What is a

nation?
- Ernest Renan
Shambhavi Das
Vedant Chakravadhanula
01 BACKGROUND
02 INTRODUCTION
03 FALSE CRITERIA
04 NATION
WHAT MAKES A
BACKGROUND

Historical Brief Overview

1882 lecture by An attempt to chalk
French historian out what a nation is
Ernest Renan built on, and the false
criteria used by
Written in order to some for defining a
symbolise the nation
nationalism born out Especially relevant
of the French now, in times of
Revolution of 1789 political turmoil
pivoted on national
identity
INTRODUCTION
● Nations in Ancient History
● Germanic and Nordic Invasions
● Violent Origins and Historical
Errors
Nations in Ancient History

■ Nations - fairly recent

phenomena
■ Empires like the Assyrian,
Persian and Alexandrine - no
sense of patriotism or nationality
■ Cities like Athens and Sparta - a
sense of patriotism but had a
restrained territory and could
hardly be called nations as we
understand them today
■ Roman Empire - very close to
being a nation, but eventually
became too big to be governed
Germanic and Nordic Invasions

■ Germanic invasions starting from the 5th

century - widespread migration in Europe that
formed the beginnings of the current political
scenario
■ Fusion of populations(in contrast with Turkey) :
◂ Adoption of Christianity
◂ Language - Latin slowly became the language
of both the conquered and the conquerors
■ Although invasions like the Germanic and Nordic
migrations established a difference in nobility,
and thus class, however the differences in race
were soon forgotten and no longer exist
today(France for example)
Violent Origins and Historical Errors

■ “....historical error, is an essential factor in the

creation of a nation and it is for this reason that
the progress of historical studies often poses a
threat to nationality.”
■ Violence is entrenched in history and has been
at the foundation of almost all political
formations - all nations have violent beginnings
■ A common inclination of the people to forget
these instances seems to permeate the barriers
of race and language
■ Renan gives the example of the St.
Bartholomew’s Day massacre in France which,
in modern context, seems to have been forgotten
 FALSE CRITERIA

COMMUNITY &
DYNASTY RACE LANGUAGE RELIGION
GEOGRAPHY

01 02 03 04 05
● According to political theorists of the time, Dynasty
the group of provinces that constitutes a
nation is brought together by dynasties,
involving their marriages, wars and treaties,
and ends with their lineage.
● There are countless instances of dynasties
in some part being responsible for the
establishment of nations - the formation of
Great Britain is an important example.
● However, it is important to note that this
consideration alone cannot define a nation.
We only have to consider the countries of
Switzerland and the USA to realise that
there were no dynasties involved in their
establishment, and yet they are nations
without a doubt.
● Also, even nations which have been formed
by dynasties don’t cease to exist when these
dynasties are ended? (Mughals)
 Building a nation on the

Race
basis of race is erroneous
for multiple reasons:

Unjust
● A dangerous and doesn’t give power directly
heavily to the people and forces
consequential them to align their opinions
proposition with their racial identities
● There are enough
and more examples Unsafe
to show that race
isn’t a determining given that people of all races
factor in a nation are all over the world, it would
(the USA) then establish one countries
● Throughout history claim on another
there are examples
of race being used Unstable
to justify any
number of atrocities definitions of race are
subject to change and
debate. Scientific definitions
can be altered
 It is easy to see why we
cannot equate a language
● Languages derive
their political
Language
to a nationality significance from
● English is the primary being tokens of race.
language in the USA, ● Languages are “Before French,
England, Australia subject to change German, and Italian
and many other and debate culture is the culture
countries ● Languages are not of mankind. Look at the
● Switzerland - a bearers of civilization great men of the
country where many Renaissance; they
languages are were neither French
spoken nor Italian nor
● India - needs no German. ”
elaboration
 Religion
● An aspect which is exceptionally relevant
to our country
● Athens, Sparta, Amalfi - all examples of
political entities which were tied to their
religion. In ancient historical context,
Renan likens these to cults. To be an
Athenian meant you had to be part of that
cult.
● However, this wasn’t the case even in the
Roman empire. Further, attempts to impose
a religion were clearly seen as mistakes
and absurdities
● In modern times, it is clear that religion no
longer defines a nation - “Religion has
become something individual and concerns
the conscience of each.
 Community of Interest
● Hardly a fitting criterion
● A customs union or a trade union is not a
country and can never be

Geography
● Although geography does serve as an
acceptable delimiter at times - rivers,
mountains, etc are considered boundaries
between many nations
● It is trivial to see that it can never be the
defining factor - some mountains are
considered delimiters but not others
● Further, so many country borders are
determined without regard to geographical
features
WHAT MAKES A
NATION
“A nation is a soul, a
spiritual principle”
—
 Spiritual
A B
Principle

PAST PRESENT
Consent
Legacy
and desire
 The Past
● True national glory, a rich
legacy of memories
● A shared history that
involves shared joy, and
more importantly, shared
suffering
● A heroic past
● An understanding of the
sacrifices that have been
made and continue to be
made
● An ambition that drives
future efforts
 The Present
● The present of a nation is dictated by the
will of the people that reside in it - their
desires, hopes and aspirations.
● Continued consent - A clearly established
desire to continue a common life
● A nation (or its government) has no right to
‘claim’ citizens - they must give them that
agency
● Renan believes that the citizens must
consulted where their future is involved(in
disputed populations) - they have a right not
only to express their opinion, but to have it
be the biggest consideration
 SUMMARY

COMMUNITY &
DYNASTY RACE LANGUAGE RELIGION
GEOGRAPHY

01 02 03 04 05

Spiritual
A Principle B

PAST PRESENT

Consent and
Legacy
desire
Thank you!
Questions?