States and NationsStates and Nations

State- a people permanently occupying a fixed territory bound together by

common habits and custom into one body politic exercising, through the medium of an organized government.

Nation- self-identification of a people, common identity may be built upon a

common language, history, race, or culture, or simply upon a fact that this group occupied the same territory.

Connection to Politics

- When states and nations do not coincide, it can cause explosive political conflict.

- Some nations have been divided into two or more states for political reasons.

There is a difference between the terms nation, state, and country, even though the words are often used interchangeably. Country and State are synonymous terms that both apply to self-governing political entities. A Nation, however, is a group of people who share the same culture but do not have sovereignty.

Nationality and Ethnicity Nationality and Ethnicity

Max Weber (Ethnic groups)

“those human groups that entertain a subjective belief in their common descent because of similarities of physical type or of customs or both because of memories of colonization and migration. . . It does not matter whether or not an objective blood relationship exists.”

Nationality- The status of belonging to a particular nation by origin, birth, or naturalization.

Ethnicity- an ethnic group; a social group that shares a common and distinctive culture, religion, language, or the like.

Tagalog, Bisaya, Ilocano, Hiligaynon. Etc.

Connection to Politics

- Ethnic differences have been the source of a large number of political conflicts around the world.

LanguageLanguage

Language- the system of words or signs that people use to express thoughts and feelings to each other, often spoken.

5,000 different language in world today.

200 languages have a million speakers

8 maybe classified as world languages

350 million people who speak English at home

1.8 billion who live in countries where it is an official language

Other international language• Spanish 300• Arabic 200• Russian 165• Portuguese 165• French 100• German 100• Chinese 1.2B

Connection to Politics

- Linguistic divisions can create particularly thorny political problems.

Religious Beliefs and FundamentalismReligious Beliefs and Fundamentalism

A common faith can be basis of national identity for majority of population.

Religious Belief

- the belief in the reality of the mythological, supernatural, or spiritual aspects of a religion. Religious belief is distinct from religious practice or religious behaviors with some believers not practicing religion and some practitioners not believing religion.

Fundamentalism

- a form of a religion, especially Islam or Protestant Christianity, that upholds belief in the strict, literal interpretation of scripture.

Connection to Politics

- Fundamentalist Islamic movements have appeared, frequently employing violence and terrorism in their efforts to gain power.