- Sir Fragula
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- Forum Ninja
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My friend, you would not tell with ſuch high zeſt
To children ardent for ſome deſperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum eſt
Pro patria mori.
Allright, this is getting silly.
There is a difference between the words COUNTRY, NATION and STATE. Listen to the people WHO ACTUALLY LIVE HERE when they tell you that the Scots are a nation of people, possessing a country of their own. That their country is in Union with England, Wales and Northern Ireland to create a single administritive area means nothing.
France, Germany, and ten other states are in union together to form a common currency area, and with a further thirteen states a customs and political area; but that changes nothing [indeed, France and Germany themselves have many countries, including Bavaria and Brittanny].
Scotland has it's own currency; issued by the Bank of Scotland, the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Clydesdale Bank Information HERE. Scotland has it's own legal system, which curiously enough has no concept of "legal tender" [hence all notes are in effect cheques].
There are five countries within the United Kingdom; the Kingdom of Scotland, the Kingdom of England, the Principality of Wales, the Province of Northern Ireland and the Dutchy of Cornwall.
From: Wikipedia
Sometimes, parts of states with a distinct history or culture are called "lands" or "countries": England, Scotland and Wales – the three nations on the island of Great Britain – are known as countries, even though they are effectively governed as "components" of the British state. Tibet, an autonomous region of China, is similary called a country in everyday speech.
The terms country, nation, state and land are casually used as synonyms, but in a more strict usage they are distinguished:
* Country is the geographical area
* Nation designates a people, however national and international both confusingly refer as well to matters pertaining to what are strictly states, as in national capital, international law
* State refers to government, and an entity in international law
* Land may be used for "a country and its people" but also thought of as country belonging to a nation or a monarch
Some states consist of non-contiguous parts, separated by land of one or more other states. The Kaliningrad region of Russia is an example of such an exclave; the Oecussi-Ambeno region of East Timor or Nagorno-Karabagh are others.
Now really, should this not be taken to Reiginko's Body Politic chapter?!
[Edited on 4/2/2005 4:43:17 PM]