What is the difference between the British concept of a county and the American concept of a county? (If any)?

Answer 1

The American concept of a "country" reflects what political scientists would call a "sovereign state" in the international realm like Canada, China, South Africa, etc. The British concept of a country reflects what political scientists would call a "nation" like the Scottish, the Catalonians, the Kurds, etc. This is because the United Kingdom is a multinational state, within it is the country of England, the country of Scotland, and the country of Wales. These nations are not states that have international recognition but are countries to the British. From an American perspective all of the U.K. is a country.