Chapter Two

Nations and States

• A nation is a group of people with a sense of unity
based on the importance the group attributes to a
shared trait, attribute, or custom. A common
language, religion, ethnicity, race, and/or culture
are often the foundations of national identity.

• State is a political entity that embraces people

permanently occupying a fixed territory, bound
together by common laws, habits and customs into
one body
•  
• Effective states– control and tax entire territory,
ensure laws are obeyed; corruption is minor; tend
to be better off
• Weak states– crime penetrates politics; government
unable to fight lawlessness, corruption, breakaway
movements; justice is bought, elections often
rigged; most revenue disappears into private
pockets
• Failed states– no real national government with
little if any control of territory; warlords and
criminal cartels free to do what they want;
threatened with territorial breakup
Elements of a State:
• From the above definitions, it is clear that the
following are the elements of the state:-

• Physical bases of the State

1. Population
2. Territory

• Political bases of the State

1. Government
2. Sovereignty
• Intergovernmental organizations are political
organizations in which membership is held
exclusively by states. The United Nations (UN), the
Organization of American States (OAS), the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the UN
Conferences on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
are examples of IGOs.
• Nongovernmental organizations are non-state,
voluntary groups that pursue political objectives.
Increasingly, conflict within or between states may
be negotiated and resolved through NGOs.
• Examples of NGOs include the Red Cross, the Red
Crescent, the International Chamber of Commerce,
 State Government
1] State has Four Constituent elements 1] It is an agency of the State

2] State enjoys original and unlimited Power
3] State is an abstract idea
4] Territory is an essential element of state
2] Powers of the government are limited and
delegated
3] Government is a solid reality, concrete and is
visible.
4] There can be government without territory

5] State is permanent 5] Government is temporary

6] State is a universal Phenomenon with 6] Form of government can change - Dictator-
fixed rule ship, one party
7] State covers all citizens those who are part 7] Government is made up of only those who
of the government work for the government
8] A person cannot have rights Against the 8] A Person can have rights against government
state
9) State consists of population territory, 9) The Government is part of the state.
government and sovereignty.  
  Differences between state and society:
1. State came into existence after the origin of the
society. Society is prior to the state
2. The scope of the state is limited. The scope of society
is much wider.
3. The State has fixed territory. Society has no fixed
territory.
4. The State is a political organization. Society is a
social organization.
5. The state has power to Society has no power enforce
laws. to enforce laws.
ELEMENTS OF NATION
1. Common Race
2. Common Religion
3. Common Language
4. Common Culture
5. Geographical Factor
6. Common History
7. Economic Factors
8. Political Factors
9. Will to be a Nation
 State Nation
1. State Existed not only at present 1- Nation is a Modern
but also in the ancient period. phenomenon.
2. The state is a legal political 2- Nation is racial cultural.
entity.
3. State People organized for law 3- Nation People psychologically
within a definite territory. joined together with the common
will to live together.

4. A state must be sovereign. 4- Nation People continue as a

  nation even if they do not remain
sovereign.
5. State Inhabited by 5- Nation Inhabited by
heterogeneous groups of people. homogeneous groups of people.