Commentary

What is a 'Nation-State'?
According to Oxford Languages, the definitions of 'nation' and 'state' are as follows:

• 'Nation' - A large group of people with shared factors such as a common ethnicity, culture, history and language, often inhabiting a particular territory.

• 'State' - A territory considered as an organized political community under one government.

• A 'nation-state' is a political unit where the state and nation are congruent.

• Modern nation-states: "Legitimate states that govern effectively and dynamic industrial economies are widely regarded today as the defining characteristics of a modern nation-state."

• Their attitudes differ compared to non-nation-states in that they tend to be more patriotic, territorial, and oppose immigration policies.

Why was it originally considered fit for purpose?

• It was difficult to distinguish between nation and state.
• Many countries largely consisted of one ethnicity who shared common language, history, culture etc.

Why is it being considered increasingly irrelevant/no longer fit for purpose?

• There are those who consider the notion of a nation-state an outdated concept.
• Globalisation and increased freedom of movement means they find commonalities with those from other cultures and ethnic backgrounds, and countries are becoming increasingly multinational and multicultural.
• Formation of unions of states such as the EU.

Why could it still be considered fit for purpose?

• Despite this, there are still countries like England and France where the vast majority of the population is still formed of one nation of people who speak one language and share a history and culture.
• Some countries have began to tighten border restrictions, often with the aim of preserving one nation within the state.

Before the nation-state

• It is worth noting that during the 18th century, the classic non-national states of Europe such as Austrian Empire, Kingdom of France, Kingdom of Hungary, the Russian Empire, the Portuguese Empire, the Spanish Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the British Empire were multiethnic empires and could not be considered nation-states.
• Their populations belonged to many ethnic groups, and they spoke many languages.
• However, the empire was dominated by one ethnic group, and their language was usually the language of public administration.

Commentators have suggested that globalisation is the main reason for the apparent demise of the nation state.

A nation state is an entity that has a defined territory, a single government that rules over a population and the recognition of the global community. Over the past few decades, there have been suggestions that the nation state is no longer fit for purpose for the following reasons:

• Controlling capital: Global capitalism has led to the growth of multinational corporations which operate on a transnational scale. They are unrestricted by borders and so international regulators such as the World Bank and the WTO have a role to play in this. States have found difficulties in taxing the profits of these companies, especially tech firms such as Google and Amazon, and thus struggle to deal with the planetary wealth inequalities that arise from this.

• Global problems: Nowadays, problems rarely occur on a national scale. With threats such as pandemics, terrorism and climate change, states have consistently demonstrated that individual action is not enough to tackle these issues.

• Migration: According to UN research, the global population of migrants has increased from 2.8% in 2000 to 3.5% in 2019. In light of this, it has been suggested that the nation state, which emphasises the importance of a shared cultural identity, may be unequipped for the upward trend in migration in the next decade.

In my opinion, I believe that the concept of a nation state is not entirely obsolete as it is still able to provide its citizens with some sense of security and identity. Regardless, the points mentioned above provide strong evidence that the nation state is not as strong an actor in international affairs as it once was.