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