Definitions of Nation

A nation means groups of people who are united as they have common goals and pretensions to be a state. The following are several definitions of nation according to several experts.


1. Ernest Renan (French)
A nation is formed due to pretensions to live together and unite by sharing common solidarity, history and goals.
2. F. Ratzel (German)
A nation is constructed because of desire to unite. The desire comes as a result of the sense of unity between people and their place to live (geopolitical theory).
3. Otto Bauer (German)
A nation is a group of people who has the same characters given rise to similar fate.
4. Jalobsen and Lipman
A nation is the unity of culture and politics.
5. Hans Kohn
A nation is a result of human efforts in history. It consists of various groups and it could not be formulated in a very exact form. Factors contributing to the formulation of the nation are the sameness of heredity, region, language, tradition, politics, sentiment and religion.
6. Ben Anderson
A nation is an imagined political community in a clear boundary and sovereign region.


Frederich Hertz (German scholar) in his book Nationality in History and Politics, states that every nation would have four aspiration elements, as follows.
1. The pretension to achieve national unity which consists of the unity in terms of social, economy, politic, religion, culture, communication and solidarity.
2. The pretension to gain national independence and freedom, namely the freedom from any domination and interference from other nations on its home affairs.
3. The pretension to attain autonomy, superiority, individuality, originality or uniqueness. Respecting autonomous national language is one of the examples.
4. The pretension to be an outstanding nation among others in pursuing honor, influence, and prestige of the nation.