When newly independent states establish their identities, it means they actively work to define who they are as nations or regions. This involves shaping their political systems, developing national symbols and narratives, promoting local languages or cultures, and asserting their distinctiveness on the international stage.
Related terms
Nation-building: The deliberate efforts taken by governments to unify diverse populations within a country under one national identity.
Cultural Revival: A movement aimed at rejuvenating or reclaiming traditional cultural practices that may have been suppressed during colonial rule.
Soft Power: The ability of countries to influence others based on attraction rather than coercion through means such as culture, language, education.