The document discusses how human organization has evolved from small tribal units to larger cities and nation states over time. Recent political events and partnerships between countries have questioned whether the nation state is still the appropriate unit of governance. Students are asked to discuss in groups of 4 whether they believe the nation state is obsolete or not, and provide reasons and examples to support their answer.

1. ART HISTORY 1 de Beaufort
GROUP EXERCISE 1
THE TRIBE, THE CITY, THE NATION STATE…..
Our study of history has revealed a trend in human organization from small, tribal
units of 25-100 people during the Paleolithic, to cities of up to 2,000 during the
Neolithic, to the present Nation State of several million inhabitants. Recent
political events/trends have even questioned the nation state as an appropriate
unit of governance, with proponents of the EU, and trade partnerships (TPP,
NAFTA) promising a borderless global world with theoretical benefits to all the
worlds peoples.
ASSIGNMENT:
In groups of 4 students decide the answer to the following question: Is the
Nation-State obsolete? ANSWER IN COMPLETE SENTENCES
If NO:
 What advantages does a nation provide the citizens of that country?
 Why is increasing globalism sometimes negative ?
 What does Globalism get wrong and Nations get right?
If YES:
 What is preferable about a world without borders ?
 What are the theoretical advantages of even larger units of civic
organization ? What is negative about Nationalism that Globalism can
improve upon?