state
Fri Jan 14 2000 at 6:40:34
An independantpoliticalentity with defined geographic boundaries and unified top most level of government. A collection of political subdivisions which are in fact a single state have pretentiouslycorrupted the term state and use it in the manner which Region or Province should be used.
Sun Feb 25 2001 at 14:50:48
The primary international political organization is the sovereign state (since the Peace of Westphalia - 1648).
The 20
th Century was a period of radical expansion of independant states, but as different as each of these entities may be, they share many characteristics in common: sovereignty, territory, population, armed forces, and the recognition of other states. Under international law the state is the only form of organization that has a legal right to use force.