Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
A
state-less nation
isanethnicgroupwhosetraditionalhomelandiscurrentlyunderthecontrol
of another country. Virtually hundreds of ethnic groups and their homelands are in this cat-
egory. These peoples usually adopt one of three stances:
Do nothing:
A majority of stateless nations are comparatively docile about this particular
circumstance. While some members may desire statehood, the overall level of support for
autonomy has not — for whatever reason — reached a critical level.
Seek greater autonomy:
Some ethnic groups seek a greater degree of autonomy for their
homelands as opposed to complete independence. The Welsh and Scottish peoples are ex-
amples. Although some hard-core nationalists long for complete separation from the United
Kingdom, the majority favor continued union complemented by a high degree of self-rule.
Clamor for independence:
Members of some ethnic groups seek complete independence
of their homelands from the country to which they are presently bound. People in predomin-
antly French-speaking Quebec, for example, have sought sovereignty for their province and
taken the issue to the ballot box, where it failed to pass. In other cases, however, people are so
aggrieved by the perceived injustice of their circumstance that they feel any means of achiev-
ing their goal — including extremely violent acts — are justified. Examples of such groups
include the Basques, Tamils, and Kurds.
The Kurds
The Kurds, who number some 20 million, are an example of both a multi-state nation
and a stateless-nation. In the early years of the 20th century, their traditional homeland,
Kurdistan, lay mainly within the Ottoman Empire, which ceased to exist after World War
I. Kurdish nationalists hoped that an independent Kurdistan would be born of post-war
boundaries drawn by the victorious parties. Sadly for them, that did not come to pass.
Instead, the modern map of the region gradually emerged, in which Kurdistan is now
spread over six countries (hence, a multi-state nation), principally Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and
Iran. The Kurds are not a majority in any of these countries, but they have not given up
hope of independence for their homeland. Until that happens, however, they remain a
state-less nation.
Positional disputes
