Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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States and Their Future
Today the state is the dominant mega-form of political association. The nation-state has taken hold around most of the world and its future has become the focus of a heated debate. The disintegration of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia gave birth to many new nation-states. Continuing ethnic violence around the world will likely precipitate the failure and recreation of more states around the world. On the other hand, the ever-closer integration of the expanding European Union signals a movement away from the nation-state.
A whole set of global and domestic players challenge the authority of the state - from its economic and military power to its ability to provide social services and education. The boom in information and biological technologies further impedes the state’s ability to control its population.
Even if in the near future the state remains the only form of political organization, it will certainly undergo transformations. Early 20th century perceptions of state-sovereignty, citizenship, nation, and inter-state relations will have to change and adapt to these new forces.
Also See GPF's Pages on:
Nations & States
Emerging States and Unrepresented Peoples
What moves people to claim the right to form a new state, and what leads to a successful outcome (i.e. independence)? In a globalizing world, with decreasing national sovereignty and closer ties between people everywhere, what is the attraction of forming another independent state? Repressive governments, denying minority populations their rights, seem to be the main impetus for independence movements.Failed States
Failed states can no longer perform basic functions such as education, security, or governance, usually due to fractious violence or extreme poverty. Within this power vacuum, people fall victim to competing factions and crime, and sometimes the United Nations or neighboring states intervene to prevent a humanitarian disaster. However, states fail not only because of internal factors. Foreign governments can also knowingly destabilize a state by fueling ethnic warfare or supporting rebel forces, causing it to collapse.Political Integration and National Sovereignty
The European Union stands out as the world's most ambitious attempt to integrate soveriegn states into a united political body, and some European states remain wary that a strong EU will usurp too much national independence, particularly at the expense of weaker countries. Africa is also experimenting with political integration, and other regions may follow in the hope that strength follows unity. Still, it remains to be seen how much sovereignty states are willing to sacrifice for integration.State Sovereignty and Corruption
Corruption and money laundering drain states of billions of dollars every year, lining the pockets of officials, business leaders, and the already super-rich, leaving less revenue for social and economic services. Systematic official corruption runs rampant in many countries, often leaving citizens in poverty. Wealthy individuals and corporations evade taxes, which could be used for social programs, by setting up accounts in tax havens.General Analysis on States and Their Future
Will globalization ultimately strengthen or destroy the nation state? This page provides articles and analyses discussing the forces and processes that could transform the nation-state, and hints at ways in which "sovereign" decisions are increasingly made by other actors.
More Information on Nations and States
More Information on Statehood and Sovereignty
