What is a Nation?
At first glance, the definitions of the words nation and state appear straight forward and perhaps they are even the same thing. What’s your nationality? I’m German, I’m Kenyan, I’m Brazilian. It all seems very simple and the same can be said for states. A state or a country is (in most cases) a geographic entity that can be clearly defined by its borders or coastline and is governed by a single government. But are both of these definitions really that simple?
Of the two, state has the simplest definition. States are more easily recognized, as well as having definable boundaries, which can be drawn on a map, they will have institutions of state. They have governments and laws and the governments have branches that perform functions and provide services for their citizens. Perhaps most importantly, states are legal entities that have existed for a period of time. They can make decisions, conduct business, enter into agreements such as treaties and they can recognize each other therefore giving each validity and authority. So what about nations? Is a nation the same as a state?
First, we need to define a nation. In many cases they have a geographic boundary, particularly with island nations but this certainly isn’t the case in all cases. Not all German people live within the boundaries of Germany and what of Scots living in England and the fact that more than 50% of people who identify themselves as Italian live outside of Italy. So how do we define a nation?
For many a nation is more of an ethnic or cultural entity than it is a legal one particularly as often nations can predate states. In many parts of the world the borders we recognize as defining states are relatively new. And this applies not just to regions such as Africa and the Middle East where the borders were created in the 20th century but also much of Europe and the Americas. In fact contrary to popular belief for many most of the borders in Europe were redefined in the mid 20th century and were somewhat fluid before that. With border towns changing hands often European borders were ad-hoc at best for a considerable period of time. With this in mind, nationality and national identity often have more meaning than simple statehood.
It can also be said that in addition to predating states, that nations where created more naturally through human activity and that states were subsequently created through legal processes. Prior to states even existing nationalities started to form as similar groups such as tribes or ethnicities joined together and created national identities. They shared languages and cultural practices and de facto formed governments. Over time the groups got larger and joined together to form even larger groups and in many cases chose to become aligned to a monarch or feudal system where-by they chose to pay taxes to or provide services such as military service in return for security. Although not democratic by today’s standards it was democratic in nature in that people chose to accept the authority of the monarch in return for security such as when William the Conqueror imposed the Common Law on England. In doing so he created a state by taking a nation and providing it with a legal system that provided security and allowed the economy to function by enabling rights to be determined and disputes settled. The nation was still there and now, so was the state.
And the process was repeated (with variations) around the world. Groups formed based on cultural and ethnic similarities and as the groups became larger and more complex laws and states were created. Being more clearly defined often the state took priority as an entity over the nation. As legal entities states need to be clearly defined and borders were created and constitutions adopted. In many cases it was simple, there were few differences between nation and state and to the point that they may even become one.
But what of the nations that did not readily identify with the state that was created around them? On occasion groups would even relocate to live within the country that formed the state with which they identified or they may remain in one state while holding an allegiance to another or they may choose to identify themselves primarily with their nationality rather than the state. Does this make their nationality any less valid or should their nation be recognized as a state?
Examples of this can found throughout the world where groups, often indigenous population’s live in a state with which they do not identify or even a combination of states where their territory transcends an international border. From the Basques of France and Spain to the many First Nations of North America and beyond there are nations that could arguable be states but are not.. They are a culturally and ethnically homogenous groups that have existed for time immemorial living on their traditional land. They clearly identify themselves as and are recognized as nations but they also have many of the characteristics of a states. They have their own laws but perhaps most significantly, they have even entered into treaties with recognized states and some have been issuing their own travel documents, passports, for longer than many recognized states have. So, with this in mind, why is it that they are not recognized as states and what does a nation become a state?
Matt Williams
