Which term best describes a territory with permanent population, defined boundaries, sovereignty, and international recognition?

• A. Nation
• B. State
• C. Nation-state
• D. Stateless nation

Answer: (B)

In international law, a state is defined by two basic ideas: a permanent population and a defined territory, plus effective sovereignty and the capacity to engage in relations with other states, with recognition by the international community. When a territory has people living there, clear and recognized borders, a government that exercises real control, and the world acknowledges it as a sovereign entity, it fits the description of a state. The other terms describe different concepts: a nation is about a people or culture, not the political-legal structure; a nation-state would require a single nation to coincide with the borders, which isn’t always true; and a stateless nation refers to a people without their own recognized state. So the term that best matches all four attributes is state.