Powers and Borders SG1

Question 1

Define State

Answer 1

An independent country with clear political borders and a government

Question 2

Define Sovereignty

Answer 2

The government has the power to make laws, defend its borders and make policies

Question 3

Define Sovereign State

Answer 3

An independent country run by a single government which exercises its power over its population and territory

Question 4

What are five features of a typical sovereign state?

Answer 4

Internationally recognised territory, Sovereignty, A government recognised by other states and the UN, Engagement in formal international relations, A population with the right to self-determination

Question 5

Why is the UK an example of a confusing sovereign state?

Answer 5

There is a leading government of the UK, but Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales all have their own governments as well

Question 6

Define Nation

Answer 6

A large group of people connected by a similar culture, language, history, etc.

Question 7

Define Nation State

Answer 7

A state that rules over a nation e.g. Iceland, Japan

Question 8

What is an example of a nation without a state?

Answer 8

Kurdistan

Question 9

What makes Kurdistan a stateless nation?

Answer 9

They have a shared culture, history, etc. but don’t have a country with clear borders and a government

Question 10

What are four features of a nation?

Answer 10

A group of people with strong sense of unity, Evolves over time, Can be without a fixed territory, Can have psychological/moral/spiritual/emotional authority

Question 11

What are six features of a state?

Answer 11

Defined territory, Independent and self-governed, Government recognised by other states, Legal responsibility for the welfare and security of its people. Actively created and maintained, May have UN membership

Question 12

Define Territorial Integrity

Answer 12

The territory of a sovereign state is defined by its borders, which can’t be broken, disrespected or infringed

Question 13

Define Westphalian Treaty

Answer 13

The norm whereby equality, sovereignty and territorial integrity for all states in Europe was created, named after the Peace of Westphalia in 1648

Question 14

Define Norms

Answer 14

Moral principals, customs and ways of living which are universally accepted as standard behaviour

Question 15

What is territorial integrity enshrined in?

Answer 15

The Charter of the UN (and it is an important part of international law)

Question 16

Define Self-Determination

Answer 16

The actions by which a country decides its own forms of statehood and government

Question 17

Define State Apparatus

Answer 17

The organisations and institutions which allow a state to have strong and effective sovereignty, and through which state power is exercised

Question 18

Define International Border

Answer 18

Geographical boundary of a sovereign state, defined and recognised by international law, and identified on the political map of the world

Question 19

Define International Law

Answer 19

Body of law that governs international relations between states or nations. This provides the framework for the obligations of states to be maintained e.g. treatment of refugees, trade, regulations of global commons

Question 20

Define Resilience

Answer 20

The degree to which an area can recover from the impacts of a hazard

Question 21

Define Territory

Answer 21

Extent of land under the jurisdiction of a sovereign state

Question 22

What can state apparatus affect?

Answer 22

The states ability to exploit resources, involve itself in international trade and gain access to supply chains

Question 23

What is the degree of resilience of a state measure by?

Answer 23

The Fragile States Index

Question 24

What does the Fragile States Index aim to assess?

Answer 24

A states resilience to conflict to collapse

Question 25

Will a country with less resilience have a high or low state fragility index?

Answer 25

High (and poor quality state apparatus)

Question 26

Define Geopolitics

Answer 26

The global balance of political power and international relations, The influence of human and physical geography on government activities, law making and decision making