What is a Nation-State?

1285 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Impact of culture on identity

The first few days of class, I remember going over the significance of a nation-state. Everyone identified it as a country governed under one government, however, what exactly is a nation-state? It was decided that in order to understand its meaning we would dissected the word; a nation was identified not as a physical identity but rather how individual identify themselves, which can be interpreted as what you think of yourself. A state was determined to be the physical characteristics, such as the boarders of a land, it also constitutes of human resources and governmental agencies. Thus, a nation-state is both the identity of individuals and the physical aspects mentioned above.

Historically, a nation-state has been a territory autonomous and self-interested, which is created through political, social, and national values. With end of the Thirty Years War the Peace of Westphalia emerged. This treaty was signed in 1648, which established the sovereignty of nation-states and have them the ability to levy taxes, form national governments, and protect its sovereignty without violating others (Ray and Kaarbo 28). However, as nation-state’s economic markets and corporations began to blur national boarders, technological advances, and creation of organizations in response to international emergencies; the historical interpretation had to evolve and mutate in order to adjust to today’s globalized time period.

First, the nation-state has evolved with the aspect of market and economic global interdependence. Exports and imports have always been a powerful characteristic that unites the world’s economy. When the western hemisphere was discovered the European nations began to export the natural resources and good. However, over time this ...

... middle of paper ...

...ernment to govern its people. Thus, although the historical concept of a nation state is not diminishing it is evolving through transnationalism and globalization generated with the nation-state’s economic markets and corporations crossing national boarders, technological advances, and creation of Nongovernmental Organizations and Intergovernmental Organizations. In today’s society the world is truly interdependent, each nation-state has become an important part in the world’s model of System Analysis and with one part missing it is unable to properly function.

Works Cited

"The Face of Egypt's Social Networking Revolution." Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News. CBS News. 24 Oct. 2011 .

Ray, James L. Global Politics. Ninth ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2007.

Show More
Related

  • Capturing the Friedmans

    1458 Words  | 3 Pages

    Capturing the Friedmans In 2003, Andrew Jarecki released his documentary "Capturing the Friedmans", which explores a seemingly normal middle-class families struggle when the father and son are charged with sexual abuse and molestation in 1987. The Friedmans from the outside seem like a healthy family, abiding in a fairly exclusive Great Neck, Long Island community; the father Arnold is a Columbia graduate and a school teacher, while the mother Elaine, a housewife. They have three sons David, Seth, and Jessie whom appear to be a happy, intelligent, and good-humored group of brothers. The power and prestige of this film comes not from its controversial and serious subject matter, but from the unbiased way in which the story is presented.

    Read More

  • American Exceptionalism and Globalization: A Historical Perspective

    740 Words  | 2 Pages

    The dispute that throughout “American Exceptionalism”, is an ancient perception of which becomes a well-respected idea that is idealistically important throughout history, it makes what America will become and forever be known as. It reflects on the ideas of foreign policies to become what we call America today; in which it remains the current movement in globalization. Eric Rauchway, Blessed Among Nations, explains that globalizations the movement of the regional economies, societies, and cultures that is combined through a constituent network of communication to lower a violation of social more, which makes America a world-wide leader in combating the cultural violation to these social mores. In our time, it seems that globalization has become an large extent the product of American policies since WWII.

    Read More

  • Why States Go to War

    1695 Words  | 4 Pages

    States, what can be classified as a state? A state must meet three criteria. First it must be an association of people. Second the state must demonstrate organization. It must be politically stable, effective in decision-making, and have the support of the citizens of that state. A government is a prime example of states acting as a whole. Thirdly, the most important criteria, boundaries of a state must be defined. In 1952 sovereignty was invented and i...

    Read More

  • fog of war

    1454 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to realist view ordering principle of the international system is based on anarchy. There is no higher authority other than the states themselves to check and balance their actions. Consequently, nation-states are the main players in this system. In other words, sovereignty inheres in states, because there is not a higher ruling body in the international system. This is known as state centrism. Survival is an obligation continuing to be sovereign. On the other hand, sovereignty is the characteristic feature of states and its meaning is strongly tied to use of force. According to the most of the realist variants, states are “black boxes”; the determinative factor is states’ observable behavior, not their leaders’ characteristics, their decision making processes or their government systems.

    Read More

  • Theories Explaining International Relations Dynamics

    1448 Words  | 3 Pages

    The international setting is home to 196 countries and many international organizations in the world today. The number of countries and organizations in the world is a malleable figure that is constantly fluctuating. Over history, we have learned about countries conquering others, colonies forming their own countries, and countries forming their own colonies. Keeping track of the ever-changing states in the international system has been an overwhelming process. To make life simpler, over the past couple hundreds of years, in an effort to organize the states motivations to make bold decisions, we have developed theories to explain the process. These theories are backed with hard evidence and reaffirmation by other scholars over time. The main

    Read More

  • Must Every Nation Have Their Own State if They Want One?

    995 Words  | 2 Pages

    The belief of a nation running their own state is a right for most of us. However, this is only a new conviction. The right for one to sovereign their own nation has come due with hard work. Illicit imperialism has stricken humanity for numerous years. Due to the aspiration of power certain nations today do not self-govern their own state. But why would there be a desire for this power? Some of the main items include natural resources, increased assets, and military expansion. Ideally this is great if this is voluntary external rule, but when it’s no longer voluntary this is when the boundary has been crossed. This is why every nation should have control over their own state if they desire.

    Read More

  • Individuality And Conformity In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World

    1015 Words  | 3 Pages

    First of all, The World State takes away individuality and forces its people, through conditioning, to conform to the society’s motto of Community, Identity, and Stability. The most effective way the World State conditions its people is through

    Read More

  • The Conflict Between the Ukraine and Russia

    1600 Words  | 4 Pages

    Globalization has effect the role of the state immensely; as the process of present’s challenges to state sovereignty and autonomy. In spite of borders becoming more ill-defined and fluid in as a result of the process of globalization (Weiss 2000, 2-3). The state will remain relevant and necessary because citizens need a place to cast their votes, taxes have to be paid to particular authorities, which can be held accountable for pub...

    Read More

  • International System Essay

    926 Words  | 2 Pages

    The international system is an anarchical system which means that, unlike the states, there is no over ruling, governing body that enforces laws and regulations that all states must abide by. The International System in today’s society has become highly influential from a number of significant factors. Some of these factors that will be discussed are Power held by the state, major Wars that have been fought out in recent history and international organisations such as the U.N, NATO and the W.T.O. Each of these factors, have a great influence over the international system and as a result, the states abilities to “freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development”.

    Read More

  • Characteristics of the Modern Nation-State

    1609 Words  | 4 Pages

    This essay will describe the characteristics of the modern nation-state, explain how the United States fits the criteria of and functions as a modern nation-state, discuss the European Union as a transnational entity, analyze how nation-states and transnational entities engage on foreign policy to achieve their interests, and the consequences of this interaction for international politics.

    Read More

  • What is State Formation and How Does It Occur?

    1329 Words  | 3 Pages

    To examine what state formation is and how it has occurred the logical route seems to assess from where they have evolved. The notion of the state is a relatively recent concept, for example in 1555 there existed only two national states, England and France. With otherwise the existence of disorganised and corrupt empires, federations and protectorates. It appears states have formed despite the many obstacles facing their development. Not only did the challenges of securing territory exist but ri...

    Read More

  • Global Governance: Globalization and Non-State Actors

    2012 Words  | 5 Pages

    “The process of globalization and the increasing role of non-state actors in global governance are undermining the role of the state as the principal actor in global policymaking.”

    Read More

  • Globalization: The Path to Destruction

    1766 Words  | 4 Pages

    Just imagine waking up in squalor, a once prominent society, now a desolate wasteland. All because foreign interest has raped your land of its natural resources and you seen not a cent in profit. Although, globalization is unifying the worlds developed nations and is bringing commerce to nations that have struggle in past years. True, globalization has many positive effects but do the pros outweigh the cons. In this essay I will discuss Globalization ruining the integrity of many countries and also is forcing many undeveloped nations into a bind, and is causing economic distress on some developed nations. Also, due to economic globalization the nations of the world are diluting their culture, sovereignty, natural resources, safety and political system. My goal is not to change your way of thought, but only to enlighten you of the negatives of global economic expansion.

    Read More

  • Globalization and State Sovereignty

    1784 Words  | 4 Pages

    There is an undeniable fact that there has been a rise in globalization. It has become a hot topic amongst the field of international politics. With the rise of globalization, the sovereignty of the state is now being undermined. It has become an undisputed fact that the world has evolved to a new level of globalization, the transferring goods, information, ideas and services around the globe has changed at an unimaginable rate. With all that is going on, one would question how globalization has changed the system that is typically a collection of sovereign states. Do states still have the main source of power? What gives a state the right to rule a geographically defined region? It is believed by many that due to the introduction of international systems and increasing rate of globalization, the sovereignty of the state has been slowly eroded over time. My paper has two parts: First, it aims to take a close look at how globalization has changed the way the economy worked, specifically how it opened doors for multinational corporations to rise in power. Second, to answer the question, is it possible for it to exist today? And even so, should it?

    Read More

  • International Organizations

    1673 Words  | 4 Pages

    There are three main arguments concerning the discussion over the amount of power regimes have in the international system. The neo-realist argument is the first one where regimes are not merely considered as inadequate, but sometimes deceptive. This perspective is regarded as conventional structural. Keohane and Stein support the second argument, which states that regimes have certain worth, but only under particular conditions. Finally, the Grotian argument perceives regimes as an essential, secondary phenomenon feature of human nature. The connection of international and domestic stakeholders, through benefits, influence, standards, societies, and knowledge lead to the likely development of regimes.

    Read More

More about What is a Nation-State?

Open Document