3 ms·
Pedantically, the word "nation" in nation-state refers to a specific grouping of people. One which has a single shared history, ethnicity, culture, etc. The US
by seoaeu 5y ago
Pedantically, the word "nation" in nation-state refers to a specific grouping of people. One which has a single shared history, ethnicity, culture, etc. The US is multicultural with citizens from a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds, so under that definition it doesn't qualify
- MomoXenosaga 5y agoThat's ridiculous, all Western countries are multicultural these days. Kansas is likely more white than Paris.
- seoaeu 5y agoYes, these days all counties are multicultural to some degree, and it is hard to draw a clear cutoff. The Wikipedia page uses 85% of the state being a single predominant group as a dividing line, but recognizes some special cases as well. However, if all of France had the demographics of Paris it would be far below that threshold and in fact would not be considered a nation-state.
- perl4ever 5y agoIt is very simple to justify when you consider the US alone. However, if you choose virtually any other countries that you might consider to be nation-states, then you could describe them in the same manner. The way I read your definition, you describe two polarities, which lend themselves to any conclusion about any country, depending on which is emphasized. I felt like the UK, Pakistan, and Israel were three good examples of countries claimed by some to be nation-states that show the definition is complicated and subjective. And indeed, it already was denied that the UK is a nation-state, in this thread!
- seoaeu 5y agoTotally agree, the definition is complicated and subjective! Really more of a spectrum than a clear binary. You could certainly argue that the US has a "shared history" that unites its various ethnic groups, thereby making it a single nation. Or you could argue that different racial groups and immigrant communities have had sufficiently distinct experiences that they shouldn't be lumped together.