Power and borders Flashcards
What is secession?
The transfer of part of a state’s area to another state
Give an example of how the world political map is dynamic
Secession of South Sudan from Sudan in 2011 - world’s newest country
Secession of 15 countries in Eastern Europe and central Asia from the USSR in 1991
Example of where international borders are disputed
Kashmir and Jammu area (disputed between India, China, Pakistan) - cultural religious and ethnic differences, but access to resources such as water is a very important factor
How have changes to the world political map changed through integration, rather than disintegration?
Political and economic grouping of countries - e.g. formation of trading blocs such as ASEAN or the EU, or global organisations such as the UN and G20
What is a state?
The area of land of an independent country, with well-defined and internationally recognised boundaries, within which there is a politically organised body of people under a single government
What is self-determination?
The right of a group with a distinctive territorial identity to freely determine its political status and freely pursue its economic, social and cultural development
What us state apparatus?
Set of institutions and organisations through which state power is achieved - internal political organisation, provision of health, education, and welfare, legal mechanisms, organisation of police and armed forces
List some factors that determine state power
Ability to exploit natural resources, strength of international trade and trade links, ability to gain access to global supply chains, human resources including levels of education and demographic structure, industrial development, international relations, government policies
What is the opposite of state fragility?
State resilience
What are some factors that can be used to measure state fragility?
Refugees per capita, number of political prisoners, corruption, fatalities from conflict - Fund for Peace (FFP) Fragility Index
What were the 3 most fragile states in 2015?
South Sudan (114.5), Somalia, Central African Republic
What were the 3 most resilient states in 2015?
Finland (17.8), Switzerland, Germany
What is a nation?
A large group of people with strong bonds of identity, which includes their shared descent, history, traditions, culture and language - may be confined to one country or its people may live in an area across adjoining countries, such as the Kurds or Basques
What is it called when a nation has an independent state of its own?
A nation-state (e.g. Japan) - boundaries of the state coincide with the geographical area inhabited by the nation
What is sovereignty?
The absolute authority exercised by governments of independent states over the land and people in their territory
A state has exclusive authority over its territory and no other state can intervene (internal sovereignty). A state cannot proclaim sovereignty, it must be recognised by other states. This ensures its territorial integrity and ability to enter international relations
Yes - sovereignty and territorial integrity increasingly challenged in globalised world of 21st century
What is territorial integrity?
Principle that the defined territory of a state, over which it has exclusive and legitimate control, is inviolable
Why is it important to maintain territorial integrity?
Important in achieving international peace, security and stability
What is article 2.4 in the Charter of the United Nations?
Member states must not use force or threaten the territorial integrity or political independence of any other state.
What is article 2.1 in the Charter of the United Nations?
The entire organisation of the UN is based on the sovereign equality of all its member states