- Means tensions, conflict/war and even independence (the country splits up)
- Sovereign states would prefer more unity, but national identity and unity varies a lot around the world e.g. Iceland which is more unified than Singapore or the UK which are more unified than Syria, Congo.
Nationalist
Movements:
- Scotland has tried to be independent from the rest of the UK. Has a strong nationalist movement (some players argue that is anti-English) to gain independence.
- Potentially another referendum following Brexit.
- Would be negative for Scotland as it interdependent and interlinked to the English economy, social and political activity.
- Consequences of disunity would include Russian’s living in Crimea in the Ukraine.
- Russians now support the invasion of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Russians now own that territory creating serious disunity in Ukraine.
- Other examples are the Kurds in the Middle Eastern countries or different ethnic groups e.g. Syria, Congo leading to more disunity
Political
Problems in the BIRCS:
- Tensions due to variation in benefits from globalisation. Creates disunity because the elite might benefit whilst inequalities mean the poorest are often left behind.
- China has seen demonstrations by locals and environmentalists over pollution in the cities.
- Brazil has seen disunity between old and young as the young struggle to find employment following the 2008 economic crash leading social problems and indigenous groups in the rainforests have been involved in conflict over deforestation.
- UK and Russia have had some tension over Russian elite gaining asylum in the UK and has created disunity through government arguments e.g. sanctions on Russia.
- India has seen some elites grow very rich from globalisation, but other slum-dwelling citizens have been left out and remain poor.
Failed
States:
- Some places and nations have so much disunity with a lack of common identity that conflict break out known as ‘failed states.’
- Syria is one example where war has destroyed the country. Iraq in recent years following the war on terror.
- Congo is a failed state due to corruption, war and battle to control rich resources e.g. earth minerals and oil.
- Rwanda was a failed state after the Hutu genocide of the Tutsi’s.
- In failed states, the elite run the country and economy, disparity is high, and the GINI coefficient is high. General population is poor e.g. Congo and Iraq.
- FDI can reduce disunity e.g. TNCs providing employment but they can also support the elite.
- Disunity may lead to trade blocs breaking up and other types of disunity can lead to war.