What is a "Nation?"

For some people this question will appear perplexing, as we all know what nations are, and when, in some places, like modern Western Sahara and Somalia, there isn't really a nation there at all.

However, for students of political science, such a definition is insufficient.

For the purposes of the Language and Peace website, which concentrates so heavily on national violence the thesis almost becomes too obvious when we define nation as a territory and the people on it, where those people tacitly or explicitly respect the same people or (more often) institutions and laws as having the monopoly on violent power within the state.

If only a handful of people don't recognize this power, or, in a well respected state more, then the power still exists.

If more people than just members of the national power exercise violence, it would be expected that the national power would take an interest, or, if not taking an interest, that the victims are people it tacitly accepts violence against.

A comparison here will be made, as more theories of nation are discussed, including Fichte and Hobsbawm, of what a nation has been to other political philosophers. iT