In this article you will learn about the Nation and Nationality in Political Science.
Nation and Nationality
The word ‘Nation’ has been derived from the Latin word ‘Natio’, which means race or birth. On this basis, Nation means persons belonging to the same race or sharing the same blood and bound by blood relationship. It refers to the people who have descended from common stock. In common usage, Nation is taken to mean a large group of people who share or have common history and culture, common language and feel bound by several ties, like blood relationship or kinship. It can also be defined in terms of unity of the people which results from common living, common language, common history customs and the sense of unity and belongings among the members.
What really makes a nation is common inhabitants, common history and culture, common language, shared perceptions, common consciousness of a sense of unity and identity, and a sense of belonging among the people of a nation.
A nation is a large group of people either living on a definite territory or owing allegiance to a particular territory which is held to be their motherland. Such a sense of unity and belongingness results from several geographical, social, economic, political, emotional and spiritual factors like common religion, common residence, common language and common ancestors. These can be helping factors but these are not the makers of a nation.
Nationality is again a very commonly used term in political science. It is the status of being part of the nation. Nationality is taken to mean a minority living in the territory of a state. Those minorities living in the territory of the state are called nationalities.
Nationality is the feeling of spiritual, psychological and emotional oneness among the people having several common ties. It is a sentiment of unity, a common mass consciousness which results from several factors like common culture, common history, common traditions and common political and economic aspirations.
Some factors of nationality
1. Racial unity : Common ethnicity or community of race constitutes one of the strongest bonds of unity of the people. Faith in and respect for common ancestry provide a strong basis for the development of a sense of belonging and unity.
2. Common history : Common and shared living for a long time and sharing of ups and downs of life always gives rise to common traditions and cultures and a sense of togetherness. Common history also generates a sense of identity and belongingness among the people.
3. Common culture : By the culture of a society we mean the customs, traditions, habits, understandings, symbols and orientations of the people towards their environment and the objects around them.
4. Common language : Language is the means of expression of one’s feelings and ideas to others. All social interactions and relations involve the use of language. It helps the people to understand each other and bind them together and develop a feeling of like-mindedness.
5. Common interest : Common economic interests and shared perceptions about security needs constitute important factors of nationality. This exercise unites the people in a natural and necessary way.
This article on Nation and Nationality in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.