Explanation: The ideal of perfect congruence between state and nation is a theoretical construct; in reality, most nation-states contain diverse populations and identities, making absolute congruence rare.

Explanation: While often used interchangeably in common parlance, 'country' or 'state' does not necessarily imply the strict congruence of a nation-state, which specifically denotes the alignment of political boundaries with a predominant national identity.

Explanation: Empires are typically multi-territorial and multi-national, while city-states are geographically limited. Neither typically exhibits the congruence of state and a single nation that defines a nation-state.

Explanation: Pre-national states in 18th-century Europe, such as dynastic or multiethnic empires, were often characterized by linguistic and ethnic diversity, with a single administrative language typically used by the ruling elite.

Explanation: Dynastic states often viewed territory as personal property of the ruling family, subject to inheritance or marriage, rather than as a fixed, non-transferable homeland intrinsically linked to a national identity.

Explanation: Modern nation-states are typically characterized by a strong emphasis on territorial integrity and the active deployment of state power to cultivate a unified national identity and culture.

Explanation: Switzerland is often cited as an example of a nation-state that successfully accommodates multiple linguistic and ethnic groups, demonstrating that strict ethnic or linguistic homogeneity is not a prerequisite for national identity.

Explanation: The Treaty of Union (1707) unified the crowns and parliaments of England and Scotland, but it preserved distinct legal systems and national churches, leading to the concept of the UK as a 'union state' or 'countries within a country'.

Explanation: A client state is the subordinate state that relies on a dominant state for support, not the dominant state itself.

Explanation: While the Treaty of Union created Great Britain, it preserved distinct legal systems and national churches for England and Scotland, indicating it did not result in a homogenous nation-state with identical systems.

Explanation: The Austrian and Ottoman Empires are prominent historical examples of large, multiethnic empires that predated the rise and dominance of the nation-state as the primary political organizing principle.

Explanation: The core definition emphasizes the congruence between the political entity (state) and the cultural/identity group (nation).

Explanation: The term 'nation-state' carries the specific connotation of alignment between political boundaries and a dominant national identity, a feature not necessarily present in the broader terms 'country' or 'state'.

Explanation: The text contrasts nation-states with entities like empires, city-states, and confederations, but a federal republic is often considered a form of state that can align with or contain nation-state characteristics, rather than being a direct contrast.

Explanation: Pre-national states in the 18th century were often characterized by diverse ethnic and linguistic compositions, typically governed by a single administrative language and ruling elite.

Explanation: Dynastic states often treated their territories as patrimonial possessions, subject to transfer through dynastic succession, marriage, or inheritance, distinct from the nation-state's concept of a fixed homeland.

Explanation: Modern nation-states are typically characterized by effective governance, dynamic industrial economies, and a strong sense of territorial integrity, alongside efforts to foster national unity.

Explanation: Switzerland exemplifies how a nation-state can foster a cohesive national identity despite significant linguistic and ethnic diversity among its population.

Explanation: The Treaty of Union, while creating Great Britain, maintained separate legal and institutional frameworks for England and Scotland, illustrating a complex union rather than a simple homogenous nation-state.

Explanation: A central theoretical debate in the study of nation-states concerns their origins, specifically whether the concept of the nation or the institutional structure of the state came first, with arguments supporting both primacy and interdependence.

Explanation: The emergence of the nation-state is theorized to be linked to 15th-century developments, including intellectual breakthroughs in political economy and geography, alongside advancements in cartography.

Explanation: The treaties concluding the Thirty Years' War, known as the Peace of Westphalia, are widely regarded as establishing the principle of state sovereignty and territorial integrity, which are foundational to the modern state system and the nation-state model.

Explanation: Romanticism, particularly through figures like Johann Gottlieb Fichte, often supported the nation-state by emphasizing the nation as a natural, organic expression of collective identity, a concept known as romantic nationalism.

Explanation: The Westphalian system is characterized by the principle of sovereign states with clearly defined territorial borders and non-interference in internal affairs, not by contested sovereignty or undefined borders.

Explanation: Eric Hobsbawm contended that the French nation was largely constructed through state policies implemented after the French Revolution, rather than being solely the product of pre-existing, organic nationalism.

Explanation: The unification of Germany and Italy in the 19th century represented the creation of nation-states from previously fragmented political entities, not the transformation of already unified states.

Explanation: The Chanyuan system, through the Treaty of Chanyuan (1005), demarcated borders between the Song and Liao dynasties, establishing an early geopolitical framework analogous to the later Westphalian system in Europe.

Explanation: The dissolution of empires such as Austria-Hungary after World War I resulted in the fragmentation of these multiethnic states and the emergence of new nation-states, rather than their strengthening.

Explanation: Westphalian sovereignty asserts the principle of non-interference, meaning states are sovereign within their territories and are not subject to external interference in their internal affairs.

Explanation: The Franco-Prussian War was a pivotal event that significantly contributed to the unification of Germany, culminating in the proclamation of the German Empire in 1871.

Explanation: The Peace of Westphalia is credited with establishing the foundational principles of modern international relations, including the recognition of state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the legal equality of states.

Explanation: A primary theoretical debate concerns the primacy of the nation versus the state in the formation of the nation-state, exploring whether nationalist sentiment preceded state structures or vice versa.

Explanation: The 15th century, often associated with the Renaissance, saw intellectual and technological advancements, particularly in cartography and economic thought, that are theorized to have contributed to the emergence of the nation-state.

Explanation: The Peace of Westphalia is foundational for establishing the principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity, which underpin the modern international system.

Explanation: Romanticism provided intellectual support for the nation-state by conceptualizing the nation as an organic entity with a unique spirit and destiny, often termed romantic nationalism.

Explanation: The Westphalian system is fundamentally linked to the concept of sovereign states possessing clearly defined territories and exercising exclusive jurisdiction within those borders.

Explanation: Hobsbawm's thesis suggests that the French nation was significantly constructed through state-driven initiatives following the French Revolution, rather than solely through pre-existing nationalist sentiments.

Explanation: The 19th-century unifications of Germany and Italy are prime examples of the formation of nation-states from a collection of smaller, previously independent or semi-independent political entities.

Explanation: The Chanyuan system established a formal demarcation of borders between the Song and Liao dynasties, functioning as an early example of state-to-state relations with defined territorial boundaries.

Explanation: The collapse of empires such as Austria-Hungary following World War I led to the redrawing of maps and the establishment of numerous new nation-states, often along ethnic lines.

Explanation: Westphalian sovereignty establishes the principle that states possess exclusive authority within their defined territories and are free from external intervention in their domestic affairs.

Explanation: The Franco-Prussian War played a crucial role in consolidating German states under Prussian leadership, culminating in the proclamation of the German Empire and the establishment of the German nation-state.

Explanation: State nationalism refers to the ideology and policies actively promoted by the state apparatus to foster a sense of national unity and loyalty among its citizens.

Explanation: Ethno-nationalism defines the nation based on shared ethnicity, ancestry, and cultural heritage, whereas civic nationalism is based on shared political values and citizenship.

Explanation: Civic nationalism is inclusive, based on shared political values, institutions, and citizenship, rather than exclusive ethnic or ancestral ties.

Explanation: Ethnic nationalism posits that the nation is constituted by a shared ethnic background, ancestry, and cultural inheritance, often leading to an exclusive definition of belonging.

Explanation: Pan-nationalism is an ideology advocating for the political union of all people who share a common national identity, often transcending current state boundaries.

Explanation: Nationalism encompasses a broader range of objectives beyond economic self-sufficiency, including political sovereignty, cultural preservation, and the promotion of national identity.

Explanation: State nationalism refers to the deliberate promotion of national identity and loyalty by the state apparatus, often to consolidate power and foster cohesion within its borders.

Explanation: Ethno-nationalism is characterized by the definition of the nation based on shared ethnicity, ancestry, and cultural heritage, often leading to exclusive membership criteria.

Explanation: Valery Tishkov has concluded that despite numerous efforts, there is no universally accepted consensus on the definition of the term 'nation'.

Explanation: Irredentism is indeed a political policy aiming to reclaim or annex territories based on historical claims or the presence of co-national populations under foreign rule.

Explanation: Huntington's theory posits that future conflicts will be driven primarily by civilizational and cultural/religious identities, rather than economic ideologies or nation-state rivalries.

Explanation: Benedict Anderson's 'imagined community' posits that nations are formed through a shared sense of identity among members who may never meet or interact directly, facilitated by shared narratives and symbols.

Explanation: An ethno-state is defined by its exclusivity, granting primary citizenship and political rights based on membership in a particular ethnic group.

Explanation: Irredentism is a political doctrine advocating for the incorporation of territories inhabited by a national group into the state of which that group is a part, often based on historical claims.

Explanation: Xenophobia is defined as the dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries or those perceived as foreign, whereas patriotism or nationalism refers to the love of one's nation.

Explanation: Historical memories of past injustices, territorial losses, or perceived national humiliation often serve as potent catalysts for irredentist movements and claims.

Explanation: State atheism is a policy where a government actively promotes atheism and often suppresses religious institutions and practices within its territory.

Explanation: Valery Tishkov's assessment indicates a lack of universal agreement on the definition of 'nation', despite extensive scholarly efforts.

Explanation: Irredentism is a political policy advocating for the incorporation of territories inhabited by a national group into the state of which that group is a part, often based on historical claims.

Explanation: Huntington's 'Clash of Civilizations' theory posits that future global conflicts will be driven by differences between major civilizations, defined by cultural and religious commonalities.

Explanation: Anderson defines a nation as an 'imagined community' because its members share a sense of belonging and identity, even though they will never know most of their fellow members and interact with them only rarely, if at all.

Explanation: An ethno-state is a political entity where citizenship and political rights are predominantly allocated based on membership in a particular ethnic group.

Explanation: State-mandated education and the expansion of mass media were instrumental in the 19th century for standardizing languages, disseminating national narratives, and cultivating a sense of shared national identity.

Explanation: Nation-states typically promote economic unity by abolishing internal customs barriers and investing in national infrastructure to facilitate trade and economic integration, rather than by maintaining protectionist barriers.

Explanation: These policies are common strategies employed by nation-states to cultivate a cohesive national culture and identity, aiming for uniformity across the population.

Explanation: While some states may support regional languages, nation-state language policies often prioritize the standardization and promotion of a single national language, sometimes leading to the marginalization or suppression of regional dialects.

Explanation: Responses to ethnic minorities have varied, including assimilation, but also expulsion, persecution, and even violence, depending on the historical context and the perceived threat to national unity.

Explanation: The Sorbs are a recognized minority in Germany whose cultural rights are protected, illustrating a model of minority integration within a nation-state structure.

Explanation: Philip G. Roeder's analysis suggests that Moldova's 'nation-state project' involved consolidating a national identity within the framework established during its Soviet-era formation, rather than entirely separate from it.

Explanation: The Nueva Planta decrees were instrumental in centralizing power and assimilating regions, particularly the Crown of Aragon, into the Castilian model, thereby contributing to the formation of a unified Spanish nation-state.

Explanation: The Franco dictatorship is noted for imposing Spanish and suppressing Catalan language and culture, which was seen by many as an effort to enforce national unity at the expense of regional identities.

Explanation: The nationalization process encompasses the deliberate actions undertaken by a state to foster a common national identity, loyalty, and sense of belonging among its populace.

Explanation: Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, many newly independent states engaged in 'nation-state projects' that frequently drew upon historical ethnic narratives to construct distinct national identities.

Explanation: The figure of Wilhelm Tell serves as a significant national symbol in Switzerland, contributing to a shared identity that transcends the nation's linguistic and ethnic diversity.

Explanation: The 'melting pot' approach advocates for the assimilation of distinct ethnic groups into a common national culture, rather than the maintenance of separate identities.

Explanation: The concept of 'linguistic secessionism' in Spain refers to a strategy aimed at fragmenting or weakening a shared language by promoting its division into distinct regional dialects, rather than strengthening it.

Explanation: Philip G. Roeder's analysis indicates that Moldova's 'nation-state project' focused on consolidating a distinct national identity within its existing borders, rather than on reunification with Romania.

Explanation: The Nueva Planta decrees were centralizing measures that abolished regional fueros (charters) and imposed Castilian administrative and legal structures, thereby reducing regional autonomy.

Explanation: In the 19th century, state-mandated education and mass media were key instruments for promoting national unity, standardizing language, and cultivating a shared cultural identity.

Explanation: Nation-states foster economic unity through policies such as eliminating internal trade barriers and developing national infrastructure to facilitate commerce.

Explanation: Compulsory education with a standardized curriculum is a primary tool used by nation-states to instill a common national culture and identity.

Explanation: Nation-state language policies often lead to the dominance of a national language, potentially marginalizing or suppressing minority languages in favor of cultural and administrative uniformity.

Explanation: Historically, nation-states have employed various strategies, including assimilation, expulsion, and persecution, when dealing with ethnic minorities perceived as deviating from the dominant national identity.

Explanation: The Sorbs in Germany exemplify a minority group whose cultural rights are recognized and protected, demonstrating a model of integration within the nation-state framework.

Explanation: Roeder's work indicates that Moldova's nation-state project focused on solidifying a national identity that was shaped by, and largely operated within, the context of its Soviet-era formation.

Explanation: The Nueva Planta decrees fundamentally altered Spain's political structure by abolishing regional privileges and assimilating the territories of the Crown of Aragon into the centralized, Castilian-dominated state.

Explanation: The Franco regime enforced the use of Spanish and suppressed Catalan language and culture, which is widely interpreted as a policy of cultural suppression aimed at fostering national unity.

Explanation: The nationalization process describes the deliberate actions taken by a state to cultivate a shared sense of national identity, belonging, and loyalty among its population.

Explanation: The 'melting pot' metaphor describes a process where diverse cultural groups are encouraged to blend and assimilate into a singular, dominant national culture.