- Language
- Culture
- Ethnicity
- Religion
- Values
- Shared history
What is a nation state?
When a nation is ruled by a state - State (neutral / secular) --> institution --> territory.
** Both of these are contested concepts. ^^
Conflicts:
Southern Sudan vs. Nothern Sudan : Sudan - Africa's 54th Nation State.
In 2011, Sudan held a referendum in which they voted for / against independance - 99% were in favour - Sudan split into a north / south divide --> Could not stay together as a result of religious / ethnic conflicts (Islam vs Christianity).
Fights originate from the idea of political importance of each of the things that define a nation --> When one tries to impose any of these on the other (who doesn't share the same lang / values etc) it causes tensions / conflicts.
Questions can be answered differently depending on how you define a nation i.e. Which of the sub-categories mentioned above is the most dominant in your view?
- Ethnic / cultural nationalism vs. civic / political nationalism:
Civic/ political nationalism is inclusive - allows members of differing races / values.
Civic nationalism is normally concerned with: individual rights & freedom - The state needs to act in the interests of the people.
Questions:
Is the nation invented? - Is it just something that has been imagined and created in order to unite 'the people of 'a nation'?
**The idea that you have to speak the same language within a nation is becoming more and more important --> need to have a mutual language in order to share / communicate common values.
Which of your identities are most important? Your national or civic identity? Idea of US vs. THEM --> We can only have an 'us' if we have something to compare it with.
REMEMBER: The way in which we define nationalism is constantly changing.
