A nation-state is a political and legal entity in which the boundaries of a nation (a group of people united by shared identity such as language, culture, ethnicity, or history) largely coincide with the boundaries of a state (a sovereign political and territorial organization with a government).
In simple terms:
• Nation = A community of people bound together by common identity (ethnicity, culture, language, history).
• State = A political and legal organization that exercises authority over a defined territory and population.
• Nation-State = When a nation has its own state, i.e., a sovereign country whose population is relatively homogeneous in identity.
Key Features of a Nation-State:
1. Sovereignty – Independent authority over its territory.
2. Defined Territory – Clear geographic boundaries.
3. Nationhood – A dominant cultural, linguistic, or ethnic identity.
4. Government – Institutions exercising political control.
5. Recognition – Acceptance by other states and international organizations.
Examples:
• Japan – Largely homogeneous nation with its own state.
• Iceland – A small but culturally unified nation-state.
• France – Considered one of the earliest modern nation-states after the French Revolution.
Non-Nation-States:
Some countries are multi-ethnic states (e.g., USA, India, Pakistan) where multiple nations live within one state, so they aren't "pure" nation-states but still function as states.
