STATE SYSTEM OR NATION STATE SYSTEM
- Definition
Relations between politically organized human groupings that occupy distinctive pieces of land, are not under any higher authority and enjoy and exercise a measure of independence from each other.
2. Evolution of State System
1648 Treaty of Westphalia
Facilitating or marking transition from medieval political authority (dispersed political authority or no central political authority) to modern political authority (unified or central political authority)
1648 – 18th Century
Eurocentric state system
18th Century – World War I
Predominantly State system remained western
Imperialism, Mercantilism provided the foundations of global politics and economy thus sate system in a way also globalized as a result of colonialism and imperialism
1914 – 1945
State system embraced non-western empires. For example in Turkey, Japan, China
1945 – 1991
Decolonization led to dramatic expansion of state system
1991 – Onwards
End or collapse of communist order revolted in birth of new states
Glaring example were USSR breakup and Yugoslavia
3. Basic Features of State System
Sovereignty
Nationalism
Territorial integrity
Legal equality
4. Challenges of State System
Globalization
Centrifugal Forces
Ecological Balance
Advances in Warfare Technology
Multi-culturalism
Future of State System
Non-ordained by Almighty. Humans fashioned it
Remained under stress between 1991 – 2008, however it is very much resurgent since then
Our International System continues to be based on this basic unit of state system
History is on the sides of states
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