EQ2: How are nation states defined and how have they evolved in a globalised world.
State: territory over which no other country holds power or sovereignty
Nation: a group of people who may lack sovereignty
Sovereignty: the ability of a place and its people to self-govern without outside
interference.
Reasons for different ethnic places:
- Past population growth.
- Physical geography.
- Political geography.
- Economic contribution of migrants.
Iceland
- Descendants of Norse and Celts 94%, and population of foreign origin 6%
- Because of physical separation.
- Not desirable to move to; natural disasters (volcanoes), Icelandic language, and are
closed off to foreign incomes.
- Most expensive country in the world
Japan
- Japanese 98.5%, Koreans 0.5%, Chinese 0.4%, other 0.6%.
- Closed door policy
- Unwelcoming to permanent foreigners.
United Kingdom
- 92.1% white British
- even though it can be diverse, in rural areas there rarely is any diversity
Comparing the characteristics of the 2 nations
Concept of nation states: of a nation or a sovereign state. Where the population are united
by language, common ethnic and cultural background, as well as customs which bring a
sense of identity. Nations states develop and change over time, vary with geographical
location. Some nations don’t exist physically but their identity exists.
Iceland
- Gained independence from Denmark in 1944
- Laws protect its cultural heritage and national identity.
- All children’s name must be come from an approved list, to preserve the language of
Icelandic sagas.
- Icelandic language remains unchanged since 870s AD, although other Nordic
languages, English and German are also widely spoken.
- Most of Iceland is completely empty, over half of the population live in/ near to the
capital.
Singapore
- A city-state at the tip of the Malaysian peninsula.
- Established in 1819 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, as a British colonial trading post.
- Growth is largely due to immigration, especially from China.