The Problems with Westphalian Nation-State System

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We all associate ourselves with various identities such as Indians, Chinese, Pakistani, Americans, Canadians, French, British and much more. Why do you think we all associate with all these more? Are there any other identities which people associate with?  The identities which I mentioned before are relatively new compared to other identities such as religion, language, caste, and various other identities. It is not to say that people never had such feelings towards nations or the state. But the idea of loyalty and love for the motherland was very important which offset various other identities. The question we are arriving at is what is the motherland, who made and how it formed.  What we refer to today as a Nation or Country refers to what we know in political science as a Nation-State. Today almost all the countries we know are categorised Nation-States and some even as State-Nations. International Relations and Political Science suggest that states are the most important a...
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News Capsule for the Month January 2022

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Following are the top news for the month.  If you wish to follow and get notifications of future articles, you can signup using the email on the left sidebar. 

READ OUR BUDGET 2022 COVERAGE ARTICLE. 

Kerala 

  • Operation Kaval was initiated by Kerala Police against Thugs and Goonda gangs a grand success. 
  • Weekend curfew initiated to curb the third wave to stop the spread Omicron.
  • Digital Survey in the state began from Ernakulam.
  • K-Rail DPR out, Central Govt. says incomplete. Railway upholds land acquisition procedures.
  • Opposition calls for survey blocks to be thrown out as a mark of protest. 
  • Kochi Metro to extend services till 10.30pm.
  • CM visits the US for treatment. Then leaves for UAE for expo and meeting investors. 
  • Four Keralites killed in Bengaluru road accident.
  • National Water Awards-2020: Thiruvananthapuram awarded as 'Best District' in South zone.
  • CM talks to Industrialists in Telangana to invest here. 
  • Former CM Oommen Chandy urges govt to replace K-Rail with Suburban rail project.
  • Kochi becomes first city with water metro project.
  • SFI leader Dheeraj killed in his College in Idukki. Nikhil Paili is the main accused. 
  • Mathrubhumi Group wins 2 accolades at WAN-IFRA South Asia Digital Awards 2021. 
  • K Sudhakaran condemns the murder of SFI leaders, urges CPM to stop political killings. 
  • Ration distribution was disrupted for the fourth consecutive day due to server issues. 
  • More than 84,000 extremely poor families in Kerala; the highest in Malappuram. 
  • Goods train derails in Aluva, Kochi. 
  • KPCC president K Sudhakaran wins Manorama Newsmaker award 2021
  • IFFK postponed due to rise in Covid cases.  
  • Minister, staff test positive; CM's office closed down partially in third wave. 
  • Sabarimala Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season concludes for the year.
  • Two side traffic opened in Kuthiran tunnel.
  • Phone of Actor Dileep to be confisicated by Crime Branch. 
  • Kerala reports 55000 cases a day. 
  • Kochi Metro witnesses 5 crore passengers in four years.
  • Seychelles Defence Force ship visits Kochi, Kerala. 
  • Kerala Minister faces flak for hoisting the flag upside down. 
  • Kerala makes three clusters A, B, C for dividing districts for COVID restrictions.
  • Govt. seeks to bring ordinance for Lokayukta Ammendment Bill. 
  • Fresh review suggests Mullaperiyar Dam is safe. 
India


  • Tougher Covid rules to curb cases in Bengaluru, colleges closed till February first week. 
  • Third Wave in India is official as per Govt in ICMR, the peak is around 300000/ day but less deadly and successfully overcame. 
  • 200 International Pilgrims Visit Maharaja Paramhans Temple in Pakistan.
  • Kerala government decides to end the suspension of M Sivasankar IAS.
  • Delhi CM Aravind Kejriwal tests positive. 
  • Major lapse in PM Modi's security in Bathinda; MHA blames Punjab government. BJP and Congress pass the buck. SC panel to investigate PM Modi security breach in Punjab.
  • NEET-PG 2021-22 counselling to began after protests. 
  • Centre rejects proposal to set up Kochi-Mangaluru industrial corridor.
  • Health ministry excludes photo, name of PM Modi from vaccine certificates in 5 poll-bound states.
  • Arrests made on Sulli Deals issue. 
  • BJP minister Swami Prasad Maurya quits party; joins SP.
  • Kerala schools to close down and along with colleges. 
  • Bishop Franco Mulakkal was acquitted in the case. 
  • Financial Survey for the year 2021 released. Budget to be held in February 1st. 
  • Defence Ministry rejects TN's and Kerala’s Republic Day tableau.
  • 72nd Republic Day Celebrated in the country. No Chief Guests for celebration. 
  • Indian embassy calls for dialogue with Nepal on the Lipulekh boundary issue. 
  • Senior NDTV journalist Kamal Khan passes away. 
  • Bhagwant Mann to be AAP's CM candidate for Punjab Assembly polls.
  • Amar Jawan Jyoti merged with Eternal Flame at National War Memorial in New Delhi. 
  • Akhilesh Yadav to contest from Karhal while Yogi Aditayanath will contest from Gorakhpur. Channi To Contest From 2 Seats.
  • PM Modi inaugrates Kanpur Metro. 
  • BJP Richest Party In 2019-20, BSP 2nd, INC 3rd. 
  • Protests, Resignations In Manipur After BJP Names Election Candidates.

Indian State Elections Schedule  



World/International



  • Germany shuts down its nuclear installations. 
  • US reports one day one million cases, with surge of omicron variant.
  • Joe Biden addressed the nation on the first anniversary of January 6th Insurrection. 
  • Biden condemns Trump as a threat to democracy in speech marking one year since January 6 attack- CNN. 
  • Kazakhstan sees protests followed by killing by security forces as pro-Russian allainces seizes power. 
  • UK records more than 150,000 deaths till now. .
  • European Parliament President David Sassoli dies age 65. 
  • Email Lands UK PM In New Lockdown Breach Scandal. Parliament forces him to apologise. Downing Street apologises to Queen over lockdown parties
  • Five nuclear weapons states release a joint statement on the use of Nuclear Weapons. 
  • Iran wont recognise Taliban. 
  • Global Passport Index announced for the year 2021. Indian passport gets stronger, 59 countries offer visa-free access. 
  • US House of Representatives passes Voting Rights Bill while Senate rejects it. 
  • Pakistan’s National Security Policy unveiled. 
  • Biden admin started offering free at-home Covid tests. It will be delivered at home. 
  • Serbia conducts a referendum for Constitutional amendment. 
  • Donald Trump leaves NPR interview after he was interviewed for his election lies. 
  • China's economy expanded 8.1% in 2021
  • UK provides anti-tank missiles to Ukraine against Russia. 
  • Island of Toga hit by Tsunami after a Volcanic eruption. West Coast of US and Canada was put on high alert. 
  • Houthi Rebels conduct Drone attacks on Oil Facilities in Abu Dhabi. UAE and Saudi hit back through air raids on civilians in Yemen. 
  • Indonesia to move its capital to Nusantara. 
  • US Supreme Court clears the way for House to get Trump White House documents- CNN
  • UN approves resolution condemning denial of Holocaust.
  • Wages for US Federal employees increased.
  • US state dept evacuates, its diplomats from Ukraine. 
  • Europe's busiest airport Istanbul Ataturk shut down due to snow storm for some time. 
  • Liberal Justice Breyer to retire from US SCOTUS. 
  • US economy grew at 5.7% highest in recent years. 
  • Massive snow storm hits US' east coast. 
  • Pittsburgh bridge collapses before Biden's visit. 
Technology 


  • Elon Musk hired Indian-origin Ashok Elluswamy for Tessa's autopilot head 
  • OmiSure' is the first RT-PCR Kit Approved By ICMR To Detect Omicron Variant
  • Apple Value reaches $3 Trillion, the first company to so. 
  • Reliance Jio introduces UPI autopay in collaboration with NPCI.
  • All educational degrees, mark-sheets issued through DigiLocker account are valid: UGC
  • Indian Railways to levy fee for boarding, alighting at redeveloped stations.
  • Malayali scientist S Somanath appointed as ISRO chairman. 
  • Microsoft discloses malware attack on Ukraine govt networks
  • 'Minnal Murali' becomes fourth most-watched non-English film on Netflix.
  • PM Modi's teleprompter stops functioning at WEF Davos. 
  • Baby Shark becomes the first video to cross 10 Billion Views. 
  • India cancels 8 flights due to 5G rollout in the US, aviation regulator is closely monitoring the situation.
  • Oracle opens a data centre to provide cloud services across Africa.
  • Pakistan Navy Inducts ‘Biggest-Ever’ Chinese Warship That Experts Claim Has ‘World-Class Stealth Capabilities’.
Business and Finance
  • India is now a $3.1 trillion economy
  • Khatabook crosses ₹1.8 trillion monthly transactions across platforms.
  • Air India handed over to Tata group
Sports 



  • Tata Group To Be IPL Title Sponsor for the year.
  • Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, recently won ‘World Games Athlete of the Year, 2021
  • Tennis star Sania Mirza announces retirement. 
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