Operation of states power
Legitimacy of state power
Unitary States
In unitary states, the central government has greater control and authority over what happens within its territory. Most decisions and laws are decided by a national legislature such as a national elected parliament or assembly. In the United Kingdom, Scotland has its own parliament and can make its own laws in certain areas. These delegated by the legislature and might, in theory, be restored back to the national parliament if necessary.
Example: United Kingdom, the Netherlands
Fragile States
Fragile states may be democratic or undemocratic, but the defining feature is that the state's internal sovereignty and power is weak. The government may be non-existent, illegitimate authority over its territory. For example, the civil war and insurgency in Somalia meant that the central government had no power over large parts of the country. The war prevented elections from being held and there was an almost total collapse of the government's power to keep law and order or provide public services, such as healthcare and education.
Example: Syria, Somalia, South Sudan
Authoritarian States
In states where there is no democracy, the government is not elected and governs with authority that cannot be challenged, held to account or influenced by the population. Leaders remain in power for as long as they wish, or until they are removed by means such as a military coup, foreign intervention (such as the removal of Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 2003) or popular uprising (such as the removal of Egypt's President Mubarak in 2011). In these states, human rights abuses are likely to be widespread and the rule of law is not respected.
Example: North Korea, Nazi Germany
Federal States
In federal states, there is a government, usually in the capital city, which has central power over some policy, such as foreign policy. Beyond this there are governments at sub-national level which have the power to make and enforce the law. For example, the United States. Individual states have the power to decide and enforce their own, different laws. Some states have chosen to have the death penalty, whereas others do not.
Example: Germany, Mexico
Monarchy
Many states in Europe, Asia and the Middle East are governed hereditary monarchy or royal family, which is unelected but has gained its authority through generations of rule by the family. Monarchies differ greatly. Some have little more symbolic role (such as the United Kingdom, Sweden and Norway), while others have greater political control (such as the powerful ruling royal family in Arabia). Some monarchies have actively tried to reduce their power and to give more power to elected civilian governments, such as Morocco and the United Arab Emirates in response to the Arab Uprisings in 2011.
Theocracy
Meaning literally rule or government by religion', theocracy is where power is held by religious groups, rather than non-religious political parties. For example, the Islamic Republic of Iran ruled by its Islamic Supreme Leader, who has the power to decide which non-religious candidates stand for election to the state's president. In Saudi Arabia, the ruling Shura Council has the power to make and enforce Saudi Arabia's Sharia or Islamic law, alongside the country's ruling monarchy.
Example: Saudi Arabia
The evolving nature of state sovereignty
Sovereignty
External
states generally respect each others borders and do not intervene with what goes on within the borders of other states
Internal
States have full responsibility for, and power over, what happens within their borders
Sovereignty is the ultimate overseer, or authority, in the decision-making process of the state and in the maintaining of order
States and more
Nation-States
Political social grouping in which people within territorial boundaries, with recognised sovereignty, have common bonds based on culture, language and history
Australia
Stateless Nations
Stateless nation is a political term for ethnic/national minority that does not possess its own state and is not the majority population in any nation state. The term implies that the group "should have" such a state.
Kurdistan, Quebec
Nations
Groups of people claiming common bonds based on culture, language and history
Taiwan
States
states possess a permanent population, defined territory and recognized sovereignty
Norway
Basic nation needs
Protection: nations join groups to enhance their security and welfare. e.g. Countries joining the UN or the EU
Throughout world history, people have belonged to many political organisations including tribes, chiefdoms and states
When organizations come into contact they sometimes collaborate for mutual benefit. more often, they compete for scarce resources.
Resources: Nations will often share or fight for certain resources. e.g. Territorial land with different resources
Reasons to form nation-states
Culter: Language, beliefs, customs, religion
Conflict
History of currency
Other actors: people/power
Physical geography
Demographics: large populations separated due to the stugel of controlling them