Unit 4 Topic 1 Flashcards
What is sovereignty?
The authority of a state to govern itself including domestic and international affairs
What is a country?
The most general term to describe any political entity that is independent from the control of any other entity
What is a state?
A geographic area with a permanent population, defined borders, sovereign government, and is recognized by other states (not to be confused with American states).
What is the criteria for a state?
The largest political unit for a country
Has a defined boundary
Contains a permanent population
Maintains its own sovereignty
Is recognized as a state
What is a nation?
A group of people with a shared culture, language, history, homeland, and self-determination
-Often live within defined borders
What is a nation-state.
A sovereign state with a relatively homogenous population that has a shared language, culture, and history. The state essentially has one main nation that resides within its border.
-Has a strong central government
-Has a strong sense of national unity
What is a multinational state?
A state that has more than one nation within its borders. The state has a variety of nations that reside within its borders
Can be challenging to govern
What is a multi-state nation?
A group of people who share a common identity, culture, and history, but are dispersed across multiple countries or states
What is a city-state?
A sovereign state with political and economic control over the surrounding countryside.
What is a microstate?
Independent countries that are very small in both area and population
Usually less than 1,000,000 people
Examples: Malta, Monaco, San Marino, Liechtenstein, etc.
What is a stateless nation?
A nation that has a history of self-termination but does not have a recognized state.
What does a stateless nation lack?
AT LEAST ONE OF THESE:
Control over political boundaries
Government with sovereign rule
Control over its internal and external affair
Recognition from other states
What is self-determination?
The right or desire for a nation, or group of people, to govern themselves
What is an autonomous region?
A geographic area that is located within a state and has a high degree of autonomy from the state.
What is a semi-autonomous region?
A geographic area that is controlled by another state, but only has a moderate degree of self governance. The controlling state will step in when they feel like it is in their best interest to do so.
