19.1.1
Nations & Self-Determination
Nations
Nations
Nations are groups of people who identify themselves as a cohesive unit based on shared values in society.
Nations and countries
Nations and countries
- The nation is the central focus of politics and political activity.
- A nation does not just relate to a country. A nation may also be a political unit within a country.
- E.g. Scotland
- E.g. Quebec
- A nation without a state, like Scotland or Quebec, may pursue a form of minority nationalism, whereby it seeks self-determination from the host-state in order to improve the economic, social and political condition of its people.
Nations and sovereignty
Nations and sovereignty
- A nation may or may not have sovereignty depending on its constitutional settlement.
- For example, while Scotland has control over health and education, it is not sovereign. The UK government can take this power back by a simple majority in the UK Parliament.
- In federal countries, however, some degree of sovereignty is given. French-speaking Quebec is a nation due to its language, culture, and traditions and also has sovereignty as a member of Canada.
Defining nations
Defining nations
- The cohesiveness of a nation may be based on, for example, language, religion, ancestry, history and/or race.
- A nation may not have the political structures that it desires. The people of a nation have common bonds which foster a sense of kinship but lack political autonomy.
- Some nations lack distinct territory; for example, Kurds and Palestinians meet the requirements of a nation but have no territory of their own.
Example - Scotland
Example - Scotland
- Scotland is within the UK but has a distinct identity that is rooted in its history as a separate country.
- Despite the creation of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government in 1999 and the devolution of significant powers to Scotland, the SNP has consistently argued for independence from the UK.
- They argue that Scotland can only achieve its true potential outside the UK and the aspirational character of this nationalism is replicated in most nations.
Self-Determination
Self-Determination
Self-determination is the idea that the nation should have the right to govern itself and that only self-government can achieve the outcomes that are in the interest of the nation.
Statehood
Statehood
- The achievement of an independent nation-state (statehood) is the ultimate, and most desirable, goal.
- Forms of political autonomy, like devolution in Scotland, are welcome but are not enough to satisfy the need for self-determination.
- Only statehood (the formation of an independent nation-state) will suffice.
Forms of self-determination
Forms of self-determination
- The desire for self-determination today takes a number of forms:
- Nations without territory: the Kurds, for example, have no territory of their own. The desire for their own nation-state has led some to take up arms against host-states who they feel illegally and unfairly occupy their territory.
- Nations that are occupied or under coercive control: Taiwan is a nation which has been de facto independent since 1950. However, its sovereignty is disputed by China which seeks its reunification with the mainland.
Forms of self-determination
Forms of self-determination
- The desire for self-determination today takes a number of forms:
- Nations seeking independence by democratic means: Scotland, Quebec and Catalonia seek independence through secession - the severing of the territory from the host state (the UK, Canada and Spain).
- They seek a mandate for this action by achieving a majority in a referendum.
- This implies that the route to statehood is through negotiation.
International law
International law
- International law, after WW2, recognised the right to self-determination.
- In the latter half of the twentieth century, self-determination was achieved through independence from Empires (as in Africa) or larger political units (as in eastern Europe from the Soviet Union).
- It became a jus cogens rule, a law that all states recognise as binding.
- However, this does not give an automatic right to statehood so nations usually have to prove that they have majority national support.
1Democracy & Participation
1.1Representative & Direct Democracy
1.2Wider Franchise & Suffrage
1.3Pressure Groups & Other Influences
2Political Parties
2.1How Political Parties Work
2.2Established Political Parties
2.3Emerging & Minor Political Parties
3Electoral Systems
3.1Different Electoral Systems
3.2Referendums & How They Are Used
4Voting Behaviour & the Media
5Conservatism
5.1Conservatism: Core Ideas & Principles
5.2Conservatism: Differing Views & Tensions
6Liberalism
6.1Liberalism: Core Ideas & Principles
6.2Differing Views And Tensions Within Liberalism
7Socialism
7.1Socialism: Core Ideas & Principles
7.2Differing Views And Tensions Within Socialism
8The UK Constitution
8.1Nature & Sources of UK Constitution
8.2Constitutional Change since 1997
8.3Role & Powers of Devolved UK Bodies
9The UK Parliament
9.1Houses of Parliament
9.2Comparative Powers
9.3Legislative Process
10The Prime Minister & the Executive
10.1The Executive
10.2Ministerial Responsibility
10.3Prime Minister & the Cabinet
10.3.1Role of the Prime Minister
10.3.2Prime Minister's Powers
10.3.3Limits on the Prime Minister's Powers
10.3.4Role of the Cabinet
10.3.5Prime Minister & Cabinet: Relations
10.3.6Prime Minister & Cabinet: Balance of Power
10.3.7Prime Minister & Cabinet: Case Studies
10.3.8End of Topic Test - PM & Cabinet
10.3.9Top Grade AO3/4 - PM & Cabinet
11Relationships Between Government Branches
11.1The Supreme Court
11.2Parliament & Executive Relations
11.3The European Union & the UK
11.4Sovereignty in the UK Political System
12US Constitution & Federalism
12.1Nature of the US Constitution
12.2Principles of the US Constitution
12.3Federalism
13US Congress
13.1Structure of Congress
13.2Functions of Congress
14US Presidency
14.1Presidential Power
14.2The Presidency
14.3Interpretations & Debates of the US Presidency
15US Supreme Court & Civil Rights
15.1Nature & Role of Supreme Court
15.2Supreme Court Appointment Process
15.3The Supreme Court & Public Policy
15.4Protection of Civil Liberties & Rights
15.5Debates & Interpretations of the Supreme Court
16US Democracy & Participation
16.1Presidential Elections
16.2Electoral College
16.3Electoral Campaigns
16.4Incumbency
16.5Democrats & Republicans
16.6Internal Conflict & Ideology
16.7Support & Demographics
17Comparing Democracies
17.1Theoretical Approaches
17.2UK & USA Similarities & Differences
17.2.1Constitution: Nature
17.2.2Constitution: Provisions & Principles
17.2.3Federal System & Devolution
17.2.4Legislative: Lower Houses of Government
17.2.5Legislative: Upper Houses of Government
17.2.6Legislative: Powers & Functions
17.2.7Executive
17.2.8Supreme Court
17.2.9Supreme Court: Judicial Independence
17.2.10Civil Rights
17.2.11Civil Rights: Interest Groups
17.2.12Party Systems & Parties
17.2.13Campaign Finance & Pressure Groups
17.2.14End of Topic Test - Comparing UK & US
17.2.15Application Questions - UK & USA
18Feminism
18.1Feminism: Core Ideas & Principles
18.2Different Types of Feminism
19Nationalism
19.1Nationalism: Core Ideas & Principles
19.2Different Types of Nationalism
Jump to other topics
1Democracy & Participation
1.1Representative & Direct Democracy
1.2Wider Franchise & Suffrage
1.3Pressure Groups & Other Influences
2Political Parties
2.1How Political Parties Work
2.2Established Political Parties
2.3Emerging & Minor Political Parties
3Electoral Systems
3.1Different Electoral Systems
3.2Referendums & How They Are Used
4Voting Behaviour & the Media
5Conservatism
5.1Conservatism: Core Ideas & Principles
5.2Conservatism: Differing Views & Tensions
6Liberalism
6.1Liberalism: Core Ideas & Principles
6.2Differing Views And Tensions Within Liberalism
7Socialism
7.1Socialism: Core Ideas & Principles
7.2Differing Views And Tensions Within Socialism
8The UK Constitution
8.1Nature & Sources of UK Constitution
8.2Constitutional Change since 1997
8.3Role & Powers of Devolved UK Bodies
9The UK Parliament
9.1Houses of Parliament
9.2Comparative Powers
9.3Legislative Process
10The Prime Minister & the Executive
10.1The Executive
10.2Ministerial Responsibility
10.3Prime Minister & the Cabinet
10.3.1Role of the Prime Minister
10.3.2Prime Minister's Powers
10.3.3Limits on the Prime Minister's Powers
10.3.4Role of the Cabinet
10.3.5Prime Minister & Cabinet: Relations
10.3.6Prime Minister & Cabinet: Balance of Power
10.3.7Prime Minister & Cabinet: Case Studies
10.3.8End of Topic Test - PM & Cabinet
10.3.9Top Grade AO3/4 - PM & Cabinet
11Relationships Between Government Branches
11.1The Supreme Court
11.2Parliament & Executive Relations
11.3The European Union & the UK
11.4Sovereignty in the UK Political System
12US Constitution & Federalism
12.1Nature of the US Constitution
12.2Principles of the US Constitution
12.3Federalism
13US Congress
13.1Structure of Congress
13.2Functions of Congress
14US Presidency
14.1Presidential Power
14.2The Presidency
14.3Interpretations & Debates of the US Presidency
15US Supreme Court & Civil Rights
15.1Nature & Role of Supreme Court
15.2Supreme Court Appointment Process
15.3The Supreme Court & Public Policy
15.4Protection of Civil Liberties & Rights
15.5Debates & Interpretations of the Supreme Court
16US Democracy & Participation
16.1Presidential Elections
16.2Electoral College
16.3Electoral Campaigns
16.4Incumbency
16.5Democrats & Republicans
16.6Internal Conflict & Ideology
16.7Support & Demographics
17Comparing Democracies
17.1Theoretical Approaches
17.2UK & USA Similarities & Differences
17.2.1Constitution: Nature
17.2.2Constitution: Provisions & Principles
17.2.3Federal System & Devolution
17.2.4Legislative: Lower Houses of Government
17.2.5Legislative: Upper Houses of Government
17.2.6Legislative: Powers & Functions
17.2.7Executive
17.2.8Supreme Court
17.2.9Supreme Court: Judicial Independence
17.2.10Civil Rights
17.2.11Civil Rights: Interest Groups
17.2.12Party Systems & Parties
17.2.13Campaign Finance & Pressure Groups
17.2.14End of Topic Test - Comparing UK & US
17.2.15Application Questions - UK & USA
18Feminism
18.1Feminism: Core Ideas & Principles
18.2Different Types of Feminism
19Nationalism
19.1Nationalism: Core Ideas & Principles
19.2Different Types of Nationalism
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