Law in Context

Episode 27 - The State

Emeritus Professor Stephen Bottomley and Emeritus Professor Stephen Parker AO Season 2 Episode 27

Send us a text message with feedback

What exactly is a " State"?  It's not the same as a country, or a nation, or a government.  States do need a government to be recognised as a state, as well as a permanent population and territory, but it gets complicated.  There are parts of the world, such as Northern Cyprus and Taiwan, that have territory and a government, but are not states.

It's an important issue, and indeed a vital one at the moment in the Middle East.  Is Palestine a state?  Should it be recognised as one?

This episode describes the state as a political and legal construct.  It isn't a cultural or ethnic one.  Most of the world's land mass is within the state system.  And who knows?  Could the Moon be next?

For more information about your dashing hosts and the Law in Context podcast series visit our website at About - Law in Context