Powers and Borders - Key Concepts

Question 1

What is a State?

Answer 1

An independent country with clear boundaries and a single government.

Question 2

What is a Nation?

Answer 2

A large group of people with strong bonds. Can have a shared culture, language and history. Can spread over more than one state.

Question 3

What is the difference between a Nation and a State?

Answer 3

The difference is a nation is a group of people who share common characteristics, whereas a state is a sovereign territory with defined borders.

Question 4

What is the the term Sovereignty?

Answer 4

The ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY that independent states have in the government of its land and people within its territory.

Question 5

How is Sovereignty sustained INTERNALLY?

Answer 5

A state has EXCLUSIVE authority within its territory and no other state can intervene in its domestic politics.

Question 6

How is Sovereignty sustained EXTERNALLY?

Answer 6

There has to be mutual, international recognition among other sovereign states that the state exists.

Question 7

What is Territorial Integrity?

Answer 7

Land that you own.

Question 8

What are the principles of Territorial Integrity?

Answer 8

States exercise their sovereignty within a specific territory, the boundaries of which have been established by international law.

The defined territory of a state, over which it has exclusive and legitimate control, is inviolable - UN Charter

Question 9

How is Sovereignty challenged?

Answer 9

It is challenged when another state intervenes with its government, land and people.

Question 10

How is Territorial Integrity challenged?

Answer 10

It is challenged when another state invades or attempts to seize land.

Question 11

What is Geopolitics?

Answer 11

The global balance of political power and international relations.

Question 12

How is imbalance created within Geopolitics?

Answer 12

Some states are more powerful than others - some are even SUPERPOWERS.

Question 13

What is a Superpower?

Answer 13

A Superpower is a status given to a country if they have:

Economic Power
Military Power
Political Power
Cultural Power
Resources

Question 14

What is Hegemony?

Answer 14

Leadership or dominance.

Question 15

A brief history on Superpowers.

Answer 15

1600 - 1945: The British Empire

1946 - 1991: Bi-polar world - USA and Soviet Union

1991 - collapse of Berlin Wall and USSR

1991 - present: Uni-polar world - USA

Present: Multiple superpowers - USA and China

Question 16

What is a Norm?

Answer 16

Moral principles, customs and behaviours that are embedded by international law.

Question 17

What is an example of a Norm?

Answer 17

A norm is that all states are equal with all fulfilling their obligations to their citizens.

Question 18

What is the conundrum with Norms?

Answer 18

They can sometimes be fragile and not apply in instances (e.g. the right to intervene during a human rights crisis).

Question 19

What is the term Intervention?

Answer 19

Actions taken by internal organisations to resolve conflicts or a humanitarian crisis.

Question 20

When are Interventions executed?

Answer 20

They are deemed necessary when:

Human rights are violated
Civil war/corruption
Terrorism
Article 51 of UN Charter is triggered.

Question 21

What are some examples of Interventions?

Answer 21

Economic sanctions
Military Intervention
Peacekeeping
Humanitarian assistance
Arrests and charges

Question 22

Why are Interventions controversial?

Answer 22

State integrity within its borders is classified as a Norm, therefore Sovereignty is undermined with Interventions.

Question 23

What is R2P?

Answer 23

Responsibility 2 Protect - An international Norm to ensure populations do not go through war or genocide.

Question 24

How was R2P created and when has it been exacted?

Answer 24

Came into play after a lack of effort to Rwandan and Bosnian genocides in the 1990s.

Was first invoked in 2011, Libya. Most recently deployed in 2014, Syria.

Question 25

What is the term Autonomy?

Answer 25

The quality or state of being self governing.

Question 26

What is the term Self Determination?

Answer 26

When people require more autonomy, a change in citizenship, independence and their own state, with sovereignty.

Question 27

How can Self Determination be demanded?

Answer 27

People are discriminated and treated unequally; their territory has control over resources > independence would make them wealthier and more free to practice their own culture and customs.

Question 28

Why is Self Determination rarely supported?

Answer 28

It encourages other regions to secede. It also creates terrorist tactics or acts of violence. It is also complicated as becoming a state requires other states to recognise that state.