Definitions

• State 


  The area of land of an independent country with well-defined boundaries and a single government
• Nation


  A large group of people that are connected by history, culture or another commonality
• Sovereignty


  The absolute power of government over their land and people in their territory
• Territorial integrity


  The principle that another state cannot intervene with the defined territory of a state
• Characteristics of a state:

  • A defined territory that is internationally recognised
  • Sovereignty - the absolute power of government over their land and people
  • Government recognised by other states ( usually through the UN )
  • It is self-governing and independent
  • It has a permanent population which has the right to have self-determination ( freely determine their political status )
• Nation-state


  When a nation has an independent state of their own
• Fragile state


  A country which lacks authority, fails to provide services and/or lacks legitimacy
• Supranational organisation


  Having power or authority that is greater than that of single countries

  Example: EU or UN
• 2 political processes where sovereignty is sustained:

  1. Internal sovereignty: A state has exclusive authority within its bounded territory and no other state can intervene in its domestic politics
  2. External sovereignty: A state cannot simply proclaim sovereignty, there has to be a mutual recognition between other sovereign states to ensure territorial integrity
• Sovereign authority


  Exists beyond land, also applies to:

  • rocks, soil, minerals and space beneath the surface
  • Agreed areas of sea and sea-bed resources
  • Agreed air space
• The Charter of the United Nations

  • The important documents that refer to the importance of territorial integrity
  • Norms are based on principles set in the Charter of the United Nations which outline the universally accepted understanding of sovereignty and territorial integrity
• Norms

  • Moral principles, customs and ways of living that are universally accepted as standard behaviour
  • Norms are based on principles set in the Charter of the United Nations which outline the universally accepted understanding of sovereignty and territorial integrity
• Intervention

  • Actions of a state, group of states or international organisations in a foreign territory to end gross violations of human rights
  • Includes military force, economic sanctions and the assistance of NGOs
• Types of interventions:

  • Economic sanctions
  • Military intervention authorised by the UN
  • Humanitarian assistance by NGOs and aid agencies
  • Intervention is controversial as it can be argued that the act of intervention undermines the principle of sovereignty
• Geopolitics


  The way in which geographical factors have been and continue to be central in shaping international politics
• Border


  A boundary between two states that is internally and externally recognised
• State fragility index


  An index between 0-120 published by The Fund for Peace, which scores states on a level of stability/ fragility
• Nation building


  The act of strengthening the bonds between a group of people so they identify more strongly as belonging to a particular nation
• United Nations - UN Charter

  An intergovernmental organisation set up in October 1945

  It aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations and achieve international cooperation
• state apparatus


  A set of institutions and organisations through which state power is exercised. They include legal mechanisms, administrative organisations, police and armed forces
• Self determination


  The act of a group of people to determine their political status and freely pursue the economic, social and cultural development within a defined territory
• secession


  The transfer of part of a state's area and population to another state
• Civil war


  A war between citizens of the same country
• Ethnic conflicts


  A conflict between two or more contending ethnic groups
• Separatist Movement


  A group that culturally or politically separate from the ruling government
• Insurgency


  An active revolt or uprising within a country
• Annexation


  Forcibly acquisition of one state's territory by another state