Nation, State, or Nation-State?

AP Human Geography - Damon - 2017

What is the Difference Between a Nation and a

State?• Nation: group of people who share a common language, culture,

ethnicity, descent, history• State: organized community living under one government; has the

8 characteristics of a State

8 Characteristics of a State(Synonym = Country)

1. Territory with recognized boundaries2. Permanent population3. Economic system (currency, exchange of

goods & services, trade, etc.)4. Social system (health care, education etc.)5. Transportation system6. Government providing services & order7. Sovereignty (independence)8. External recognition

How Many States in the World Today?

196!

States Recognizing Kosovo

External Recognition Example: Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008. Only the green countries on the map recognize Kosovo as

an independent State.

Where Did The Concept of the Modern State Diffuse From?

When?• Modern State arose in Europe in the 1600s

– Diffused globally by 1900• Pre-1600s, sovereignty was held over

people, not territory– Empires, kingdoms, etc.

Sovereignty Established

When were independent States established in China? India? Europe? The Americas? The Middle East?

Southeast Asia? Africa?

What Is a Nation-State?

Nation-state: A nation with its own State

Multinational States and Multistate Nations

• Multinational State: many nations, one State

• Multistate nation: many States, one nation

Nations: England, Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland State: United Kingdom

Nation: Arab States: 22

JapanNation? State? Nation-State?

CanadaNation? State? Nation-State?

BelgiumNation? State? Nation-State?

KoreaNation? State? Nation-State?

TaiwanNation? State? Nation-State?

Nations Becoming States Greatly Changed the World Map in the 20th

Century

Note Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia

1945 = 51 U.N. Members 2017 = 193 U.N. Members

Soviet Union (USSR)

State Existed From 1922 to 1991

Yugoslavia

State Existed From 1943-1991

Territories Are Not States - No Sovereignty

• Examples:– Hong Kong– Bermuda– Greenland– Puerto Rico

Microstates

• Have very small population or very small land area

• Examples:– Monaco– Andorra– Liechtenstein– Vatican City– Nauru– Palau

Many Stateless Nations

Example: Palestine - A nation, but no State

Many Stateless NationsExample: Kurdistan - A nation, but no

State