The basic belief of nationalism is that the nation is , or should be, the central principle of political organization. However, much confusion surrounds what nations are and how they can be defined. In everyday language, words such as ‘nation’, ‘state’, ‘country’ and even ‘race’ are often confused or used as if they are interchangeable.

1. Topic : The Nation

2. Introduction
The basic belief of nationalism is that the nation is ,
or should be, the central principle of political
organization. However, much confusion surrounds
what nations are and how they can be defined. In
everyday language, words such as ‘nation’, ‘state’,
‘country’ and even ‘race’ are often confused or used
as if they are interchangeable.

3. Explanation
On the most basic level, nations are cultural entities,
collections of people bound together by shared
values and traditions, in particular a common
language, religion and history, and usually occupying
the same geographical area.
From this point of view, the nation can be defined by
‘objective’ factors: people who satisfy a requisite set
of cultural criteria can be said to belong to a nation
those who do not can be classified as non-nationals
or members of foreign nations .

4. Although particular cultural features are commonly
associated with nationhood, notably language,
religion, ethnicity, history and tradition, there is no
blueprint nor any objective criteria that can establish
where and when a nation exists.

5. Language is often taken to be the clearest symbol of
nationhood. A language embodies distinctive
attitudes, values and forms of expression that
produce a sense of familiarity and belonging.
Religion is another major component of nationhood.
Religion expresses common moral values and
spiritual beliefs. In Northern Ireland, people who
speak the same language are divided along religious
lines

6. Nations usually share a common history and
traditions. National identity is often preserved by
recalling past glories, national independence, the
birthdays of national leaders or important military
victories.

7. Different Perspective
Liberals subscribe to a ‘civic’ view of the nation that
places as much emphasis on political allegiance as on
cultural unity
Conservatives regard the nation as primarily an
‘organic’ entity, bound together by a common ethnic
identity and a shared history.
Socialists tend to view the nation as an artificial
division of humankind whose purpose is to disguise
social injustice and prop up the established order.