In spite of this, nations still conduct relations between each other based on the concept of sovereignty. The larger and the more democratic the nation, the more likely it will have to deal with this kind of pluralism within its society. There are many examples of this kind of problem to draw on. Three that might be considered are Canada, the USSR, and Israel. There is no nation in the world that is economically self- sufficient.
All nations depend on other nations for an array of resources.
Many nations covet these areas because they would augment a nation's national power. The Middle East is a good example of such an area. The Middle East is the world's largest supplier of oil and is very convenient to the world's largest users of petroleum products. Since World War II there has been a deep antagonism between capitalistic and communistic nations with both sides attempting to become more successful and powerful than the other. The USA and the USSR who were the two major powers within each bloc were determined to expand their national power at the expense of the other.