Definition of State A state has four purposes that come out of the government: the protection of life, property, and liberty, and the promotion of general welfare
National versus State Government
Institutions of the State:
- Legislature – Make laws
- Executive Branch – Implements laws
- Courts – Interpret laws
Are these institutions equal in power in most countries? No
Which institution dominates? The executive
Does the political system affect the relevance of institutions? Yes, the actual balance of power among the institutions of the state depends on the type of government
Organization of States:
- Unitary –have their policy making monopolized by their national government, which is located in their country’s capital; ex. France and Japan
- Federal –certain public policies have autonomy in local areas, such as education and public safety; ex. US, Mexico, and Germany
- Confederal –the powers of central government are highly limited and local regions possess a significant amount of power; ex. Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates
Is the unitary vs. federal distinction as important at the capability of national government to enforce national laws at the local level?
Central governments in developing areas often yield little day to day power at the local level; they also lack the funds and capabilities to enforce policies at the local level.
NATIONS
Definition of a nation.- a group of people who share a common identity and a claim to a territorial homeland. Some countries can contain several nations, while some nations can spread across several countries. (a claim on a specific territorial homeland)
National Identity – Defined 2 Ways
- Ethnic Nationality-belief in common blood ancestry; shared attributes: language, religion, and culture (food, music, rituals), ex. Germany, Japan, and Iceland
- Civic Nationality-national consciousness based not upon common blood ancestry, but upon shared principles, values, culture. Principles and Values: democracy and civil liberties; Culture: food, sports, and music. Ex. Western Hemisphere, India, Australia
When Nations and Countries Do Not Coincide. –Powerful states can form a sense of national consciousness, and indoctrinate the people to believe they constitute a single nation; the state can then impose a single language to encourage cohesiveness. Turns into nationalism which can be used to encourage the masses to fight in wars, and generate support for the regime.
- Multinational Countries-many countries contain groups of people that consider themselves members of separate nations, ex. Russia, the UK, and Nigeria
- Nations that span across many countries. Ex. The Kurds and The Gypsies in Roma
*Information courtesy of notes and PowerPoint lectures from Comparative Politics class; taught by Dr. Collins, Kennesaw State University
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