A country is a region legally identified as a distinct entity in political geography. A country may be an independent sovereign state or one that is occupied by another state, as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division, or a geographic region associated with sets of previously independent or differently associated peoples with distinct political characteristics. Regardless of the physical geography, in the modern internationally accepted legal definition as defined by the League of Nations in 1937 and reaffirmed by the United Nations in 1945, a resident of a country is subject to the independent exercise of legal jurisdiction.
Sometimes the word country is used to refer both to sovereign states and to other political entities, while other times it refers only to states. For example, the CIA World Factbook uses the word in its "Country name" field to refer to "a wide variety of dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, uninhabited islands, and other entities in addition to the traditional countries or independent states".
Read more about Country: Etymology and Usage, Sovereignty Status
Other articles related to "country":
... Mongolia i/mɒŋˈɡoʊliə/ (Mongolian Монгол улс, literally Mongol country/state) is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia ... The country came under strong Russian and Soviet influence in 1924, the Mongolian People's Republic was declared, and Mongolian politics began to follow the same patterns as the Soviet politics of the time. 603,909 sq mi), Mongolia is the 19th largest and the most sparsely populated independent country in the world, with a population of around 2.75 million ...
... presently has no Jewish population, the country has reportedly become an example of a phenomenon called “Anti-Semitism without Jews." The Malay-language Utusan Malaysia daily stated in an editorial ... pro-Jewish people will have their best opportunity to interfere in any Islamic country," the newspaper said ... will cause us to help foreign groups succeed in their mission of controlling this country." Prime Minister Najib Razak's office susbsequently issued a statement late ...
... See also List of sovereign states The term "country" is commonly used to refer to sovereign states ... on lists of countries, and may be treated as a "country of origin" in international trade, as Hong Kong is ...
... Best Female Country Vocal Performance Faith Hill for "Cry" Best Male Country Vocal Performance Johnny Cash for "Give My Love to Rose" Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal Dixie ...
... Skaters may represent a country of which they are not yet a citizen in most competitions, except the Olympics which require citizenship ... Each country may send one to a maximum of three entries per event, thus, even if a skater has a high season's best, he or she may not be sent to major events ... Some skaters have tried to circumvent this by switching to another country ...
Famous quotes containing the word country:
“The country in the town. [Rus in urbe.]”
—Marcus Valerius Martial (c. 40–104)
“It is not enough that France should be regarded as a country which enjoys the remains of a freedom acquired long ago. If she is still to count in the world—and if she does not intend to, she may as well perish—she must be seen by her own citizens and by all men as an ever-flowing source of liberty. There must not be a single genuine lover of freedom in the whole world who can have a valid reason for hating France.”
—Simone Weil (1909–1943)
“From his childhood onwards this boy will be surrounded by sycophants and flatterers.... In due course, following the precedent which has already been set, he will be sent on a tour of the world and probably rumours of a morganatic marriage alliance will follow, and the end of it will be the country will be called upon to pay the bill.”
—James Keir Hardie (1856–1915)