Evolution of Nation State System

Nation State System and its Evolution

Outline

1.      Introduction

2.      State, Nation and Nation State

3.      Characteristics of State

                                i.            Population

                              ii.            Territory

                            iii.            Government

                            iv.            Sovereignty

                              v.            Recognition

                            vi.            Law

                          vii.            Permanence

4.      Characteristics of Nation State

                                i.            A nation

                              ii.            A territory

                            iii.            A political and geopolitical entity

                            iv.            Sovereignty – independent authority over a geographical territory

5.      Types of Nation State

                                i.            Multinational State

                              ii.            Part Nation

                            iii.            Stateless Nation

6.      Wallenstein World System Theory

                                i.            Core countries (Developed States)

                              ii.            Semi periphery (Developing States)

                            iii.            Periphery (Underdeveloped States)

7.      Types of states on the basis of shapes

                                i.            Elongated states

                              ii.            Fragmented states

                            iii.            Compact state

                            iv.            Prorupted state

                              v.            Land locked state

                            vi.            Perforated states

                          vii.            Enclave and exclave

8.      Evolution of Nation State System

a.       The Tribal states

b.      The Oriental Empire

                                                              i.      Ganges

                                                            ii.      Nile

                                                          iii.      Euphrates

                                                          iv.      Tigris

c.       The Greek City States (800 BC -500 BC)

                                                              i.      Athens and Sparta (Aristotle, Socrates, Pluto, Laboratory of Political Government in Human History)

                                                            ii.      Fall of Greek to Macedonia and Rome

d.      The Roman Empire (753 BC – 500 AD)

                                                              i.      Patrician

                                                            ii.      Plebeians

                                                          iii.      Republican form of government

                                                          iv.      First well organized and governed state

e.       The Feudal State

                                                              i.      Nobility became feudal who became ultimate authority of the respective land

                                                            ii.      Introduction of Hierarchical system in empire administration (God-Emperor-Kings-Tenants in Chief-Tenants (Vassals and Serfs))

                                                          iii.      Customs and traditions replaced roman local codes

                                                          iv.      Destroy the sovereignty and unity of the state

                                                            v.      Destroy the organized political life

                                                          vi.      Political powers monopolized around economic powers

                                                        vii.      No central authority

                                                      viii.      No common law

                                                          ix.      No common citizenship

                                                            x.      Establishment of Holy Roman Empire by Charlemagne.

9.      Modern Nation State (Characteristics of modern nation state system)

                                                              i.      Integrated territory of state

                                                            ii.      Unified central control

                                                          iii.      Loyalty of people to central authority

                                                          iv.      Hierarchy division of authority

                                                            v.      Spirit of nationalism

10.  Factors responsible for the growth of nationalism

                                                              i.      Emergence of commercialism and industrialism in the womb of feudalism. Rise of bourgeoisies class

                                                            ii.      Renaissance and Reformation

                                                          iii.      Machiavelli and Hobbes contribution

                                                          iv.      Establishment of International Law

                                                            v.      Emergence of theory of sovereignty and equality of states

                                                          vi.      Treaty of Westphalia

                                                        vii.      Glorious Revolution

                                                      viii.      The French Revolution

                                                          ix.      Emergence of one nations and one state concept

                                                            x.      Emergence and development of democratic institutions

                                                          xi.      Treaty of Paris

                                                        xii.      Unsatisfied nationalities erupted into world war

11.  Conclusion  

Definition of Various Concepts

State: A state is a political unit with governance controlling a territory and its inhabitants. It provides political and legal foundations for the identity of its citizens.

Nation: A nation denotes a common ethnic and cultural identity shared by people. It promotes emotional relationship among its members.

Nation State: A high coincidence between the territory occupied by a nation and that which is organized as a state. A nation which has its own political structure for the territory it occupies. The term nation state has been used by social scientists to denote the gradual fusion of cultural and political boundaries after a long control of political authority by a central government.”The nation state system is the pattern of political life in which people are separately organized into sovereign states that interact with one another in varying degrees and in varying ways.” Palmer

Types of Nation State

Multinational State: A state in which more than one nation resides. e.g. UAE, USA, UK, India, Pakistan, etc

Part Nation: A nation where territory may expand beyond the territory of a state and may encompass several states. e.g. Arab Nation, Sikh in India and Pakistan and Kashmir,

Stateless Nation: An ethnic group which is divided among countries and which does not comprise the majority of the population of any of the countries. e.g. Poles from Treaty of Versailles, Kurds divided among Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq

Wallerstein’s World Systems Theory:  proposes that social change in the developing world is inextricably linked to the economic activities of the developed world

Core – Processes that incorporate higher levels of education, higher salaries and more technology; generate more wealth than periphery countries in the world economy

Semi-Periphery – Places where core & periphery processes are both occurring; places that are exploited by the core but in turn exploit the periphery

Periphery – Processes that incorporate lower levels of education, lower salaries, and less technology; and generate less wealth than core countries in the world economy

Types of States according to Geography

Elongated states: States have long and narrow shapes. Such states are difficult to manage and defend due to poor internal communication. Capital of such states may be isolated.  e.g. Chilli, Italy

Fragmented states: States that are divided into several discontinuous pieces of territory or fragments which may be separated by water or intervening states. e.g. Philippine, Indonesia, Russia,

Compact state: Those states are theoretically round in shape which helps them to improved communication with shortest possible boundaries to defend and management become efficient and easy. Such states have capital in center. Portugal

Prorupted state: States with huge projecting extension of land which may be natural or for gaining access to natural resources or water or to create a “Buffer Zone” e.g. Afghanistan

Land locked state: Those states which are surrounded by land and don not have attached boundary with sea or ocean. e.g. Afghanistan, Tajikistan,

Perforated states:

Enclave and exclave: An area surrounded by a country but rule by it is called enclave. It can be self governing or exclave of another country. While exclave is part national territory separated from the main body of the country to which it belongs.  

Reference: Notes on Evolution of Nation State System are taken from History.com, encyclopedia of Britannica, Scholar articles and other internet sources. Thanks for these internet sources who shared perfect knowledge and maximum correct history.