Intro to Nation States
Geography: Edexcel A Level, topic 11.3.1
Nation States
Nation states are varied and have different histories. A state is a territory over which no other country holds power or sovereignty. Some characteristics of nation states are:
National sovereign states
- National sovereign states have a wide range of ethnic, linguistic and cultural unity & diversity.
- The UK nation state includes several nations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) within it.
- A nation state can contain a range of people with different religions, faiths and dialects/languages.
Mix of cultures
- Some states have evolved with a wide mix of peoples. These are often described as 'melting pots':
- The United States saw white colonists join the native indigenous people. Over 4 million Irish people arrived between 1820 and 1930. Lots Italians, Germans and European Jews arrived in the 1800s and 1900s.
- Singapore has a wide range of people from different ethnic backgrounds. Lee Kuan Yew (almost a benevolent dictator) mandated that English was to be the language to unite the country.
Homogenous culture
- Some states have evolved with a narrow range of characteristics and have a homogeneous culture.
- Iceland is an example of this.
- Historical migration patterns, physical isolation and political isolation can all partially explain why this can happen in certain places.
Test yourself on Intro to Nation States
Which country has a relatively homogenous culture?