Devolution or Supranationalism?

AP Human Geography

2012

What is devolution?

The process whereby regions within a state demand and gain political strength and growing autonomy at the expense of the central government

The disintegration of a state along regional lines

Propelled by forces that divide and destabilize, usually centrifugal forces

What are current examples of devolution?

Scotland (UK)– Oil– EU membership

Belgium Czechoslovakia-peaceful split, 1993

– Hungarians are still a minority in Slovakia (11%)

Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro are now formally independent of each other)

Russia and former Soviet Union

Yugoslavia

7 major/17 minor ethnic groups Former multinational, multiethnic state Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina,

Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

What is supranationalism?

Global governance 3+ states forging associations for mutual

benefit and pursuit of shared goals 60+ unions today

What is supranationalism?

States seeking common economic, political, and cultural ground by joining unions created to benefit participants and disadvantage others– Sparks further supranational orgs for those left

out– Geographically contiguous– Economically similar or different (Common

Market/OPEC)

What are current examples of supranationalism?

Military, economic, cultural, or political BENELUX / European Common Market /

European Union United Nations NATO/Warsaw Treaty OPEC Arab League

NATO

OPEC

APEC

The United Nations

Post WWII Foster international security and cooperation 2002 had 191 countries Peacekeeping 2002: 40,000 from 80 member states

in 15 different regions worldwide Unrepresented Nations and Peoples represented 51

groups of stateless or unheard peoples Subsidiaries include:

– FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization– UNESCO: Educational, Scientific and Cultural…– WHO: World Health Organization