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Is England a country?

Are England, Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland seperate countries? or are they simply different regions within the United Kingdom? i think they are part of the UK, which is a country, but my friend disagrees.

what do you think?
can you back up your argument with proof?

Reply 1

ATESalisbury

1

aronl

can you back up your argument with proof?

No, I cannot :frown:

Reply 2

zooropa

Depends what you mean by country.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are countries but aren't nation-states, because neither is sovereign.

Reply 3

aronl

OP

tanzy

No, I cannot :frown:

but what do you think?

Reply 4

_jackofdiamonds

10

Country is a vague term that can refer to many things.

Reply 5

ali567149

1

Its quite clear that they are individual countries with seperate cultures and identity's, united to form a larger state. You can also point to the historical seperation of the united kindom and the new devolution of the three celtic nations with scotland holding most of its own power in the parliament.
If you say no then you also could say that the uk does not exist as it is part of a larger state in europe that holds power.
so i argue yes they are

Reply 6

Bismarck

13

aronl

Are England, Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland seperate countries? or are they simply different regions within the United Kingdom? i think they are part of the UK, which is a country, but my friend disagrees.

what do you think?
can you back up your argument with proof?

Though country is a vague term, it's usually used synonymously with "state'. And a state, by definition, is sovereign over its territories. In this day and age, being a country more or less requires having a seat at the UN. The UK is a country, England is not. Though England can become a country if Scotland, Wales, and N. Ireland secede.

I think your friend is thinking of nations (i.e. a group of people with a similar culture, history, language, etc.), in which case England is indeed a nation, while the UK is not really one.

Reply 7

an Siarach

15

They are regions of a country (assuming of course that by 'country' you mean nation-state ; as most do). Reality is the proof.

Reply 8

an Siarach

15

ali567149

Its quite clear that they are individual countries with seperate cultures and identity's, united to form a larger state.

Possibly.

You can also point to the historical seperation of the united kindom and the new devolution of the three celtic nations with scotland holding most of its own power in the parliament.

Historical seperation is irrelevant. Description of Scottish parliament incorrect.

If you say no then you also could say that the uk does not exist as it is part of a larger state in europe that holds power.

No you couldnt.

Reply 9

Socrates

17

England, Scotland, Wales and (Northern) Ireland are nations.

The UK (Britain) is a country.

Reply 10

technik

13

england is a home nation of the UK.

same goes for scotland, wales and NI

Reply 11

NDGAARONDI

16

zooropa

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are countries but aren't nation-states, because neither is sovereign.

Since when did sovereignty matter in regard to nation-states?

Reply 12

cheesecakebobby

9

No, it's a way of life :rolleyes:

Reply 13

Scheherazade

11

Wales is a principality.

Reply 14

_jackofdiamonds

10

England is very much a country. Country is used to refer to nations and states.

Reply 15

NDGAARONDI

16

_jackofdiamonds

Country is used to refer to nations and states.

Can't find Catalonia, Palestine and the Basque Country on the list of countries on the UN's website. :rolleyes:

Reply 16

Bismarck

13

NDGAARONDI

Since when did sovereignty matter in regard to nation-states?

Since their creation; nation-states have always been defined by the existence of sovereignty...

NDGAARONDI

Can't find Catalonia, Palestine and the Basque Country on the list of countries on the UN's website. :rolleyes:

They're not countries; they're nations. Unlike a country (i.e. state), a nation is defined by a common history, culture, language, etc., and does not entail sovereignty.

Reply 17

LOCneverstop

Hang on a second.....Correct me if i'm wrong but isn't the UK a nation, and England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland the countries that make up the nation? I have heard England and so on referred to as countries on the news etc very often, and the UK as a nation (or a potential state in a new United States of Europe talks). Enlighten me please :biggrin:

Reply 18

LOCneverstop

Bismarck

Since their creation; nation-states have always been definted by the existence of sovereignty...

They're not countries; they're nations. Unlike a country (i.e. state), a nation is defined by a common history, culture, language, etc., and does not entail sovereignty.

Hence why the UK could be a nation, the seperate regions share a common culture and background.....

Reply 19

Socrates

17

LOCneverstop

Hang on a second.....Correct me if i'm wrong but isn't the UK a nation, and England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland the countries that make up the nation? I have heard England and so on referred to as countries on the news etc very often, and the UK as a nation (or a potential state in a new United States of Europe talks). Enlighten me please :biggrin:

England, Wales, Scotland and NI are nations. As Bizzy points out, nations have some similar characteristics between them.

The UK is a country, because the sovereignity (i.e. Parliament, PM, army etc) is one for the whole the UK. Although devolved assemblies exist, absolute sovereignity is in Westminster.

Is England a country?

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