nation

a politically organized body of people under a single government

"the state has elected a new president"

"African nations"

"students who had come to the nation's capitol"

"the country's largest manufacturer"

"an industrialized land" the people who live in a nation or country

"a statement that sums up the nation's mood"

"the news was announced to the nation"

"the whole country worshipped him" United States prohibitionist who raided saloons and destroyed bottles of liquor with a hatchet (1846-1911) a federation of tribes (especially Native American tribes)

"the Shawnee nation"

For publications of this name, see also Nation (disambiguation).''One of the most influential doctrines in history is that all humans are divided into groups called nations. It is an ethical and philosophical doctrine in itself, and is the starting point for the ideology of nationalism. The nationals (the members of the "nation") are distinguished by a common identity, and almost always by a common origin, in the sense of ancestry, parentage or Kinship and descentdescent. The national identity refers both to the distinguishing features of the group, and to the individual’s sense of belonging to it. A very wide range of criteria is used, with very different application. Small differences in pronunciation may be enough to categorise someone as a member of another nation. On the other hand, two people may be separated by difference in personalities, belief systems, geographical locations, time and even spoken language, yet regard themselves and be seen by others, as members of the same nation. Nationals are considered to share certain traits and norms of behaviour, certain duties toward other members, and certain responsibilities for the actions of the members of the same nation.Nations extend across generations, and include the dead as full members. More vaguely, they are assumed to include future generations. No-one fixes a timespan, but a nation is typically several centuries old. Past events are evaluated in this context, for instance by referring to "''our'' soldiers" in conflicts which took place hundreds of years ago.The term ''nation'' is often used synonymously with ethnic group (sometimes "ethnos"), but although ethnicity is now one of the most important aspects of cultural identitycultural or identity (social science)social identity for the members of most nations, people with the same ethnic origin may live in different nation-states and be treated as members of separate nations for that reason. National identity is often disputed, down to the level of the individual.A state which explicitly identifies as the homeland of a particular nation is a nation-state, and most modern states fall into this category, although there may be violent disputes about their legitimacy. In common usage, terms such as ''nations, country, land'' and ''state'' often appear as near-synonyms, i.e., for a territory under a single sovereigntysovereign government, or the inhabitants of such a territory, or the government itself; in other words, a ''de jure'' or ''de facto'' state.In a more strict sense, however, terms such as ''nation'', ethnos, and peoples denominate a group of human beings, in contrast to ''country'' which denominates a territory, whereas ''state'' expresses a legitimised administrative and decision-making institution. Confusingly, the terms ''national'' and ''international'' are used as technical terms applying to ''states'', see country.

Origins - The origins of nations are disputed, and these disputes form a major issue in the theory of nationalism. There are some biological theories of its origin, which see humans as territorial animals and the nation as a territory in this sense. Most theorists reject this as simplistic, and treat nations as a relatively late human social grouping. The most widely quoted theories place their origin in the late 18th and 19th century, although this dating is very disputed. Certainly the identification with a "nation" was promoted by early romantic nationalism at that time, usually in opposition to multi-ethnic (and autocratic) empires.The Avishai Margalit in ''The Ethics of Memory'' (2002), discusses the defining role of memory in shaping nations: "A nation," he says acerbically, "has famously been defined as a society that nourishes a common delusion about its ancestry and shares a common hatred for its neighbors. Thus, the bond of caring in a nation hinges on false memory (delusion) and hatred of those who do not belong."

Etymology - The first recorded use of the word "nation" was in 968, when Liutprand, bishop of Cremona, while confronting the Byzantine emperor on behalf of his patron Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, boldly declared in his report, "The Land": I answered, "which you say belongs to your empire belongs, ''as the nationality and language of the people proves'', to the kingdom of Italy." (emphasis added)mediaeval.ucdavis.eduThe term derives from Latin ''natio'' and originally described the colleagues in a college or students, above all at the University of Paris, who were all born within a ''pays'', spoke the same language and expected to be ruled by their own familiar law. In 1383 and 1384, while studying theology at Paris, Jean Gerson was twice elected procurator for the French ''nation'' (i.e. the French-born Francophone students at the University). The Paris division of students into ''nations'' was adopted at the University of Prague, where from its opening in 1349 the studium generale was divided among Bohemian, Bavarian, Saxon and various Polish ''nations''.

Modern understanding - Since the 19th century, it is considered the norm that a nation coincides with a sovereigntysovereign state, called a nation-state. That norm itself derives from the ideology of nationalism, which asserts that each nation deserves its own state. Before the 19th century, it is difficult to find examples that fit the modern idea of a nation-state. That does not mean that there is agreement on the number of nations, and their equivalence with a nation-state. Very few nations and nation-states have an undisputed territory and borders. There are many self-government movements, such as those in Belgium, the United Kingdom and Spain. There are nations which describe themselves as stateless nations, such as those of the Kurds and Assyrian peopleAssyrians. Claimed national territory may be partitionpartitioned, as in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. There are also examples of national identity without a corresponding state, or claim to a state. England is a nation in the United Kingdom, but unlike the other four component nations (Northern Ireland, Cornwall, Scotland and Wales) there has, until recently, been little sign of aspiration to self-government (see Campaign for an English Parliament).The term "state-nation" is sometimes used, for nations where the common identity derives from shared citizenship of a state. It implies that the state was formed first, and that the sense of national identity developed later, or in parallel. The Netherlands and France are often quoted as examples. However, both countries also have a strong ethnic identity and cultural identity, reflected in widespread attitudes to immigrants. If the nation was defined only by citizenship, then naturalisationnaturalised citizens would be accepted as equal members of the nation, and that is not the case. In most countries citizenship is sharply distinguished from nationality. Nation-states vary in their attitude to naturalisation and citizenship. In the United States, the only ''legal'' restriction on naturalised citizens is, that they may not hold the office of President, and the only act required of new citizens is an Oath of Allegiance. Many other countries have language and cultural knowledge tests, but they may be intended primarily as a barrier to immigration.Almost all nations are associated with a specific territory, the national homeland. Some live in a historical diaspora, that is, mainly outside the national homeland. The term diaspora now refers mainly to dispersed economic migrants and their descendants. The Roma (people)Roma, who are considered in some parts of Europe to be a distinct nation, are a diaspora without a clearly identified homeland. Where territory is disputed between nations, the claims may be based on which nation lived there first - the nation is considered to include past members. That is mainly the case in areas of historical European settlement (1500-1950). The term "First Nations" is used by groups which share an aboriginal culture, and seek official recognition or autonomy.The term nation is widely used, by extension or metaphor, to describe any group promoting some common interest or common identity, see Red Sox Nation and Queer Nation.

Related concepts -

Nationality

Nationalism

Nation-state

Home Nations

Country

Constituent countries

State

State (law)

Ethnicity

Ethnic group

Race

Society

Identity

Identity politics

See also -

List of ethnic groups

List of people by nationality

List of countries

Melungeon

Micronation

National emblem

Links -

etext.lib.virginia.edu - ''Dictionary of the History of Ideas''[: Medieval and Renaissance ideas of Nation

tamilnation.org - What is a Nation? - Nadesan !SatyendraCategory:Nationality< bara> !Category:EthnicityCategory:Pol itical? geographyca:Nació da:Folkeslag de:Nation eo:Nacioes:Naciónfo:Tjóð fr:Nation !gl:Naciónis:Þjóðja:国 ;民nl:Natie? pl:Naród pt:Nação (história e !geografia)ru:На
094;ия? Link FAru simple:Nationsw:Madola !uk:Наці ;яzh-cn:民族

Amazon Nation Women's Self Defense
A self defense programme made by a woman for women. It is the combination of three traditional martial arts (Tae Kwon Do, Jeet Kune Do, Tang Soo Do), Street Fighting and Chin Na. No two programmes are the same, as each woman has a programme custom made for her so that each woman's strengths can be amplified. Classes can also be taken over the Internet as well as in person.
http://www.amazonnation.ca/

Unity Party WA
Politics
http://www.unitywa.org/

Patrick Saad Conceptual Photographer
Patrick Saad Photography and visual concepts inspired from people and nations encountered around the world.
http://www.imajenation.com/

KhushDC.org
KhushDC is a social, support and political group that provides a safe and supportive environment, promotes awareness and acceptance, and fosters positive cultural and sexual identity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) and additional gender or sexual minority South Asians in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
http://www.KhushDC.org/

Veterans Post News
A Newspaper for and about our Military Veterans and their families, Past, Present and Future. How politics effects them, how the climate of public opinion can help. Articles relate to updates in VA & DoD rules, medical care, new subsidies, humor, books and video reviews and so much more.
http://www.veteranspostnews.com/

BritishColonial.com Offshore Specialists
Offshore Company Formation in any Tax-Haven around the world.
http://www.britishcolonial.com/

The Nation
News and analysis on politics and culture from the left. Includes Real Audio access to the Nation's radio commentaries.
http://www.thenation.com/

เดอะเนชั่น
เสนอข่าวการเมือง เศรษฐกิจ ไอที กีฬา ต่างประเทศ วิเคราะห์ข่าวเป็นภาษาอังกฤษ
http://www.nationmultimedia.com

Daily Nation
Online edition offering commentary, sports, business, obituaries, and letters to the editor.
http://www.nationaudio.com/

Your Nation
Ability to rank nations in ascending or descending order, for a number of different statistics.
http://www.your-nation.com/