Distinguish between the nation and the state and explain why the two are often confused

Furthermore, when speaking about a nation or a state we are often confused, because the structure of the modern world means nations and states are often considered essentially linked. The nation is seen to form an ordinary political unit and consistent society and so provide the basis for a stable state, which furthers the idea that nations and states are confusing concepts.

As well as this we are often confused when differing the two, as even though a state as previously mentioned is a ‘political concept’, a nation is viewed differently by liberals and socialists, as they support the civic concept of nationhood as it is it inclusive in the sense that it places heavier emphasis upon political allegiance that upon cultural unity, undermining the idea that a nation is just about people who regard themselves as a natural political community, blurring the distinction between the nation and the state.

Lastly, confusion furthers when the concept ‘nation-state’ come into place. A nation-state undermines the idea of a ‘nation’ and a ‘state’ being different. A nation-state is a type of political organisation and a political ideal put together. The most commonly acknowledged origin of the merging of the concepts of nation and state is the French Revolution due to three processes occurring at the same time as a result of the revolution, the old state dissolving and a new one established, secondly the French were announced the right to self-determination (suggesting that a people who have a just claim to nationhood should be granted the right to form their own government), and the new political community was to guarantee individual rights. This was the first concept of a nation-state as the political community was bound together by the overlapping bonds of citizenship and nationality.

In conclusion we can acknowledge that a nation and a state are evidently different due to the obvious reasons being that a nation is a coherent population with a single language, culture, religion etc. and a state being a region of land controlled by a single government. However we are confused when the liberals and socialists support the civic concept of nationhood, which blurs this before obvious distinction. As well as the state holding a nation, which we automatically think is the same thing.