PREPARED BY

Nirmalya Das
Department of Geography
Panskura Banamali College (Autonomous)
Attributes of State
A. Frontier: The term ‘frontier’ in political geography has two different meanings: it can refer
to either the political division between two states or the division between the settled and
uninhabited parts of one state. In either case the frontier may be considered as a line or a zone.
In the past, during the political evolutions of a state, states were separated by areas, not lines.
The function of the intervening area was to prevent direct contact between the neighbouring
states and it was referred to as a frontier.
A frontier, can, thus, be defined as a politico-geographical area, lying beyond defined borders
of a political unit into which expansion could take place (for instance, European penetration
into the Zulu-Natal area and, in modern times, Antarctica). It is a physical and moral concept
which implied looking outwards and moving outwards. It is not an abstract concept but a ‘fact
of life’—a manifestation of the tendency for spontaneous growth of ecumene.
According to Lapradelle, there are three stages in the evolution of a frontier, viz., (i) designated
zone of influence of different physical phenomena; (ii) anthropological-geographical concept;
(iii) political frontier.

B. Shape of States: The shape of a state is important because it helps determine potential
communication internally, military protection, access to resources, and more. The following is
a list of the six types of state shapes and can be viewed in Google Maps by clicking on the links
provided.

• Compact states have relatively equal distances from their center to any boundary much
like a circle. They are often regarded as efficient states. An example of a compact state
would be Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi.
• Elongated states have a long and narrow shape. The major have problem with these
states are with internal communication and cause isolation of towns from the capital
city. Malawi is an example of this.
• Prorupted states occur when a compact state has a portion of its boundary extending
outward exceedingly more than the other portions of the boundary. Some of these types
of states exist so that the citizens can have access to a specific resource such as a large
body of water. In other circumstances, the extended boundary was created to separate
two other nations from having a common boundary. An example of a prorupted state
would be Namibia.
 • Perforated states have other state territories or states within them. A great example of
this is Lesotho, which is a sovereign state within South Africa.
• Fragmented states exist when a state is separated. Sometimes large bodies of water
can fragment a state. Indonesia is an example of a fragmented state. Fragmentation also
occurs when a state is separated by another state. An example in the U.S. would
be Michigan.
• Landlocked states lack a direct outlet to a major body of water such as a sea or ocean.
This becomes problematic specifically for exporting trade and can hinder a state's
economy. Landlocked states are mostly common in Africa, when the European powers
divided up Africa into territories during the Berlin Conference of 1884. After these
African territories gained their independence and broke into sovereign states, many
became landlocked from the surrounding ocean. An example here would be the Austria.

C. Boundaries: State boundaries are determined either by physical features such as rivers,
mountains, deserts, or glaciers or by cultural features such as religion, culture, or ethnicity.
Boundaries are actually dynamic features that vary with space and time. Throughout most of
human history, boundaries were determined by frontiers where no political entity controlled
the area. These were often large, uninhabitable regions such as deserts, oceans, glaciers, etc.
But technological and communication advancements have allowed nations to protect their
regions without the need of frontiers. Today, most frontiers have been replaced by boundaries.
Types of Boundaries

• Desert boundaries can be quite large barriers for states that can serve for protection. Deserts
are common along 30 degrees north or south of the equator where permanent high pressure
creates sunny, dry conditions year-round.
• Mountainous boundaries can also provide protection over large areas if they are difficult to
climb through. But they can also isolate societies from each other by means of transportation,
trade and export, and culture. Like desert boundaries, they can also make geopolitics difficult
when determining the boundary of a state since it's not a distinct boundary or line.
• Water boundaries like rivers, lakes, and oceans create state boundaries. If the body of water
is large enough, it can be protective. Invading armies would need to use boats and limited
resources to attack a state from its water boundary. But boundaries that use rivers and lakes
can be problematic with changing climates. If a river meanders to a new location, does the
boundary of that country also change?
• Geometric boundaries are basically straight lines drawn on a map.
• Cultural boundaries are used to separate people with differences in both of these cultural
traits. Often times, cultural and ethnic conflicts occur between people with different languages
or religions. Religious differences often coincide with boundaries between states, but in only
a few cases has religion been used to select the actual boundary line. The most notable
example was in South Asia, when the British partitioned India into two states on the basis of
religion. The predominately Muslim portions were allocated to Pakistan, whereas the
predominantly Hindu portions became the independent state India. Language is an important
cultural characteristic for drawing boundaries, especially in Europe. By global standards,
European languages have substantial literacy traditions and formal rules of grammar and
spelling. Language has long been a significant means of distinguishing distinctive
nationalities in Europe. But recently, the state of Sudan separated into Sudan and South Sudan
along a language boundary.

Boundary demarcation method: There are 3 methods.

1. Territorial allocation (distribution of land/ acquisition of boundary

1.1: Purchase (powerful country buys land from less powerful country)
1.2: Arbitral Award (division of boundary by International organizations)
1.3: Referendum (people’s vote on the boundary of the state they want to live)
2. Delimitation (defining boundary by agreement or treaty)
3. Demarcation (marking/drawing the boundary with high technology like GIS)

Functions of boundary:

1. Defence
2. Smooth movement of people and goods at the border
3. Resource acquisition and development at the border
4. Ensuring international exchange

D. Size of State:

1. Large/great
2. Medium and
3. Small

E. Territory:

State is a territorial unit. Definite territory is its essential component. A State cannot exist in
the air or at sea. It is essentially a territorial State. The size of the territory of a State can be big
or small; nevertheless, it has to be a definite, well-marked portion of territory.
States like Russia, Canada, U.S.A., India, China, Brazil and some others are large sized states
whereas Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldivies, Switzerland, Togo, Brundi and many others are
States with small territories. The whole territory of the state is under the sovereignty or supreme
power of the State. All persons, organisations, associations, institutions and places located
within its territory are under the sovereign jurisdiction of the State.

Further, it must be noted that the territory of the state includes not only the land but also, rivers,
lakes, canals inland seas if any, a portion of coastal sea—territorial waters or maritime belt,
continental shelf, mountains, hills and all other land features along with the air space above the
territory.

The territory of the state can also include some islands located in the sea. For example,
Anadaman & Nicobar and Daman and Diu are parts of India. State exercises sovereignty over
all parts of its territory. Ships of the State are its floating parts and Aero-planes are its flying
parts. Even a States can lease out its territory to another State e.g. India has given on lease the
Teen Bigha corridor to Bangladesh.

F. Sovereignty

Sovereignty is the most exclusive element of State. State alone possess sovereignty. Without
sovereignty no state can exit. Some institutions can have the first three elements (Population
Territory and Government) but not sovereignty. A sovereign state is a political entity that is
represented by one centralized government that has sovereignty over a geographic area.
International law defines sovereign states as having a permanent population, defined territory,
one government and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also
normally understood that a sovereign state is independent.

State has the exclusive title and prerogative to exercise supreme power over all its people and
territory. In fact, Sovereignty is the basis on which the State regulates all aspects of the life of
the people living in its territory.

As the supreme power of the State, Sovereignty has two dimensions:

(i) Internal Sovereignty:

It means the power of the State to order and regulate the activities of all the people, groups and
institutions which are at work within its territory. All these institutions always act in accordance
with the laws of the State. The State can punish them for every violation of any of its laws.
(ii) External Sovereignty:

It means complete independence of the State from external control. It also means the full
freedom of the State to participate in the activities of the community of nations. Each state has
the sovereign power to formulate and act on the basis of its independent foreign policy.

We can define external sovereignty of the State as its sovereign equality with every other state.
State voluntarily accepts rules of international law. These cannot be forced upon the State.
India is free to sign or not to sign any treaty with any other state. No state can force it to do so.

No State can really become a State without sovereignty. India became a State in 1947 when it
got independence and sovereignty. After her independence, India got the power to exercise
both internal and external Sovereignty. Sovereignty permanently, exclusively and absolutely
belongs to the State. End of sovereignty means end of the State. That is why sovereignty is
accepted as the exclusive property and hallmark of the State.

No other organisation or institution can claim sovereignty. An institution can have population,
territory and government but not sovereignty. Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Punjab,
Sikkim, in fact all states of the Indian Union have their populations, territories and
governments.