The nation state in an age of globalization

Abstract

Nation state building peaked in the second half of this century, with more than one hundred states newly forming. The system presents a very mixed picture, with nation states big and small, large and small populations, strong and weak, rich and poor, post‐industrial and traditionalist, insular and continental, integrated and isolated, and so on. Today, most nation states are democratic, although democracy in the contemporary world has different faces. Despite the mixed picture, views about the demise of the nation state are greatly exaggerated; it is still claiming a key role. However, there is a paradox: there are more nation states than before, but they enjoy less sovereignty. The problems and prospects of these entities is analyzed in recognition of the differences between industrialized and developing countries, and states undergoing systemic transition.