State or Nation?
Dateline: 04/27/98
While the terms State and nation are often used interchangeably, there is a difference. A State (note the capital "S") is a self-governing political entity (the term can be used interchangeably with country). A nation is a tightly-knit group of people which share a common culture. A nation-state is a nation which is bounded by a state. Let's begin, however, with what makes a State.
A State:
- Has space or territory which has internationally recognized boundaries (boundary disputes are OK).
- Has people who live there on an ongoing basis.
- Has economic activity and an organized economy. A State regulates foreign and domestic trade and issues money.
- Has the power of social engineering, such as education.
- Has a transportation system for moving goods and people.
- Has a government which provides public services and police power.
- Has sovereignty. No other State should have power over the State's territory.
- Has external recognition. A State has been "voted into the club" (Glassner, 46) by other States.
The U.S. State Department maintains a
list of States which are recognized by the United States. There are currently 190 such States. Some States take the form of the "European State model" which includes a representative government and a central capital city.
The State Department also has a
list of territories or dependencies which are not independent States (such as Hong Kong, Antarctica, and Puerto Rico).
A "state" (with a lower-case "s") is usually a division of a federal State (such as the states of the United States).
Nations are culturally homogeneous groups of people, larger than a single tribe or community, which share a common language, institutions, religion, and historical experience.
When a nation of people have a State of their own, it is called a nation-state. Places like France, Egypt, Germany, Japan, and New Zealand are excellent examples of nation-states. There are some States which have two nations, such as Canada and Belgium. Even with its multicultural society, the United States is also referred to as a nation-state because of the shared American "culture."
As well, there are nations without States. The Kurds and Palestinians are stateless people.
For more information
Demko, George. Why in the World: Adventures in Geography
Glassner, Martin Ira. Political Geography
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