What is a state?

• Nation State

  The nation state is the political entity of the modern era and part of the Westphalian system.
• State Sovereignty

  Independent control over a states territory.
• Equality of States

  Every states sovereignty is equal.
• UN Recognition

  The UN recognises 193 states, which are best described as nation states.
• Characteristics of a nation

  Shared language, ethnicity, religion and region. Some needed but not all.
• Kurdistan Case Study ( Nation not state)

  30 - 40 million Kurds worldwide.

  Split across, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Germany.

  Shared language, culture, religion and ethnicity.

  Attempted to establish a state in Northern Syria, subject to violent oppression by Husseins government.

  Face government oppression in Turkey, the words 'Kurd + Kurdistan' banned, who consider them terrorists.
• Defined Territory

  Who owns which land, essential for statehood.

  E.g. Conflict over The Falklands between the UK and Argentina.
• Permanent Population

  People must live permanently in that territory.

  E.g. Antartica has no population, so cannot be considered a state.
• Functioning Government

  State must be able to enforce law and exercise sovereignty.
• Recognition by other States

  Other states must see it as a state in order to enter relations.

  E.g. Kosovo is recognised by other states, but not the UN.
• Taiwan Case Study ( Unrecognised State)

  De-Facto state, essentially a state.

  International relations, functioning government, territory and population.

  However few states recognise Taiwan as such.