Nations Without States
Geo 103, Cultural Geography
Due November 2
Download Assignment
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO, www.unpu.org) provides a forum for groups who are not represented in traditional supranational bureaucratic institutions such as the United Nations (UN). For those nations without a state, the UNPO offers assistance and guidance for self-help programs and adheres to philosophy of progress through non-violent measures. Please read the brief “About UNPO” section on their website.
Several nations are frequently in the news due to their inability to gain political independence, most prominently the Palestinians and the Kurds in the Middle East. Other stateless nations - Quebecois, the Basque Country, Wales - have managed to gain a degree of autonomy in Canada, Spain and the UK, respectively.
1)Do all nations have the right to become states? Why or why not?
2)Consider sub-nations within democratic countries. If they are represented in government, why do you think they still desire increased autonomy and/or independence?
3)Do governments have any special responsibility to national groups within their borders? Should they be treated differently than other citizens?
4)Why do governments frequently discriminate against and persecute nations under their charge? Does this repressive treatment relate to the attempt to establish a nation-state identity?
