Devolution refers to the process where regions within a state gain more autonomy and political power at the expense of the central government, potentially leading to the disintegration of the state along regional lines. Examples include Scotland seeking independence from the UK, the peaceful split of Czechoslovakia in 1993, and the breakup of Yugoslavia into independent states. Supranationalism refers to the formation of unions between three or more states to pursue shared economic, political, and cultural goals for mutual benefit. Current examples of supranational organizations include the European Union, United Nations, NATO, OPEC, and the Arab League.

1. Devolution or Supranationalism?
AP Human Geography
2012

2. What is devolution?
 The
process whereby regions within a state
demand and gain political strength and
growing autonomy at the expense of the
central government
 The disintegration of a state along regional
lines
 Propelled by forces that divide and
destabilize, usually centrifugal forces

3. What are current examples of
devolution?

Scotland (UK)
–
–


Belgium
Czechoslovakia-peaceful split, 1993
–


Oil
EU membership
Hungarians are still a minority in Slovakia (11%)
Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro are now
formally independent of each other)
Russia and former Soviet Union

7. Yugoslavia
7
major/17 minor ethnic groups
 Former multinational, multiethnic state
 Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

9. What is supranationalism?
 Global
governance
 3+ states forging associations for mutual
benefit and pursuit of shared goals
 60+ unions today

10. What is supranationalism?
 States
seeking common economic, political,
and cultural ground by joining unions created
to benefit participants and disadvantage
others
–
–
–
Sparks further supranational orgs for those left
out
Geographically contiguous
Economically similar or different (Common
Market/OPEC)

11. What are current examples of
supranationalism?
 Military,
economic, cultural, or political
 BENELUX / European Common Market /
European Union
 United Nations
 NATO/Warsaw Treaty
 OPEC
 Arab League

13. NATO

14. OPEC

15. APEC

16. The United Nations






Post WWII
Foster international security and cooperation
2002 had 191 countries
Peacekeeping 2002: 40,000 from 80 member states
in 15 different regions worldwide
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples represented 51
groups of stateless or unheard peoples
Subsidiaries include:
–
–
–
FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization
UNESCO: Educational, Scientific and Cultural…
WHO: World Health Organization