POL SCI 5 Lecture Notes - World Trade Organization
Document Summary
Unit of political organization with 3 essential characteristics: territorial boundaries (geographical entity): defined by the fact that is rules over a territorial boundary, sovereignty: autonomous & independent; sovereign power within its orders. Does not recognize or answer to any superior authority; is no form of hierarchy formally above it but does not mean there aren"t constraints on actions. Ex) icj- nations can choose to either comply or leave the organization but will have to deal with the consequences. We can debate how meaningful sovereignty becomes even under international pressure. Ex) iraq- did not control all of its territory, fly zones were constrained by the un, but still considered a state. Ex) somalia- considered as a failed state; does not control territory, has no legitimate right to violence: states as actors- people take actions in the name of the state for bureaucratic, etc. purposes, states and nations. Nation: a group of people sharing certain history & culture, sometimes language & religion.
