1960’s: Flow of migrants into textile industry
750,000 Pakistans
1/2 mill Indians
How do new states emerge
Globalisation encouraged the movement of capital between countries (FDI/liberalisation) meaning businesses can relocate to countries with low tax regimes
acting as a haven for profits
Define tax haven/ examples
Place that offers financial services to wealthy/companies often characterised by secrecy enabling avoidance of tax/criminal activity
Switzerland/Luxembourg/British Virgin Isles
What has increased use of tax havens
Deregulation- 1970-1980’s restrictions reduced allows capital to be transferred freely (EU)
Privatisation- industries sold to TNC’s/indiv chosing to live in tax havens allowing to avoid tax. Used to be owned by govern.
Explain the negatives of tax havens-
(Africa case study)
Tax havens account for $13 trillion could have been spent globally on services/infrastructure
Tax havens impact the poorest countries the most:
Tax havens drain $1.2 trillion a year from Africa undermining development/poverty reduction
Responsible for increasing wealth inequalites
What are the consequences of global inequality
62 billionaires equal to 3.6 billion poorest people
Consequences:
unequal access to education continuing reinforce global inequality
Poor health unable to afford nutritional food
800 million people go hungry every day
29,000 children die each day from preventable diseases
UK,AUS, Spain countries have become more expensive to live in
How is global inequality and capitalism linked
Inequality is inevitable outcome of capitalism as it focuses on the indiv. wealth than a wider wealth/success
Case study: Bolivia alternative economic model (Global inequality)
National strategy to reduce reliance on TNC’s so profits go back into govern.
Focused on developing manufacturing industry to increase value/profits add to own economy
Redistribute the wealth into the wider community than indiv. wealth
