Territorial Identity
- Nations associate themselves with a specific territory, fostering a collective identity among its inhabitants.
- Long-term habitation on a particular territory reinforces the sense of belonging and unity among people.
- The concept of a “homeland” holds significant importance for nations, with various terms like motherland, fatherland, or holy land used to describe it.
- Example: The Jewish people historically claimed Palestine as their original homeland, referring to it as the “promised land.”
- Indian nationalism identifies with the geographical features such as rivers, mountains, and regions of the Indian subcontinent.
- Conflicts often arise when multiple groups lay claim to the same territory, leading to disputes over homeland aspirations.
Assumptions About Nation Class 11 Polity Notes
It is a widely held belief that nations are made up of people who share particular characteristics, such as language, race, religion, or lineage. However, there isn’t a set of traits that are shared by all countries. There are several countries without a common language; Canada is one of them. Both English- and French-speaking peoples reside in Canada.
India is home to several languages that are spoken by various people and in various places. Nor do many countries have a religion that unites them. The same may be argued for other attributes like ancestry or race. What then constitutes a nation? Let us identify and understand some of the assumptions which people make about the nation.
Assumptions About Nation Class 11 Polity Notes