Table of Contents
State, Nation and Nation-State
Introduction
The concepts of state, nation and nation-state are fundamental to understanding international relations and world politics. Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they describe different political and social realities.
A state is primarily a political and legal entity with territory, population, government and sovereignty. A nation is primarily a community of people connected by a shared identity, history, culture or sense of belonging. A nation-state refers to a state in which the political boundaries of the state broadly correspond with the identity of a nation.
Core Concepts
State: A politically organized entity with a defined territory, permanent population, government and capacity to conduct international relations.
Sovereign State: A state possessing supreme authority over its territory and political affairs, without being legally subordinate to another state.
Nation: A community of people who share a common identity, which may be based on history, culture, language, ethnicity or a shared political identity.
Nation-State: A sovereign state whose population is understood as constituting a common national community.
Territory: The geographically defined area over which a state exercises authority.
Population: The people permanently or habitually residing within a state’s territory.
Government: The institutions and authorities through which a state exercises political power and performs public functions.
Sovereignty: The supreme political and legal authority of a state over its territory and domestic affairs, together with its formal independence in external relations.
Political Authority: The recognized right to exercise political power and make binding decisions.
Statehood: The condition of being recognized as a state under international law and international practice.
Types and Related Forms of States
Federal State: A state in which constitutional authority is divided between a central government and constituent units such as provinces or states.
Unitary State: A state in which ultimate constitutional authority rests with the central government, although administrative powers may be delegated to local governments.
Confederation: A political association in which relatively autonomous states cooperate through common institutions while retaining substantial sovereignty.
Microstate: A sovereign state with a very small territory and/or population.
Landlocked State: A state without direct access to an ocean or sea.
Coastal State: A state possessing a coastline and associated maritime rights under international law.
Archipelagic State: A state consisting wholly or mainly of one or more archipelagos and governed by special maritime rules under international law.
Fragile State: A state experiencing serious weaknesses in institutional capacity, governance, security or the provision of public services.
Failed State: A term used in political analysis for a state whose institutions have become severely incapable of maintaining effective governance or control. The term is contested and lacks a single universally accepted legal definition.
Nation and National Identity
National Identity: A shared sense of belonging to a particular nation.
National Consciousness: Collective awareness of membership in a national community.
Nationalism: A political and social ideology emphasizing the importance of the nation and, in many forms, the political self-determination or sovereignty of the nation.
Civic Nationalism: National identity based primarily on citizenship, political values and shared institutions.
Ethnic Nationalism: National identity emphasizing common ancestry, ethnicity, language or cultural heritage.
Stateless Nation: A nation or national community that does not possess its own sovereign state.
Indigenous Peoples: Distinct communities with historical and cultural connections to territories predating the establishment or expansion of modern states.
Diaspora: A population dispersed from its ancestral homeland while maintaining varying degrees of cultural, social or political connection with it.
Government and Regime
Government: The formal institutions through which political authority is exercised.
Regime: The broader system of political rules, institutions and practices through which power is organized and exercised.
Political Regime: The institutional and procedural framework governing political authority.
Democratic Regime: A political system in which governmental authority is based on popular participation and competitive political processes.
Authoritarian Regime: A political system characterized by concentrated political authority and limited political competition or participation.
Transitional Government: A temporary government established during a political transition, such as after conflict, revolution or regime change.
State and Nation: Key Distinction
A state is a political and legal entity.
A nation is primarily a community of shared identity.
A nation-state combines political statehood with a broadly corresponding national identity.
A state may contain several nations, and a nation may extend across several states.
Key Distinctions
State vs Nation: A state is a political and legal entity; a nation is a community of identity.
State vs Government: The state is the continuing political entity; the government is the set of institutions currently exercising authority.
Nation vs Ethnic Group: A nation may be based on ethnicity, but national identity can also be civic, political or historical.
Nation-State vs State: A nation-state suggests substantial correspondence between state boundaries and national identity, whereas not every state is a nation-state in this sense.
Sovereignty vs Statehood: Statehood concerns the existence of a state as a political and legal entity; sovereignty concerns its supreme authority and independence.
Key Terms at a Glance
State | Sovereign State | Nation | Nation-State | Sovereignty | Territory | Population | Government | Statehood | National Identity | Nationalism | Civic Nationalism | Ethnic Nationalism | Stateless Nation | Diaspora | Federal State | Unitary State | Fragile State | Failed State | Political Regime
Related Glossaries
State Sovereignty and National Interest | Power in International Relations | International Actors | International System and World Order | Foreign Policy | International Law