The Nation State, National Identity and Citizenship

Abstract

The nation state, national identity and citizenship can be best described as separate and distinct legal concepts. While these concepts are standalone, they do, in part, support and underpin each other. In other words, they go hand in hand, and provide the basis for providing a platform for the inhabitants of a state – to identify as being, or, belonging to a state. Moreover, in the case of Slovenes they have the opportunity to also identify themselves as being part of broader Europe (the European union). On the backdrop of the above, the theoretical understandings of the nation state, national identity and citizenship is divided into three parts. The first section discusses the development of the nation state and national identity. Secondly, the literature review traces the evolution of citizenship and its linkages to the nation state and national identity. The third element identifies how citizenship and nationality are recognized in national and international law, although there are subtle differences between the two. The literature review adopts the position of Linda Bosniak, who is the leading scholar in this area to identify the link between citizenship, the nation state and national identity. In addition to Linda Bosniak, the literature also reinforces and adopts Kim Rubenstein’s position that citizenship has evolved into a legal status. It is this legal status that is not only multilayered but provides a level of social cohesion.