Nation-states are political entities consisting of a specific group of people (a nation) who share common cultural, linguistic, ethnic, or historical characteristics and have their own recognized government and sovereignty within defined borders.
Related terms
Nationalism: Nationalism is an ideology that emphasizes loyalty and devotion to one's nation-state above other loyalties or identities.
Self-determination: Self-determination is the right of people to freely choose their political status and decide their economic, social, and cultural development without interference.
Multinational states: Multinational states are countries that include multiple distinct nations or ethnic groups within their borders.