Power and borders

Question 1

What is a sovereign nation state?

Answer 1

A spatially bounded area of land, which is self-governing and has physically defined boundaries.

Question 2

What series of conferences established equality of sovereignty of nation states in Europe

Answer 2

The treaty of Westphalia (1648)

Question 3

What did the congress of Vienna aim to do?

Answer 3

establish a peaceful political landscape where no one power could dominate Europe.

Question 4

What is a state?

Answer 4

The area of land, of an independent country with well defined boundaries, within which there is a politically organised body of people under a single government.

Question 5

List some characteristics of states.

Answer 5

Defined territory which is internationally recognised
Sovereignty
Government recognised by other states- often achieved through UN elected membership
Independence
Permanent population with the right to vote

Question 6

Name some factors that allow a state to have power and influence.

Answer 6

Ability to exploit natural resources, geographical location, human resources, industrial development, trade strength, wealth, international relations, government policy, history, military power

Question 7

What is the fragile state index?

Answer 7

An index that measures the degree of a states resilience based on a wide range of social, political, economic and military indices.

Question 8

Give examples of categories on the fragile state index

Answer 8

Refugees per capita, fatalities from conflict, political prisoners.

Question 9

What is a nation?

Answer 9

A large group of people, with strong bonds or identity- united by a shared descent, history, traditions, culture and language.

Question 10

How are nations different to states?

Answer 10

A nation can be spread across many adjoining countries but a self-governing area with well-defined borders that may have many nationalities within it.

Question 11

How can governments build a sense of national identity?

Answer 11

Through a national curriculum, citizenship lessons, flags, anthems, national holidays, stadia, airlines, languages, myths, conscription.

Question 12

What does sovereignty mean?

Answer 12

Absolute authority which independent states exercise in the government in the land and people in their territories.

Question 13

What is internal sovereignty?

Answer 13

A state with exclusive authority within its borders and no other state can intervene in domestic policy.

Question 14

What is external sovereignity?

Answer 14

A state that can act independently and autonomously in the face of external forces. (example of a state with external sovereignty but not internal would be Somalia)

Question 15

Territorial integrity

Answer 15

The territory that a state exercises its sovereignty within.

Question 16

What is the Westphalian Model?

Answer 16

A model based upon the sovereignty, territorial integrity and equality of all states

Question 17

How has the legacy of colonialism threatened political boundaries?

Answer 17

Arbitrary political boundaries were drawn by European powers and caused ethnic partitioning.

Question 18

What is the EU?

Answer 18

A trading bloc which id not only and economic but political union. It has 27 sovereign states.

Question 19

What benefits doe the EU provide?

Answer 19

Integration which protect states interests. Ability to address air and water pollution and international crime. The EU also provides economic advantages such as protection of industry by common tariff and access to a large European market.

Question 20

What are the drawbacks of the EU?

Answer 20

States are required to implement EU laws and decision even if they did not vote for them. Cannot pass laws in the interest of their own state if in conflict with those of the EU. Cannot set own interest rates and have to accept austerity measures.

Question 21

How many member states are there in the UN?

Answer 21

193