nationer

Nationer is the term used in several languages for nations—the large communities that share a sense of common identity based on language, culture, history, or ethnicity and that may seek political self-government. In Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish, nationer is the plural of nation; in English, nations is the plural and nation refers to the concept in the singular. A nation can correspond to a state, giving rise to the idea of a nation-state, but many nations exist without their own state, in which case they are called stateless nations. Conversely, a single state may contain multiple nations or national communities.

The concept of a nation is distinct from that of a state, the political-legal authority with defined borders and sovereignty. Nationalism is the ideology that elevates the interests or culture of a nation, sometimes advocating self-rule or independence. It can take different forms, such as civic nationalism, which centers on shared laws and civic rights, or ethnic nationalism, which foregrounds common ancestry or ethnicity. Nations may also be multinational within a single state, leading to complex questions of plural identities and political arrangements.

Historically, modern nations and nation-states emerged in Europe from the 18th through the 20th centuries, aided by mass education, standardization of language, and evolving concepts of sovereignty. The 19th century saw consolidation of several nation-states, while the 20th century featured decolonization and the creation of numerous new states as empires dissolved.

Today, nations can be multinational states—such as big, diverse countries that host several national communities—or stateless nations without universally recognized independent states, including groups like the Kurds, Catalans, or Palestinians. International law recognizes peoples' right to self-determination in some contexts, but emphasizes territorial integrity and peaceful coexistence within existing borders.