Discuss the concept of nation state according to the French philosopher Ernest Renan ?
Answers
Answer:
Renan criticises the notion suggested
by others that a nation is formed by a common
language, race, religion, or territory:.
according to him:
‘A nation is the culmination of a long past of
endeavours, sacrifice and devotion. A heroic past,
great men, glory, that is the social capital upon
which one bases a national idea. To have
common glories in the past, to have a common
will in the present, to have performed great deeds
together, to wish to perform still more, these
are the essential conditions of being a people. A
nation is therefore a large-scale solidarity … Its
existence is a daily plebiscite … A province is its
inhabitants; if anyone has the right to be
consulted, it is the inhabitant. A nation never
has any real interest in annexing or holding on to
a country against its will. The existence of nations
is a good thing, a necessity even. Their existence
is a guarantee of liberty, which would be lost if
the world had only one law and only one master.’
Ernst Renan was a French philosopher and attributes of a nation are according to him as follows— (i) A nation is not formed by a common language, race, religion or territory. ... Importance of Nation according to Renam (i) Existence of the nation is a guarantee of liberty.