Concept of education

• Nation-state was not how political Communities were organized – nationalism is only 200 years old.

(ancient Greece city-states, ancient Indian republics and kingdoms, European monarchs/dynasties in feudal Kingdoms)

• Little agreement among writers on the Exact meaning of ‘nationalism’.

• Nationalism: The belief that a Group of people are united by a common history, tradition, language And culture, and hence they should establish a sovereign political Community of their own – nation.

• Ideology/movement that seeks to Establish a nation-state.

• Belief that the nation is the primary Focus of loyalty, the sole object of people’s allegiance.

• Sense of loyalty that makes people to Live and work within the modern state, even die for the state in Wars, etc.

• Hans Kohn: “Nationalism Demands the Nation-State; the creation of the Nation-State Strengthens nationalism.”

• Nation: thus refers to a Close-knit political community with a a shared history and a Culturally, linguistically, ethnically or even racially homogenous Population.

  • However, no country today satisfies These criteria strictly.

• • Max Weber: Nation is a community Of sentiment which would adequately manifest itself in a State of Its own.

• The terms ‘nation’ and ‘state’ Are used synonymously – due to the belief that every community of People that think of themselves as a nation should also have a state Of their own.

• POLITICAL CENTRALIZATION – ABSOLUTIST STATE
  

• • Political centralization was Brought about with the rise of Absolutist monarchs (Tudor Dynasty in England, Bourbon dynasty in France) and the weakening and Collapse of horizontal + vertical challenges by the 16^th Century:

    • Feudal (vertical) forces:

      • Merchant capitalism emerged.

      • Monarchs’ dependence on taxation From feudal agrarian production and vassals reduced.

      • They consolidated political power with The help of the emerging merchant classes.

      • Capitalism eventually replaced Feudalism.

  • • Religious (horizontal) forces: Religious reformation of the 15^th century dealt a Heavy blow to the power of the Catholic Church.

  • Monarchs were now able to exercise ‘absolute’ power – establish direct, effective and Comprehensive rule over the entire population.

    • Strict enforcement of territorial Boundaries

    • Standardization of population through Religion, education, language

    • Maintenance of standing armies

    • Stricter rules of residence and Mobility for citizens

    • Advancements in transport and Communication – these political aims could be achieved more Effectively.

  • Formation of the earliest form of Modern state (absolutist state) having sovereignty, government, Fixed territory – however, it was ruled by the pre-modern Institution of monarchy.