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Date Posted: 08:32:42 01/12/03 Sun
Author: Phil
Subject: Country, state and government
In reply to: killswicth engage 's message, "The (Un) United Kingdom" on 22:50:06 01/11/03 Sat

>>you need to learn the difference between government
>>and country.
>
>The government are the country. Every decision they
>make affects how we live. They shape what this country
>is, and how you can be proud of what it is is beyond
>me.

It's not really that simple. First, the government are not the country. If they were, they would govern no more than themselves and the rest of us would be some other thing (another country?). The government direct the affairs of a nation state (albeit in a very circumscribed way, as much decision making rests in the hands of international economic and political bodies).

A nation state is a economic-political entity. A country is a rather more diffuse and less well-defined concept incorporating the geographical land mass, its inhabitants, their history and culture (and probably many other things that don't spring to mind at present). To give an example: the United Kingdom is a nation state but not a country. Wales is a country, but not, at present, a nation state.

It is not inconsistent to love one's country whilst simultaneously despising the socio-economic/political conduct of one's nation and of those who direct its policies. In a sense, 'country' is a broad concept upon which the narrower concept of 'nation' is derivative. The populace has strong ties with the former, the government with the latter. There is some overlap but the relevant discourses are not identical in scope.

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Replies:

  • i'll have to end this this thread here kill switch -- Roger, 16:50:08 01/12/03 Sun
  • Confused -- killswitch engage, 13:45:31 01/13/03 Mon
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