By Rajasree Debnath, Associate Professor, Dept. of Political Science, Narajole Raj College
Chapter : Nation State
What is nation state?
Historical Evolution in Western Europe and postcolonial countries, ‘nation’ and ‘state’
debates
Introduction ; Nation-State - the primary unit in the study of International Relations , combines two parent terms ‘nation’ and ‘state’.
Nation refers rather to the population within, sharing a
common culture, language, and ethnicity with a strong
historical continuity. This manifests itself in most members in
a sentiment of collective, communal identity. The idea that
people of a nation connected to each other is called
nationalism.
A nation-state is a state, or country, that has defined
borders and territory. It is additionally a country in which
a nation of principally the same type of people exists,
organized by either race or cultural background. This is
often achieved through common language, history,
holidays and education. Sometimes national culture is a
result of similar people living in the same area.
Differences between the Nation and the State :
In common usage, the terms State and Nation are often used as synonyms . For example when we say African nations we are definitely talking about the states of Africa and not the nations.
Again the United Nations does not mean the union of nations but in reality it is an organization of Nation – States. In fact in modern age each State is a Nation – State. In spite of such usage, there are important distinctions/differences between the State and the Nation.
1. State is a territory with its own institutions and populations but a nation is a cultural group with common psychological, emotional and political feelings.
2. Sovereignty- the supreme power over citizens, is essential for State but not for Nation.
3. The elements of State and Nation are different - the four essential elements of state are i) population, ii) territory, iii) government, iv) sovereignty but nation is a group of people having a strong sense of unity on the basis of language, religion, profession or economic interest and common historical background.
4.Nation may or may not remain within the bounds of a fixed territory, e.g. French nations extends even to Belgium or the case of the Jews who are spread all over the world, before 1948.
5.A state may have many nations e.g. Multinational country like India, People Republic of China, Switzerland etc. but nation is a single and unique identity.
6.Stability of nation is more than that of a State , e.g. after their defeat in the second world war, Germany and Japan were no longer sovereign states and survive as nation.
7.A state can be created but nation is always the result of evolution.
After Second world war West Germany and East Germany were
created by separating Germany and in 1947 Pakistan was created out of India. But a nation is a unity of the people which emerges slowly but steadily.
8.State can and may use police power for preserving its unity but nation is bound by strong cultural and historical link.
9.State is a political organization but nation is a social, cultural , psychological organization.
State refers to the political organization that displays
sovereignty both within geographic borders and in relation to other sovereign entities. In other word state is a body of government. All the rules and laws, the government
officials and their titles, the physical boundaries and those who define them – these make up the state. The state is what makes a country run from a political, practical
standpoint.
State = population +Territory + Government + sovereignty
Nation = Population + Emotional attachment regarding language, culture and shared history
NATION STATE NATION-STATE
ELEMENTS A group of people with united by history, culture , language etc.
An organized political
community lived in a territory with sovereign govt.
A state of which most of citizens are of same race or culture
ORIGIN A feeling of strong unity and political will for separate identity
After achieving sovereignty with other essential elements of a state
A nation able to form a State for their own
EXAMPLE Kurds, Italy,
Germany, Japan etc.
India, USA,UK, France, Nepal etc.
France, Germany, Italy, Bosnia,
Croatia etc.
Desire for soverignty
Attachment to territory Unified
people
The Nation- State
Evolution of Nation – State ; Debates on the History and Origin of Nation – State
The concept of nation – state is relatively a new one but there are differences of opinions regarding the history and origin of it.
1. According to Steven Weber, David Woodward, Michel Foucault and others nation – state did not arise out of political integrity but as an by product of 15th century intellectual discoveries in political economy, capitalism, mercantilism political geography and geography and advances in map – making technologies.
2. Modernization theories (Max Weber, Talcott Parsons and others ) of nationalism argue nation – state as a product of government policies to unify and modernize an already existing state.
3. Nation – state is also described as a 19th century phenomenon, facilitated by developments such as state mandated education, mass literacy and mass media.
4. Germany and Italy came into existence, at least partly as a result of political campaign by the nationalists, during the 19th century. Hans kohn and Liah Greenfield described these two ethnic nations and ethnic nationality where cultural unification preceded state unification.
5. The idea of nation – state was and is associated with the modern system of States, known as Westphalian system. In 1648 treaty of Westphalia was signed ( between May and October ),in the westphalian cities of Osnabruck and Munster which also ended thirty years’ war and war of religion. The treaty of Westphalia is considered as the beginning of the modern international system based on the concept sovereignty.
Evolution of Nation – State in Western Europe and Post – colonial Countries
In Western Europe , the concept of the Nation – States had been evolved for a long time. The major causes that led to the emergence of the Nation –States in Western Europe were –
i) Influence of the writings of Hobbes, Machiavelli, Bodin and others, ii) The Westphalia Treaty (1648),
iii) The rise of Bourgeoisie,
iv) Spread of Imperialism and Colonialism and others.
In post – colonial countries, emergence of Nation – States was
i)basically the outcome of the anti – colonial movement, in Asia and Africa –a large number of Nations fought against the colonial power and finally became able to form their own Nation – States.
ii) The spread of western education and liberals thought also helped the movement for building Nation – States. Though the colonial rulers took initiatives for spreading western Education for their own sake but it inspired the oppressed people to organize emancipation movement.
iii)Growing consciousness of own culture and history among the groups of people and emotional attachment also led to the demand of the formation of Nation - States
CONCLUSION
During the last four centuries, the Nation – State occupied the central point of discussion in International Relations. Scholars are divided regarding the current position or importance of the Nation – States. Some of them opine that
Factors like – i) Growing dependency among States, ii) Expansion of Science and Technology,
iii) Devastating nature of nuclear war,
iv) Formation of Regional ( socio-economic and military ) Association, v) Emergence of the United Nations and many other are created
adverse situation for the existence of the Nation – States.
Some Scholars opposed the idea of crises of the Nation – States.
According to them
i) world opinion remains in favor of the existence of the Nation – States.
ii) Super Powers, at present not in a position to impose overall control over the small Nation - States, e.g. Cuba, Iran etc.
iii) Fear of Nuclear War does not work, in fact, the dangerousness of war has reduced the danger of war.
iv) unity of the small Nation – States against the conspiracy of the Super Powers
v) Emergence of many more Nation – States, even in the first decade of the twenty-first century prove the craze for the formation of Nation – States. E.g. Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia (2003).
Finally, in spite of problems and limitations, Nation – State is still a potent force of International Relations and the question of its existence has no relevance in near future.
