The national state is the primary political unit. Two explanations for the rise of nationalism are derived from very different sociological premises: One premise places importance on common citizenship in a specific location and shared methods of political activity; the second explanation is based on the ethnic or cultural similarity of the members of a political community. The rise of nationalism based on the first reason is the spread of the idea of political self-determination for a social group inhabiting a definite territory and perceiving itself as having distinct ethnic and cultural characteristics. The second explanation for the rise of nationalism is based on the political and cultural awakening of the masses. This cultural nationalism evolved into the desire by the population to form a national state.
According to Calhoun, however, both views underestimate the importance of the institutions, networks, and movements that knit people together across the internal lines of diversity within nations. Calhoun refers to this phenomenon as the sociological problem specific to social integration (305).
For example, Karl Marx's theories of nationalism very strongly emphasized the connection between the rise of the bourgeoisie and the emergence of the national state. Without the complete overthrow and reversal of the positions of rulers and ruled, and of classes and castes, nationalism would not be possible (Bottomore 76). Marx believed that, once the capitalist class had been overthrown during a revolution, nationalism would cease to be a factor in motivating members of the working class. The workers would perceive their common needs and go about taking care of those needs in a cooperative manner. Contrary to Marx's theory, nationalism continues to provide a sense of purpose and direction that people value.
In 1989, the communist regimes of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe were overthrown. The...