Nationalism is based on the idea that the nation is the central principle of political organization. There are differing views on what constitutes the basis for national identity, with primordial nationalists arguing it is based on common descent and culture, while civic nationalists see it as shared civic values and willingness to participate in the political community. Nationalism legitimizes government authority as representing popular self-government by and for the people of the nation. It addresses issues of collective identity and forges social bonds among the members of the nation.