State, Nation and Nation-State: Clarifying Misused Terminology

A people are considered to be members of a nation when they view themselves as belonging to a unified whole on the basis of common cultural or historical characteristics. Nations are not natural units; rather, they are products of human social construction. Depending on the circumstances, their very existence as well as their definition and the people who make up the group can radically shift. In some respects, nations can be viewed as “imagined communities” that are held together by various conceptions of unity. These conceptions of unity can revolve around concepts such as religion, ethnic identity, language, cultural practise, and so on. Both the idea and the actualization of a nation work together to determine who does and does not belong (insider vs. outsider). In such conceptions, political boundaries are frequently disregarded, leading to the possibility that a single nation “spills over” into multiple states. In addition, states are not the same as nations: not every country has a state (e.g., Kurds; Roma; Palestine). There are some states that may contain multiple nations entirely or in part.

Nation

Territories are inextricably linked to states.

A sovereign nation or state that exercises unquestioned authority over a territory

1. Have distinct dividing lines.
2. Ensures the protection of and maintains control over its territory within those borders Is accepted in the markets of other nations (diplomatic recognition, passports, treaties, etc.)
3. The governments of the states each have their own bureaucracies, which are staffed by state employees.
4. Consists of a national bureaucracy that is staffed by personnel from the government (legal system, educational system, hierarchical governmental units, etc.)
5. Certain functions are carried out exclusively by states within their own territories (sovereign)
6. Maintains authority over the lawful application of force within its borders
7. Maintains authority over the nation’s monetary system (prints currency; collects taxes)
8. Establishes laws and regulations within its borders (law, regulations, taxes, citizenship, etc.)
9. Maintains a significant amount of informational dominance within its borders
10. Attempts are made by states to create nations within their borders (via symbols, education, so-called “national interests,” and other means).

Characteristics of a Free and Independent State

The terms “state,” “nation,” and “country” are all terms that are used to describe groups of people who live in the same location and share a significant number of characteristics in common. However, while states and sovereign states are examples of political entities, nations and countries are not necessarily political entities.

The following characteristics are indicative of a sovereign state, also referred to as an independent state:

1. A region or territory whose borders are recognised on an international scale.
2. People who continue to call that location home on a regular basis
3. Those rules that apply to both international and domestic commerce.
4. The ability to issue legal tender that is accepted in all regions of the world
5. A government that is acknowledged on a global scale and possesses the authority to not only provide its people with public services and police protection, but also to enter into legal agreements, wage war, and take other steps on their behalf.

Non-Sovereign States

The territories that are a part of a sovereign state are not independent sovereign states in and of themselves. Despite possessing the vast majority of the characteristics associated with sovereign states, many entities are unofficially regarded as not being sovereign. A great number of them have their very own histories, and some of them even have their very own languages. Examples include:

Hong Kong

Bermuda

Greenland

Puerto Rico

The areas of the United Kingdom known as Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and England are not considered to be sovereign nations.

The term “state” can also be used to refer to geographic sections of sovereign states that have their own governments but are ultimately answerable to a more powerful federal government. These geographic sections are sometimes referred to as “states within states.” The fifty individual states that make up the United States are not sovereign.

The following are examples of nations that possess territory but are not sovereign states:

The indigenous peoples who currently inhabit the United States.

Bosnia (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Catalonia (in northern Spain)

Quebec

Corsica

Sicily

Tibet

It is possible to make the case that some nations do not govern any territory at all, adding to the list of nations that are not sovereign states. The Sindhi, Yoruba, Rohingya, and Igbo peoples, for instance, share histories, cultures, and languages but do not have a territory of their own. Some states, like Canada and Belgium, are also considered to be separate nations.

Nation-States

It is referred to as a “nation-state” when a group of people known collectively as a nation possesses its own independent and sovereign state. People who live in the same nation state often have similar histories, languages, ethnicities, and cultural practices. Both Iceland and Japan are wonderful illustrations of nation-states: The vast majority of people born in these nation-states have the same cultural background and ancestry because they all come from the same place.

Conclusion 

As the preceding list demonstrates, the credibility of the information used to determine whether or not a state should be considered sovereign is highly variable. The government of Somaliland is of the opinion that the country can properly be referred to as a sovereign state. Nations are culturally homogeneous groups of people who share a common language, institution, religion, or historical experience. Nations can also be defined in terms of shared historical experiences. There are many countries that are not sovereign states, but some of them are.