Powers and Borders - Key Concepts Flashcards
What is a State?
An independent country with clear boundaries and a single government.
What is a Nation?
A large group of people with strong bonds. Can have a shared culture, language and history. Can spread over more than one state.
What is the difference between a Nation and a State?
The difference is a nation is a group of people who share common characteristics, whereas a state is a sovereign territory with defined borders.
What is the the term Sovereignty?
The ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY that independent states have in the government of its land and people within its territory.
How is Sovereignty sustained INTERNALLY?
A state has EXCLUSIVE authority within its territory and no other state can intervene in its domestic politics.
How is Sovereignty sustained EXTERNALLY?
There has to be mutual, international recognition among other sovereign states that the state exists.
What is Territorial Integrity?
Land that you own.
What are the principles of Territorial Integrity?
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
How is Sovereignty challenged?
It is challenged when another state intervenes with its government, land and people.
How is Territorial Integrity challenged?
It is challenged when another state invades or attempts to seize land.
What is Geopolitics?
The global balance of political power and international relations.
How is imbalance created within Geopolitics?
Some states are more powerful than others - some are even SUPERPOWERS.
What is a Superpower?
A Superpower is a status given to a country if they have:
Economic Power
Military Power
Political Power
Cultural Power
Resources
What is Hegemony?
Leadership or dominance.
A brief history on Superpowers.
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
What is a Norm?
Moral principles, customs and behaviours that are embedded by international law.
What is an example of a Norm?
A norm is that all states are equal with all fulfilling their obligations to their citizens.
What is the conundrum with Norms?
They can sometimes be fragile and not apply in instances (e.g. the right to intervene during a human rights crisis).
What is the term Intervention?
Actions taken by internal organisations to resolve conflicts or a humanitarian crisis.
When are Interventions executed?
They are deemed necessary when:
Human rights are violated
Civil war/corruption
Terrorism
Article 51 of UN Charter is triggered.
What are some examples of Interventions?
Economic sanctions
Military Intervention
Peacekeeping
Humanitarian assistance
Arrests and charges
Why are Interventions controversial?
State integrity within its borders is classified as a Norm, therefore Sovereignty is undermined with Interventions.
What is R2P?
Responsibility 2 Protect - An international Norm to ensure populations do not go through war or genocide.
How was R2P created and when has it been exacted?
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.
