Nation Building

Nation Building: Etymology and Definition

Etymologically, the word nation is derived from the Latin natio, which stands for “the act of being born.” So, a nation is usually defined as a set of people and tribes. Natio originally was strongly connected with a term such as ethnos (a people based on the idea of a common descent), in contrast to demos (a population defined by common citizenship). Nations are socially constructed, so it is unclear who is included and who is excluded. This unclear social cultural definition is expressed in Benedict Anderson's concept of a nation as socially constructed “imagined communities.” The broader, “territorial” concept of the nation-state produces a clearer definition. Nation building is a process of collective identity formation to assert power in a certain territory. It refers to existing institutions, customs, and traditions, and it redefines national characteristics. The process of state building depends on this uniqueness and sovereignty. The building of a nation is based mostly on values and beliefs that enhance support for and the legitimacy of the (new) state.

Nation building as a process of developing a national identity can be seen as the cultural foundation for the nation-state and its supralocal power structure. If this cultural projection of a nation is no longer valid, the social contract between the state and individual citizens or groups of citizens may be destroyed and violence may be triggered. This can be seen in the breakup and collapse of a state such as Yugoslavia, leading to civil wars in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo in the 1990s.

The existence of nation-states can be seen as a safeguard for security and stability. Nation-states act as the basis for economic and social development. According to Eric Hobsbawm (1990), national identity and national pride are created by a feeling of one's supremacy, and they provide a basis for nation building. All forms of national identity (national pride, patriotism, etc.) can become problematic and are related to outgroup hostility.

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