A unitary state - what is it?

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unitary form of the state - is the kind of government, in which the country is divided into several administrative units which do not have the status of public entities.But in some cases, individual regions of the country may have some degree of autonomy in decision-making.Signs of a unitary state characterized by small in size and population.But there are exceptions in the form of China, which, despite the solid territory and a huge population, is considered to be a unitary state.In such countries have a single set of laws, a single constitution and the legal system.Higher controls one for all entities in the country.At the present time is a unitary absolute majority of independent public entities in the world.Among these countries, it may be noted the UK, France, Spain, Ukraine and many others.Recently, we most often hear mention about a unitary state.What is it, we will look at in more detail.

unitarity as a form of government

Before examining in more detail the definition of "unitary state", it is necessary to mention the existing form of government.At its core, the form of the state system is the administrative, territorial and national structure of the country, which shows the relationship between regions, local and central state apparatus, as well as between the different peoples and nations living in the same territory.

addition, the shape of the political system shows from some subjects is the state which have legal status and the extent of their interaction with each other, in what form to express the interests of national minorities living in the same region, as well as how to build relations between the centralGovernment and local government.

But the particular form of government in a country depends on the geographical location of the region, their national composition, as well as on a number of factors, among which are the economic, social, historical and cultural.

Forms forms of state failure

Currently, there are 3 kinds of forms of state-territorial system:

1. Federation.This form of the state system is to combine several previously sovereign (or have broad autonomy within the State) countries (regions) into a single state on a voluntary basis.The best-known examples of federative structure are the Russian Federation (composed of 85 subjects, 22 of which the Republic, 4 autonomous districts and 1 autonomous region), the US (50 states and several freely associated territories), India (29 states, metropolitan area and 6 Union Territories) and others.

2. Confederation.This form of the device is the state association of several independent countries.However, none of the subjects of the confederation does not lose its sovereignty and has its own armed forces, currency and legal system.United currently existing Confederation is Switzerland (though in recent years it has acquired all the signs of the federation).Also peculiar confederations believe the European Union, the Union of Russia and Belarus, the Eurasian Union.

3. unitary state.What it is?This question haunts millions of citizens, especially in recent years with the emergence of hotbeds of separatism in different countries.This single public education, which is divided into administrative components, each of which possesses no sovereignty and is subject to the central authorities.In turn, the unitary state and divided into several types.

centralized unitary structure of the state

to a unitary state formations of this type include the country in which the functions of government are carried out at the local level only by the authorities, which have been approved and agreed by the central authorities.This centralized state may provide some autonomy lower local governments.The most striking examples of a unitary state with a centralized unit - is the United Kingdom and Denmark.In addition, signs of centralization are inherent to Africa, where the local authority belongs to the tribes and clans.Although it is worth noting that to date, such states are rare.

decentralized unitary state: what is it?

decentralized states are those countries in which the constitution provides for delineation of the central government and local government.That is, in fact, the subjects of public education can be quite broad autonomy, and thus have its own parliament, government and administrative structures.Basically such privileges are large regions that were once independent or had a sufficiently broad autonomy in dealing with specific issues.In addition, these regions often share common historical, economic and geographical interests.Subjects decentralized state can independently solve a number of issues, including economic issues, education, health, public order and public utilities.In fact, the subjects are converted into separate country a unitary state, which are combined for some reason in a single entity.The countries with a strong decentralized device can be attributed to France and Spain.

Mixed unitary state

Mixed unitary states have symptoms like decentralization, and the impact of centralized power in the subjects of public education.In fact, to mixed states can be attributed to those countries, some regions which have broad autonomy and are able to independently solve tasks.This autonomy can establish links with other countries, to sign a variety of cultural, social and economic memoranda.The most striking examples of unitary states of mixed type - this is Italy, and Norway.

For states with a unitary form of the device is characterized by several distinguishing features.

Internal division of the unitary state entities

Typically, each country is divided into small regions, which, in turn, are divided into smaller units of local government.Title regions may be different, but the meaning is the same in all countries of the world.For example, the former Soviet Union in his division have large areas that, in turn, divided into districts and rural settlements (village councils).This section is not accidental.The regions are formed on the common interests of the historical past, geographical location and economic development.This administrative division allows the central government to control the situation as much as possible throughout the country.

main features of unitary countries

1. All subjects of a political system governed by the unified constitution.Thus the basic law can distinguish between the central government and self-government, thus giving the region some autonomy.

2. Uniform State authorities.The power of the president and parliament throughout the state is undeniable.In addition, the authorities of the central government have the authority to appoint the heads of government on the ground.

3. If living in the territory of other nationalities (small in size), it is allowed to provide them with some autonomy.

4. All international relations are governed by the central authorities.The subjects of the state can not enter into international alliances independently.Allowed only cooperation with other autonomous public entities on the cultural and social levels.

5. Subjects states have no state sovereignty, therefore, the regions do not have their own armed forces, the monetary system and other elements of statehood.

6. The official language in all regions of the state united.

Factors influencing the formation of a unitary state

Many people wonder: "unitary state: what it is, how it is formed?".Let's try to answer this question.A unitary state is formed depending on many factors.Consider some of them.

1. The predominance of the territory of a single cultural and national population, which has one language, one religion, the similarity of the mentality and a common history.

2. Ease of creating a single state for economic reasons.States that share borders with the absence of customs barriers, can unite in a unitary state formation.However, it is worth noting that this still needs a common currency, a common system of taxation, a common legal system, as well as the unity of the resource potential and the division of labor.

3. External pressure from third countries.With the active intervention of the state in the affairs of other state associations, a country with a common border and a common cultural and historical factors can unite in a single unitary state.

Factors that affect the dissociation of unitary state

the question: "What is the state unitary?", Most people will answer that it is the countries that are united by historical and cultural traditions, and do not face the manifestations of disunity in the society.However, this is not true.For unitary structures in today's world, characterized by many problems.Among the key can distinguish the so-called separatism, that is the demand of one region on the recognition of its national sovereignty.Consider that affects the disunity within the unitary state.

1. The disadvantage of association for economic reasons.A striking example in this case is Italy.In recent years, the northern regions of the country are actively claim of sovereignty, especially the movement popular in Venice.These regions are the levers of the economy, and subsidizing the poorer southern regions.

2. different history, culture and language of the state.In this case, the most striking example is the Ukraine, which consists of regions with different cultural and historical interest.So, for example, the southern and eastern regions of Ukraine closer ties with Russia.In the western part of the country the situation is similar.For example, Transcarpathia has a historical and cultural community with Hungary, Bukovina - Romania and Galicia - with Poland.But in spite of such differences in historical and cultural terms, Ukraine has features of a unitary state.

3. The low level of life and dissatisfaction with this fact public.In this case, as an example, Sudan.Low living standards has led to the fact that the southern regions of the country that have had broad autonomy, decided to separate from the basic state.It should be noted that it is in southern Sudan is concentrated to 60% of economic levers.As a result, this has led to the fact that the political map of the world, a new state of South Sudan.

4. Low political literacy, which allows you to "political leaders" of the regions to actively promote the idea of ​​creating a sovereign state.