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The UK is one country, it just happens to be made up of multiple countries. Just as the United States is a (sovereign) state, that is made up of multiple state
by RobotToaster 4y ago
The UK is one country, it just happens to be made up of multiple countries.
Just as the United States is a (sovereign) state, that is made up of multiple states.
- soneil 4y agoThe way I prefer to think of it, is the UK is a state comprising of several countries, and the US is a country comprising of several states. I can't promise it's any more accurate, but it amuses me.
- School-Cotton 4y agoWhat does that mean?
- soneil 4y agoHonestly, nothing. I just enjoy the symmetry. But really - we like to think there's a sensible definition of what a country is. There isn't. What makes Scotland a country and not Montana? I'm in Ireland, the examples get even more convoluted. For some sports we field a team as a UN-recognised nation-state. For some sports we field a team as an island. If you're born on the island to parents who are citizens of the island, you can claim an Irish passport - whether or not you were born in the country of Ireland. Sometimes it's a geopolitical entity, sometimes it's a geographical entity, sometimes it's a political entity. Sometimes it's not even green. Is the UK a nation? Is the US a nation? Is the Navajo Nation a nation? Is the UK a country? Is England a country? Is Malboro Country a country? My passport says "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". But I'm not convinced Great Britain is a United Kingdom (England and Scotland legally are, Wales may be a principality depending on who and when you ask), and I'm not sure if Northern Ireland was ever a Kingdom (Ulster perhaps, otherwise it's not a kingdom, but the remains of a king's claims). Nationhood is almost as convoluted as the modern take on gender. You can self-identify as anything you like if you have an army to back you up.