landen

Landen is the Dutch term for countries or sovereign states. In international relations, a land is a political entity that possesses defined territory, a permanent population, an effective government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.

Sovereign states are recognized as such by other states and by international organizations. The Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (1933) is commonly cited as outlining the essential criteria for statehood, though political recognition can vary in practice. States exercise sovereignty within their borders and conduct diplomacy, sign treaties, and control borders.

Landen can be classified as sovereign states, dependencies or territories with varying degrees of self-government, or special administrative regions. Sovereign states have full international autonomy, while dependencies are legally tied to another country and may have limited self-rule.

In international relations, landen participate in diplomacy and multilateral organizations. They may be members of the United Nations, regional bodies, trade agreements, and security arrangements. National governments oversee domestic policy, economy, and citizenship, while many states maintain distinct cultural identities and legal systems within their territories.

Historically, the modern system of sovereign states expanded through processes such as exploration, colonization, and decolonization, followed by the development of international law. Today the concept centers on the recognition of defined polities as independent actors within the global community.