Power And Borders

Question 1

What is a state

Answer 1

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 2

Characteristics of a state

Answer 2

Defined territory
Sovereignty
Government recognised by other states
Capacity to engage in formal relations with other states
Independence
Permanent population

Question 3

What is a nation

Answer 3

A large group of people with strong bonds of identity. Bonded by a shared descent, history, traditions, culture and language eg Kurds

Question 4

Where are nations

Answer 4

A nation may be confined to one country, or its people may live in an area across adjoining countries, or scattered globally in a diaspora.

Question 5

What is a nation state

Answer 5

A state that has sovereignty over a single nation. The boundaries of the state coincide with the geographical area inhabitated by the nation

Question 6

What is sovereignty

Answer 6

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

Question 7

How is sovereignty sustained

Answer 7

Internal sovereignty- a state has exclusively authority within its bounded territory and no other state can intervene in its domestic politics.

External sovereignty- a state cannot simply proclaim sovereignty there has to be a mutual recognition among over sovereign states.

Question 8

Where does sovereign authority exist

Answer 8

Spatial land area
Rocks, soils, minerals and space beneath the surface
Agreed areas of sea and sea bed resources
Agreed air space

Question 9

What are norms

Answer 9

Norms are derived from moral principles, customs and behaviours which have developed over time. Embedded in international law to be upheld by state governments and citizens

Question 10

Where are norms found

Answer 10

UN charter

Question 11

What is intervention

Answer 11

Actions of international organisations in resolving conflicts of humanitarian crises arising from challenges to sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Eg economic intervention or military intervention

Question 12

When is intervention necessary

Answer 12

State govt failing to protect its citizens from violation of human rights
Civil war is the result of corrupt governance
Conflict between ethnic groups
Religious fundamentalism or terrorism have serious effects.
TNCs have negative economic, social or environmental impacts on countries in which they invest

Question 13

What is geopolitics

Answer 13

The global balance of political power and international relations.

Question 14

Examples of intervention

Answer 14

Economic sanctions

Military intervention

Missions of regional organisations such as NATO

humanitarian assistance by civil society organisations

Question 15

Why are there inequalities among countries

Answer 15

Wealth
Political strength
Level of development

Question 16

What does the Westphalian model describe

Answer 16

A state cannot violate the sovereignty or territory or another state since, in this respect, they are all equal

Question 17

How can the Westphalian concepts be challenged

Answer 17

Contested territory
Separatism
Factional or sectarian tensions
Transnational movement of terrorist and extremist activity
Contested maritime boundaries
Legacy of colonialism

Question 18

Example of contested territory

Answer 18

Russia’s annexation of Crimea and support for separists in Ukraine

Uk and Argentinian claims over the Falkland Islands

Question 19

Example sod separatism

Answer 19

Claims for secessions in by basque and Catalan national groups in Spain

Scottish nationalists in uk

Question 20

Example of factional or sectarian tensions

Answer 20

In the Middle East and North Africa where political and ethnic conflict challenge sovereignty and territorial integrity

Question 21

Example of transnational movement of terrors it of extremist activity

Answer 21

Across the turkey - Syria border where smuggling of foreign fighters, oil, weapons and other military supplies threatens territorial integrity and sovereign control of the two countries

Question 22

Example of the legacy of colonialism

Answer 22

‘Scramble for africa’ - arbitrary political boundaries and European administration of territory causes ethnic partitioning

Question 23

What are transnational corporations

Answer 23

Large corporate enterprises which operate in more than one country

Question 24

How have tncs been criticised

Answer 24

Business decisions to invest or reinvest, affecting the lives of many people, have been taken outside the host country which has little or no involvement

Disrespect for human rights through exploitation, low wages, long hours, poor working conditions, child labour

Question 25

Why are tncs important for developing countries

Answer 25

Are a driving force of global economic integration

Lidcs becoming reliant on them to integrate their economy into the global economy and to encourage development

Question 26

What is the problem with tncs in lidcs

Answer 26

Their business decisions and how they treat their workers the state government has little control over so they cannot protect their citizens. They are so dependent on them to help their economy that these issues are able to take place