Ways that nations can be independent and interdependent

A nation can be independent in the following main aspects:

• Politically: the Swiss nation is a good example as they hold policy of strict neutrality and non-intervention which provides them with a good measure of political independence as they can rules themselves without the interference of outside nations or compacts such as the European Union. They select their local policies based exclusively on their own interests and not contingent upon bilateral or multilateral alliances. Furthermore, foreign nations consider Switzerland to be very useful as a neutral intermediary for diplomatic and economic exchanges in both times of peace and war.

• Economically: the classic way a nation can be economically independent is Autarky. Autarky is the capacity of a nation to exist on just its own utilization of common lands and resources without any kind of external assistance, intervention or even international trade of any kind. The nation produces all the goods and services it needs to exist without exporting or importing any of these. In history, organizations such as the Medieval Communes and several African tribal communities (prior to Western or Eastern colonization) are good examples of such system.

Now, in our world, most nations are interdependent both politically and economically as their actions and choices are limited (both positively and negatively) by treaties, pacts, reciprocity policies and trade agreements.