POLI 201 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Nationstates
2 Mar 2017
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Many political scientists prefer to call the state the nation-state, indicating the participation and association of citizens in governmental organization. Nation can be almost synonymous with state, but, for example, the united states implies an association of governments, while the united nations implies an association of different peoples. Conceptually, nations are distinct from states, essentially a collective identity that binds a group of people together, superseding distance and awareness of others. Like the modern state, the concept of nationality is a product of contemporary history. The first established nations emerged in great britain, spain and france, along with the establishment of a strong monarchy and stable territorial boundaries. Immigrant nations such as canada or the united states thrive on the concept of political autonomy after gaining independence. In the 20th century, european nationalism has spread quickly throughout the world, weakening traditional structures such as family, tribe and village.
