The 19th-century definition of a nation-state has evolved. Except in large countries like the US, Russia, and China, the attributes of nationalism have changed. Borders, armies and flags are giving more importance to language and culture and countries become part of economico-political groups, like the EU, sharing the same values and integrating their economies. But it does not mean the end of the tribes.

Human beings are social animals who need to identify themselves with a tribe, a group. We need to mingle with like-others. We need to feel secure even if there is no war on the horizon. The old national borders that delimited communities have loosened up because we can freely travel and because we can communicate using the phone or the internet.

Federations are by definition groups of communities that recognize common interests and differences in their member states.

However I find it shocking that you (or anyone else!) could write: “Is there much difference between the EU and a Russian federation?” Ask the Poles, the Latvians, the Estonians, the Lettons, the Czechs, the Slovaks, the Romanians or the Bulgars, why did they all choose to join the EU and not the Russian Federation? They did not make that choice at gunpoint!

Ask the Georgians today what federation they would like to join?

And Peter, thanks! It would be fun for both Ossetia and the other state to be independent.

But perhaps we’ll go back to smaller political entities. Maybe Ossetia will unite and tell Russia and Georgia to both go away.

Am I allowed to post a comment with a post? Hope so, because my answer to how we should proceed is sincerely expressed here: http://petersantilli.com/?p=50 .

Not to sensationalize the event, but I am deeply saddened when I try to predict how this will evolve. Politically & militarily, I think we’re being outwitted by a very shrewd opponent.

Francine, you’re skipping over a couple of steps here, especially city-states and feudalism.

“Do you see where I’m going with this? I think the nation state may well be a failed concept in the 21st century. What do you think?”

Not yet failed, but certainly failing.

“Does instant communication and (potentially) instant global commerce deteriorate the nation-state construct?”

Not exactly, John. But the falling cost of large scale violence, in part because smaller groups can self-organize more efficiently without centralization (such that nation-states no longer have a monopoly on such violence) does.

“Are we becoming more tribal in our communities, whether we are close in proximity or not?”

Yes.

“Where does ethnicity fit into this?”

Hmm. That’s a question with a complex and contingent answer, but basically, if you find that *others* are classifying you according to your ethnicity (usually not to your benefit, but regardless), you will tend to fall back on that as your primary loyalty.

Thus we saw mixed-ethnicity neighborhoods in Baghdad self-sorting into ethnic ones because of insurgent violence. Note that it doesn’t matter in the least whether the ones who are doing the ethnic classification are your next-door neighbors or outsiders, the pressure is the same.

“And how does that keep us from falling into more war, more conflict, more hardship?”

Well, it basically doesn’t. I suspect that eventually, our civilization will grow new institutions for the monopolization of violence that aren’t dependent on the kind of centralization that typifies the nation-state, and these will create a new era of relative stability, but until then it’s going to be a very rocky ride (especially toward the end when the nation states start fighting back).

It makes me think of how the concept of the nation-state negatively impacted natural migration/grazing practices in Africa (can’t recall which groups of people were affected), the long and the short being artificial boundaries being put on practical activities.

Does instant communication and (potentially) instant global commerce deteriorate the nation-state construct? Are we becoming more tribal in our communities, whether we are close in proximity or not? Where does ethnicity fit into this? And how does that keep us from falling into more war, more conflict, more hardship?

Fascinating. I have no answers…