Nation State, Nationality and Nationalism : A new perspective

Dr L Krishnamangol Singh
The term 'Nation State’ is commonly understood. And, there is another term known as "native State", which is also commonly understood. While the former has been basically concerned with the process of civilisation or the process of development of a society since early times (ie after the pre-history period and transition to the slavery society), the term "Native State" is also associated with the process of socio-economic development of a State or Nation. According to Oxford Dictionary it is defined that the term "native" is a person born in a specified place or "associated with a place by birth" and that person is a local inhabitant (Oxford, 1911;952). It is further defined that the term "native" is associated with the place or circumstances of a person's birth (Ibid., p. 953.).
In another explanation, the term "native people" is also used to mean the "indigenous inhabitants" or aboriginal inhabitants or aboriginal native people of a place (ie in a State/country) (c.f. Concise Oxford Dictionary, 2005:952). In the past, the term "native" or the "indigenous people" was synonymously used before the colonialists or the colonizers arrived in a particular place/country. Thus, some British writers used the term "native", which is not used now as there has been emergence of modern States or Nations.
The British had left the countries dominated by them. Here, we shall not go into the controversies of the indigenous people and native people as there are now a large number of modern democratic States or countries after the colonies had left the countries. Thus, the term "inhabitants" or the citizens of the country are now commonly used. Some essential aspects of the State/Nation may be noted here to reveal the genesis of the State.
In ancient times when there was primitive communal system, there was no State. It gradually developed with the growth of private property (ie with the breakdown of the primitive stage of human civilisation and the emergence of slavery system). Chronological information/records or studies on the empirical evidences concerning the genesis of the states are scanty.
Thus, such an approach to our re-examination of the evolution of the States is not attempted here. It may, however, be pointed out that Plalo's theory of city State (Polis State) or Ideal State (427-347 B.C) was rejected by the later thinkers, particularly by his student Aristotle (384-322 B.C.). After these great thinkers on the genesis of the emergence of State, there were also many thinkers on the importance of the State. Thus, during the feudal period (ie from about the fifth century to about the middle of the 15th century or the end of the 15th century) in different European countries, there was also gradual and development of the States or Nation-States with monarchy (king or queen ) in these countries in order to safeguard the rights of the people and protect the exploitation of the peasants and serfs by the feudal lords.
Again, after the break down of the feudalism, the Nation-State without monarchy emerged not only to safeguard the people, but also to promote the welfare and the rights of the people under the care of the States.
At this stage we shall now examine the changing nature and role of Nation-State, their transition to modern States and the growth of Nationalism. We have seen that there was the emergence of States in most of the European countries during the period of slavery system. And, there was also transition of the early stage of State towards the Nation-States in most of the European countries during the period of feudal system in there countries. It is also found that these forms of States were historically known as "Nation-States with monarchy". We shall now briefly set out the basic features of the nation-states in following discussions. The Nation-States with monarchy were in the form of "authoritarian States". However, these Nation-States having the characteristics of the "Nation" or Nations without monarchy (king/queen or monarchy in name only i.e. titular king or queen)  fulfilled the following features.
1. In the first place, the term Nation is used in a broad sense to mean all the people living in a country under its Government (Longman). In fact, there have been changes in the nature or definition of Nation over the years.
2. Initially it is defined as a large body of people united by common descent, culture or language inhabiting a particular State or territory (Oxford) Ibid. This concept of Nation was also rooted in European countries. Today, a large body of people is redefined as the large number of peoples having their own respective decent, culture etc., and they inhabit a particular State/territory or independent Nation or country  as a subject or as subjects under one Government or the same Government. In this sense, the Nation is also a confederation of peoples inhabiting or settling together in a independent country as a subject of the country or Government and they are recognised by the Central Government and State Government as their or its subjects/citizens .
3. Thus, the term Nation is reinterpreted as a group of people(s) or a large number of people(s) with their same/own language, culture and with the same history of the "nation" and they share the common language and live in a particular area or State/Nation under one Government or a National Government. Here the term Nation refers not only to the particular "race" or community but also to the "entire Nation" or the whole Nation with its sovereignty and also with a large group or groups/communities under one government or under one central government. For example, at present, we have the Indian nation that is an Independent country. And the central and State Governments of the country have recognised the people of the state or the country as their citizens (i.e. as Indian citizens )under the existing laws of the country  and others are not counted as their citizens and they are illegal immigrants within the states and the country. Today, the states are within the Nation and they are parts of the Nation. In the past, the states were treated as an independent country. Today, the Nation comprises various states and they are now within the same nation.
And, the Nation is also synonymous with an "independent state" or independent country. But the states will be within the nation or country . But the common usage of the term "Country" is "Nation" and the states are within the Nation/ country, which has a fixed geographical boundary. Thus the term "nation" encompasses various states within it or within its territory and it has one or single sovereignty. And the sovereignty is a whole "concept" and a comprehensive "term" and "it cannot be parcialised" from within the nation or from outside the nation (C.f., Ashok Rudra).
Having briefly dealt with the concept of "nation" we may now briefly set out the concept of "nation-state" in order to understand the transition of the states into the nation-states or national system.
In examining the world system of Nations and States, it is found that in the past, there were several "sovereign Nation-States" with monarchy particularly in the European countries and other parts of the world. The term "Nation-State" system is broadly defined as the pattern of political life in which people are separately organised into "sovereign states" (Palmer and Perkin, 1965 quoted in Prakash Chandra, International Politics, 1979: 43. Thus, the State having the basic features or characteristics of a nation is called "nation-state". And, if the nation-state was with monarchy, it was not a democratic Nation-State.
Historically, Nation-State with monarchy continued for a long time in most of the European countries upto about the decline of feudalism (i.e. about the middle of the 15th century).  Thereafter, there was the emergence of the "Nation-State without monarchy" (monarchy was in name only and known as titular king or queen) with the transition to capitalism in these countries when the Industrial Revolution had emerged in England in about 18th century. In early times or ancient times, there was no existence of nation-state in any part of the world.
However, as already noted, there were only a few dynastic empires Roman Empire and city-states. Gradually, there was transition to the states and nation-states in most of the European countries and others parts of the world. Thus, it is found that several factors had contributed to the growth of nation-states or nation-state system. And they are briefly stated as follows :
(1) disintegration of Roman Empire or the Holy Roman Empire ( the western part of the Roman Empire)  
(2) downfall of the feudal system  
(3) emergence of capitalism and communism and the growth of the states based on a definite (i) territory (ii) population (iii) sovereignty and law/government among others.
Thus, the state which transformed into a nation-state/nation-state system is a form/ a body of people or a system that comprised a large number of people and occupied a fixed territory and it was politically organised under one civil government. This suggests that it has a legal system, territorial boundary, population with a sovereignty etc. And, when the state continued function or fulfil like a "Nation", which is relatively at a higher stage in terms of political economic, legal system etc., it is generally known as nation-state. here, it is useful to remember that the nation-state formation is a long historical process in the civilization of different countries.
As already noted, it is found that in the Middle Ages (feudal period), most kingdoms (i.e. the nation-state with monarchy) ruled their states/nations (Independent Kingdoms) with assemblies formed by the kings and they were represented by different propertied classes (Cf. Mark Kishlansky et.al 2002:277). A brief History of Western Civilization,2002:277). Some were strong kingdoms while some others were weak (Ibid.,p.277). There were also limitations to the extension and expansion of the power of kings and princess. Thus, this had slowed down the process of state formation or nation-state formation. It is further found that the fragmentation of Europe into so many small units (kingdoms) of government made some consolidation inevitable and as the first large nation-state took shape, the position of the neighbours grew even more precarious (Cf. Mark Kishlansky, Patrick Geary and Patrick O'Biren, 2002:277).This was the historical development upto the end of the feudal period (i.e. by the end of the 15th century) in most of the European countries.
Thus, the classical nation-states were common features in most of the European countries over a long period of time from the 4th century upto the end of 15th century.
It is also found that the classical state system continued to exist beyond fifteen century in some parts of the European countries. But, there was gradual transition to the nation-state system (monarchy was only in name) in Europe and other parts of the world after the 15th century. There were two processes  of nation-state formation (without monarchy) .
Firstly, the states could be absorbed in the nation that comprised different states under it, and secondly, the nation had taken care of the states as its federating or federal units. And, the National interest and the characteristic features of the nation under its Constitutions became the basic structure of the nation. Thus, the Nation-States have now transformed into a "nation" which is a large concept that includes all the nation-states within it. Today, the term "nation" is used or in its place, the term country is also used interchangeably to protect and promote the national territory and national interest one.
(To be contd)