Power and Borders

Question 1

Define a geographic ‘state’

Answer 1

An established territory that has borders and an immediate physical area

Question 2

Define ‘sovereignty’

Answer 2

The act of power that a government holds over governing a state

Question 3

Define a ‘nation’

Answer 3

A group of people who may live in a diaspora that do not have an established territory

Question 4

Define a ‘nation-state’

Answer 4

Where a nation of people and a state have shared culture, influences and ways of life with each other.

Question 5

Name an example of a nation state and why it is a nation state

Answer 5

Japan, because its people are a nation who speak the same language and have the same culture, which is shared with the established state and territory of Japan

Question 6

Define supranational organisations

Answer 6

An organisation of states which can hold some form of sovereignty over the states it includes

Question 7

Name 3 examples of supranational organisations

Answer 7

The EU (European Union), AU (African Union) and the IMF (International Monetary Fund)

Question 8

Define a TNC

Answer 8

Transnational Corperation

Question 9

What are the 3 well known examples of TNC’s?

Answer 9

Nike, Adidas and Apple

Question 10

Name an example of a ‘nation’

Answer 10

The Kurds of Kurdistan

Question 11

Which theoretical state in the Horn of Africa is not recognised by the UN?

Answer 11

Somaliland

Question 12

What is needed in order for a state to be internationally recognised by other governments?

Answer 12

UN recognition and membership, as well as diplomatic recognition from other states.

Question 13

Define a ‘norm’

Answer 13

An internationally practiced expectation from other states. For example, electing people of mixed ethnicities and races into the state’s government.

Question 14

Name 3 states that belong to UK territory, but not the uK state

Answer 14

The British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, The Falkland Islands

Question 15

When a state does not conform to its norms and looks after its population, which interventions can be made by the UN?

Answer 15

Military intervention, organisations (NGO) entry into the state, and economic sanctions.

Question 16

Name 2 ways a TNC can threaten the sovereignty of a state

Answer 16

The TNC can evade health and safety laws of a state by moving its factories elsewhere, thus resulting in a lowered GDP and income for the state. TNCs can also take away the number of vacancies in a state, meaning that a country’s economic growth is in danger.

Question 17

What is an easy test to establish if a state is part of the UK territory?

Answer 17

Check if the state has an elected MP.

Question 18

Why is Somaliland not a recognised state?

Answer 18

Other governments do not gain anything from forming a diplomatic relation with the territory, and the recognised state that it is a part of, Somalia, does not wish to give it any independence.

Question 19

What are 4 effects that can cause the fragile sovereignty of any state?

Answer 19

Government corruption, natural disasters, war, and poverty

Question 20

Name 3 states which have had an increased fragility of sovereignty.

Answer 20

Haiti from the 2010 earthquake, Sudan from drought, and Ukraine with partial invasion from Russia

Question 21

Define ‘fragility of state sovereignty’

Answer 21

Where a state’s government are unlikely to govern themselves, or are less able to.

Question 22

What is a diaspora of people?

Answer 22

A scattered population of people having the same culture, influence, religion and characteristics with each other.

Question 23

Name 2 positive effects of TNCs establishing HQs and factories in abroad states

Answer 23

Decreased tax to pay due to less enforcement and availability of health and safety worker laws, training of work skills and housing given to employees

Question 24

Name 2 negative effects of TNCs establishing HQs and factories in abroad states

Answer 24

Employees usually subject to poor working condition and very long hours for little pay, can face backlash and defamation for company practices through media exposure (e.g. pollution, long hour work, low paid wages)

Question 25

Name 5 factors that make a state sovereignty more fragile

Answer 25

Poverty, inequality, mistrust in the government, corruption, war

Question 26

Why is a state belonging to a supranational organisation perceived as ‘surrendering sovereignty’?

Answer 26

The state is subject to all agreed treaties and laws passed within the supranational organisation, and does not have the power to refuse the laws or treaties, even if they are negative for the state

Question 27

Why do some states refuse to include themselves in a supranational organisation? What are the benefits?

Answer 27

They will be able to independently vote in and enforce their own laws, as well as not be required to follow treaties and laws imposed on the members of supranational organisations

Question 28

In what year was lead banned as a chemical used in paint within the EU?

Answer 28

1992

Question 29

As the UK has exited the EU, what can the UK not do with other EU countries if it reintroduced lead to its paint manufacturing?

Answer 29

Trade with the EU, manufacture the same brand of paint in any other EU country

Question 30

In the governance of laws by the EU, which laws are regarded as ‘Exclusive Competence’, and how much sovereignty does the EU hold?

Answer 30

Financial decisions of the Euro currency, as it is owned by the EU, as well as the control of who fishes where in the North Sea (The North Sea is located between EU member states). The EU holds full sovereignty.

Question 31

How much sovereignty does the EU hold in the ‘Shared Competence’ category, and can states impose their own laws? Name a real example of this.

Answer 31

The EU holds partial sovereignty over some areas, however, states can impose their own laws on customs which are not covered by the EU. Blue flag beaches are given to states which have a very high level of cleanliness and safety at their coasts.

Question 32

How much sovereignty does the EU hold in areas such as as research, technological development and outer space?

Answer 32

None, as states are able to create their own laws in the exploration of outer space.

Question 33

How much sovereignty does the EU hold in ‘Supporting Competence’, and give an example of where this has occurred.

Answer 33

None, however, the EU can work with states to collaborate and coordinate efforts together. When the USA and UK invaded Iraq, France did not assist the other states. Consequently, the USA rebranded ‘French Fries’ in the country to ‘Freedom Fries’ in 2003.