Difference between the terms "nation" and "state"

That's fantastic. Thank you :-)

Basically I am doing an essay on how modern states fostered a sense of national identity and while I don't require help with the writing of the actual essay itself, I was wondering if someone could clarify to me what the difference between the terms "nation" and "state" is .

As far as I am aware, a "state" refers to the mechanisms used to legitimise a political community. For example Max Weber I think said that a "state" has a monopoly on the ability to carry out violence to maintain law and order. In terms of "nation" my understanding is that it is a group of people with shared cultural values as well as shared duties and responsibilities to one another.

This means that while most territories today are "nation-states", it is in fact possible to have a nation without a state. Is this correct? I just wanted to double check because a lot of the books I am reading refer to nations and so if this is correct I know they may be referring to groups of people and not actual territories.

Basically I am doing an essay on how modern states fostered a sense of national identity and while I don't require help with the writing of the actual essay itself, I was wondering if someone could clarify to me what the difference between the terms "nation" and "state" is .

As far as I am aware, a "state" refers to the mechanisms used to legitimise a political community. For example Max Weber I think said that a "state" has a monopoly on the ability to carry out violence to maintain law and order. In terms of "nation" my understanding is that it is a group of people with shared cultural values as well as shared duties and responsibilities to one another.

This means that while most territories today are "nation-states", it is in fact possible to have a nation without a state. Is this correct? I just wanted to double check because a lot of the books I am reading refer to nations and so if this is correct I know they may be referring to groups of people and not actual territories.

Question. Why Cenk Uygar?

I didn't know what to put as my profile picture and I like watching the Young Turks

I didn't know what to put as my profile picture and I like watching the Young Turks

It's hard to know exactly what to recommend as I don't use that many textbooks for my course. Christopher Bayly's The Birth of the Modern World 1780-1914 gives a good overview of modern historical developments as do any of Eric Hobsbawms the "Age of" books (In chronological order: the Age of Revolution, the Age of Capital, the Age of Empire and the Age of Extremes).

Also, if you are interested in the historical discipline generally or are interested to know how to study for a degree, try Palgrave Study Skills: Studying History by Jeremy Black and Donald M Macraild, as this gives you tips on studying history and also tells you why historians study history and about historiographical developments. Take their advice with a pinch of salt however. At one point they say that you will have to sometimes read books cover to cover but for a first year of an undergraduate degree at least you don't need to !

Hope that helps, let me know if there were any types of books in particular you were looking for and I will see what I can advise.

Hey, thanks Badgerdawkins. I would also like to share with u all about a fantastic book that I have read recently- Niall Ferguson's 'Civilization". u might read it sometime if u get hold of it. Will surely check out the books you suggested.