Question

Media indiscriminately use the term “nation-state.” But are all nations states?

Are all states nations? Discuss differences between a “nation” and a “state” with

reference to what makes a nation and the powers that a state has.

Answer 1

Nation States :

A state in which a great majority shares the same lifestyle or culture and is concious of it. It is an ideal in which cultural boundaries unite with political ones. A nation state is a soverign state of which most of it gists are united also by factors which defined a nation such as language or common descent, since a country does not need to have a predominant ethnic group.

1.The state and nation are different:

The state has four elements - population, territory, government and sovereignity. In absence of even one element, a state connot really be a state. State is always characterised by all four elements and nation is a group of people who have strong sense of unity and common conciousness.

Common Territory, common race, common religion, common language, common history, common culture and common political aspirations are the elements which help the formation of a nation, and yet none of these is an absolutely essential elements.

2.State is a political organisation while nation is a social, cultural and political unity :

The state is a political organisation which fulfills the security and welfare needs of its people. It is concerned with external human actions. It is a legal entity. On the other hand, a nation is a united unit of population which is full of emotional,spritual and psychological bonds. A nation has little to do with the physical needs of the people.

The Powers of the nation :

Print Money, regulate interstate and international trade, Make treaties and conduct foreign policies, Declere war, provide an army,navy and air force, make laws necessary and proper carry out the these powers.

The Powers of the state :

Issueing licences, regulate interstate within the state businesses, establish local governments, ratify amendments to the constitution, take measures for public health and safety, may exert powers the constitution does not delegate to the national government or prohibit the state sfrom using.

In addition to their exclusive powers, both the national government

and state governments share the power of being able to :

Collect Taxes, Build roads, borrow money, establish courts, make and enforce laws, charter bank and corpoations, spend money for general welfare etc......