A state is defined as the set of political institutions that create and enforce policy1 which has the following2:
- a permanent population.
- a defined territorial boundary.
- an established government.
- the ability to enter into relationships with other states.
States have no ability to determine what is or isn’t a state, meaning that as soon as these requirements are met states are granted the rights and duties of a state3. All states are inherently equal, and therefore are afforded the same rights as other states, and no other state is capable of limiting the rights of other states4 5.
The terms nation and state are deeply intertwined in our modern world, resulting in the creation of a new term: nation-state6.