Contextualization

"The Formation and Economy of Nation-States" is a topic that, despite dealing with historical events, is intrinsically linked to current realities and fundamental concepts for understanding the political and economic systems currently in circulation. Understanding how these processes unfolded is crucial for interpreting various contexts and events, as well as the patterns of distribution and production around the globe.

The notion of a nation-state is a theoretical concept that indicates a form of geopolitical organization that integrates the defined territory (State) with the notion of a nation. In the latter, elements such as culture, language, religion, and shared history among its components are considered. This form of organization was particularly consolidated from the 17th century onwards, with the Treaty of Westphalia, which signaled the end of the Thirty Years' War in Europe.

The concepts of nation, state, territory, government, and country are key to understanding a wide range of political, economic, and social issues. With them, it is possible to understand the foundations for the formation of borders, ethnic and cultural conflicts, geopolitical tensions and alignments, as well as the different forms of economic organization and management models adopted in the various nation-states.

In turn, the economy of each nation-state is organized in a particular way, not only by the characteristics of its natural and human resources but also based on a set of decisions, agreements, and conflicts that have developed throughout its history. Analyzing these economic models and their relationships with other countries is essential to understand the functioning of the current global system, dominated by forces such as globalization, free trade, and economic interdependencies.

The formation of nation-states and their economies is therefore a matter of relevance not only for the discipline of Geography but for all human sciences. This project aims to provide an in-depth exploration of this topic, adopting a playful and dynamic approach, always taking into account the spirit of collaboration and the importance of teamwork.

Practical Activity

Title: Global Mapping of Nation-States and Their Economies

Project Objective

Through the creation of an online interactive map, students will illustrate the formation and economy of Nation-States around the world.

Detailed Project Description

Groups of 3 to 5 students will conduct in-depth research on a specific country and its history of formation as a nation-state. Based on this research, students must analyze and explain the current economic model of the country and how it was influenced by its formation as a nation-state.

Students should graphically represent their findings on an online interactive map, in order to provide a global view of the formation and economy of Nation-States.

Required Materials

• Internet access
• Computer or tablet
• Online interactive mapping platform (e.g. Google My Maps)

Step-by-Step for Activity Execution

1. Group Formation and Country Selection: Groups of 3 to 5 students will be formed and, based on a draw, will choose the country they will research.

2. In-depth Research: Using the provided reference materials, as well as any other reliable source of information, groups must conduct in-depth research on the history of their country's formation as a nation-state and its current economic model. Geopolitical issues, ethnic questions, government models, and cultural aspects should be addressed.

3. Preparation of Preliminary Report: Based on the research, the group must prepare a preliminary report containing all details of the formation and economy of the nation-state. This preliminary report should be structured into Introduction, Development, and Conclusions.

4. Creation of the Interactive Map: Using the interactive mapping platform, each group will create a 'marker' for their country and input relevant information about the formation and economy of the nation-state. Additional details, such as interesting facts, relevant images, or curiosities, can be added to enrich the map.

5. Review and Feedback: Groups will have time to review each other's work and provide feedback. All groups must make changes based on the feedback received.

6. Final Presentation: Each group will present their nation-state and its marker on the map to the class. They should explain the process of the nation-state's formation, its current economic model, and how the two are interconnected.

Project Deliverables

At the end of the project, students must deliver:

1. Written Report: The report should include all researched aspects about the formation and economy of the chosen nation-state. It should be structured into sections of Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography.

   • In the Introduction, a brief presentation of the Nation-State should be made, highlighting its relevance in the global scenario.
   • In the Development, the formation of the nation-state should be detailed, and its current economic model explained. This is where students will apply the concepts of State, nation, territory, government, and country in the analysis of their case study.
   • The Conclusion should summarize the main points, explaining the learnings obtained and the conclusions drawn from the project.
   • The Bibliography should indicate all sources used to carry out the project.

2. Online Interactive Map: The online interactive map is a graphical representation of the research results. Each group must create a 'marker' for their country on the map with relevant information. This map will be used for the final presentations.

The final evaluation will be based on both the written report and the final presentation and interactive map. Students are expected to demonstrate teamwork, critical thinking, and creativity in presenting their findings.