Metastaatiliste

Metastaatiliste refers to a concept in political science and international relations that describes a state that is composed of multiple smaller states or entities. These entities maintain a degree of autonomy while being part of a larger political union. The term is derived from the Greek words "meta," meaning "after" or "beyond," and "staat," meaning "state." The concept is often used to describe federations, confederal states, or other forms of loose political unions.

In a metastaatiliste system, the constituent entities typically have their own governments, legal systems, and administrative structures, but they also share certain powers and responsibilities with the central government. This can include areas such as defense, foreign policy, and currency. The degree of autonomy and the specific powers shared can vary widely between different metastaatiliste systems.

Examples of metastaatiliste systems include the United States, where the individual states have significant autonomy but also share certain powers with the federal government, and the European Union, where member states have a high degree of autonomy but also share certain powers related to economic and political cooperation.

The metastaatiliste concept is often contrasted with that of a unitary state, where a single central government holds all political power, and with a confederation, where the constituent entities have more autonomy but typically do not share certain powers with the central government. The metastaatiliste model is often seen as a compromise between these two extremes, offering a balance between centralization and decentralization.