This video nicely illustrates and demonstrates the ever-changing world map and never-changing debate on the formation and break-up of countries. Culture oftentimes transcends borders. People from the same ethnic or language group can be placed along both sides of a border.
Would cultural boundaries lead to more or less countries?
Question: if we would let culture be decisive on country-borders would we end up with less countries or more countries? For example, would Flanders feel more comfortable as part of The Netherlands or would their own cultural background call for a separate national entity (my guess)? Or how about the Dutch province of Fryslan?
Culture can be determined on a local level (cities and even parts of cities, states), national level (countries) and regional level (e.g. European, Arab cultures). Most people have a strong need to identify with a flag, hymne and other national symbols. It gives them a sense of belonging and identification as a group. This is only possible vis a vis another group of people. Can you imagine no more country scores on the Olympics but individual scores only?
We are all part of the global human family but until the aliens land, I’m afraid that we have to live with country borders for a long time to come.