libertarian

A Principled View of Nations and Nationalism | Wanjiru Njoya

Undisciplined

While the terms "nation" and "state" are often used interchangeably, they have distinct meanings:

Nation:

    Refers to a cultural identity shared by a group of people.
    Defined by characteristics like:
        Common language
        History
        Culture
        Traditions
        Shared aspirations
    Doesn't necessarily have a defined territory or formal government.
    Examples: The Kurdish people, the Roma people

State:

    Refers to a political entity with:
        Defined territory and borders
        Formal government institutions like laws and leadership
        Sovereignty (independence) in international relations
    May contain one or more nations within its borders.
    Examples: The United States, India, China

Here's a table summarizing the key differences:
Feature	Nation	State
Definition	Cultural identity	Political entity
Key characteristics	Language, history, culture, traditions	Territory, government, sovereignty
Defined territory	Not necessarily	Yes
Formal government	No	Yes

It's important to note that not all nations have their own state, and not all states perfectly align with a single nation. In the real world, these concepts can overlap and become complex. For example, the United States is often considered a nation-state, where a single dominant nation (Americans) occupies the territory of the state (the United States). However, the US also has diverse populations with distinct cultural identities within its borders.