Nation? State? Country? TA2 SS – Tutorial 1

SINGAPORE PLEDGE NATION We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion, to build a democratic society based on justice and equality so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our NATION

The Making of a Nation What is a nation? What are symbols/characteristics of a nation? Is Singapore a nation? What is the difference between a nation, a country and a state?

An anarchist views on the State, Nation and Country in the US Watch the video and note the differences between the concepts of “State”, “Nation” and “Country”. Why do you think the concept of a state is so closely linked with that of the concept of a nation/ country? An anarchist views on the State, Nation and Country in the US

Nation an identity formed by a group of people who sees themselves as having something in common… e.g.? Nations are culturally homogeneous groups of people, larger than a single tribe or community, which share a common language, institutions, religion, and historical experience. http://geography.about.com/cs/politicalgeog/a/stat enation.htm

Country an area of land which is ruled by a government State the system of government within an area of land

Nation-State When a nation of people have a State or country of their own, it is called a nation-state.

Some difficult questions… Can a COUNTRY be without a STATE? Can a NATION be without a COUNTRY? Can a COUNTRY be without a NATION? Can a STATE be without a COUNTRY?

Give examples (names of places/ nations/ govts/ etc) using the C-N-S Matrix below. without a Country Nation State

Singapore was granted internal self-government in 1959 Singapore was granted internal self-government in 1959. Was Singapore a nation then?

Singapore was granted internal self-government in 1959 Singapore was granted internal self-government in 1959. Was Singapore a nation then? No. Singapore was a state. It had its own system of government making decisions on issues like housing. However, being a largely immigrant society, Singapore was not a nation then. The people may not have a shared common vision for Singapore's future so there was no sense of belonging or common identity among the people.

So….. Is Singapore a NATION now?

The Making of a Nation "Are we a nation yet? I will not say we are. We're in transition […] Please remember this is an ideal which we may not completely reach, but because we have this ideal, we'll continue to make progress "

“I propose the following definition of the nation: it is an imagined political community-and imagined as both inherently limited and sovereign. It is imagined because the members of even the smallest nation will never know most of their fellow-members, meet them, or even hear of them, yet in the minds of each lives the image of their communion.... Communities are to be distinguished, not by their falsity/genuineness, but by the style in which they are imagined.... Finally, [the nation] is imagined as a community, because, regardless of the actual inequality and exploitation that may prevail in each, the nation is conceived as a deep, horizontal comradeship. Ultimately, it is this fraternity that makes it possible, over the past two centuries for so many millions of people, not so much to kill, as willing to die for such limited imaginings.” - Benedict Anderson -

Symbols of Nationhood

Think-Group-Share In your groups, take turns to share your responses to the following questions. (5mins) What does independence mean to you? Do you think you are independent? In what ways are you not? Give examples. Sharing with class. (5mins)

Is independence necessarily good or bad?

To quote Uncle Ben: “With great power comes great responsibilities…”

SOVEREIGNTY Unlimited power over a country http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/sovereignty

Key Concepts Nation State Nation-state Territory Country Nationalism Nation Building Sovereignty