Nation and State in Early Modern Europe

Casey, James

Publication year:

2009

Publication place:

Donostia-San Sebastián

ISBN:

978-84-8419-190-2

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Summary

This paper examines traditional concept s of "nation" and "state" in early modern Europe, suggesting that law and history were the determining factors rather than race or language. Hence the key to the rise of the "nation state" is to be found in the relationship between the self-governing commonwealth (república) and the "state" to which it owed allegiance. The more successful managed to foster and build on a certain idea of the commonwealth.