Geopolitical and Economic Terms

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nation

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A large group of people who are united by common cultural characteristics, such as language and ethnicity, or by shared history. It is tied to a defined territory and has an internal political structure.

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state

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An area organized into a political unit and ruled by an established government that has control over its internal and foreign affairs.

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nation-state

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A state whose territory corresponds to that occupied by a particular nation. Meaning that the boundaries of the state align closely with the area by a group of people who share common cultural characteristics like language, ethnicity, or shared history.

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stateless nation

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A big group of people who have common cultural characteristics, but not an independent state.

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Multinational state

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A state that contains more than one nation. This means that within its borders, there are multiple cultural groups with traditions of self-determination.

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Multi-state nation

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A nation that is divided among multiple countries.

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self-determination

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Where a group of people have the right to determine their own government without external influence.

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sovereignty

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The ability of a state to govern themselves free from control of internal affairs or other states.

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colonialism

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An effort by a country to establish settlements in a territory and to impose its political, economic, and cultural principles on that territory. The Mother Country also uses its colonies for raw materials.

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imperialism

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When a country extends its power over another country through military force, colonization, occupation, etc.