Nations, States, and Territories

1. Nations, States, and Territories • Are Nation and State the same thing? • No. Nation refers to a close group of people which share a common culture. • State (with the capital S) is a self-governing political entity. • Some States have two nations, such as Canada and Belgium. • A state with a small “s” is usually a division of a federal State (like Wisconsin being part of the U.S.)

2. Nation-State –political boundaries of the State match the cultural boundaries of the Nation. • The State has been around long enough that it has developed its own cultural character. • France, Egypt, Germany, and Japan = of nation-states. • Even with its multicultural society, the United States is also referred to as a nation-state because of the shared American "culture."

3. State (Independent countries) • 1) Space or territory which has internationally recognized boundaries (even if boundaries disputed). • 2) People who live there on an ongoing basis. • 3 ) Economic activity and an organized economy. • Regulates foreign and domestic trade and issues money. • 4) Has the power of social engineering, such as education.

4. 5) transportation system for moving goods and people. • 6) government which provides public services and police power. • 7) Has sovereignty. No other State should have power over the country's territory. • 8) Has external recognition. A country has been "voted into the club" by other countries.

5. 196 independent countries in the world. • Territories are parts of countries. They are NOT countries in their own right. • Over sixty additional territories are under the control of another independent country. • Some countries consider certain internal divisions to be territories • Canada -Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon Territory • Australia-Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory). • Washington D.C. is not a state. • effectively a territory, but it is not external and not counted as a territory in America.

6. A territory will typically rely on its "mother country" for defense, police protection, courts, social services, economic controls and support, migration and import/export controls, etc. • Disputed or Occupied Territories • places where the jurisdiction of the place (which country owns the land) is not clear.

7. Territorial Powers • With fourteen territories, the United States has more territories than any other country. • American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Wake Island. • The United Kingdom has twelve territories under its control.