National Identity and Democratic States Quiz

• Nation states claim that their boundaries define not just a territory but also a unique culture and shared history.
• The national identity may be expressed through symbols like a flag, national anthem, national language, or certain ceremonial practices, among other things.
• Most modern states include people of different religions, languages, and cultural traditions. But the national identity of a democratic state is supposed to provide citizens with a political identity that can be shared by all the members of the state.
• Democratic states usually try to define their identity so that it is as inclusive as possible — that is, which allows all citizens to identify themselves as part of the nation. But in practice, most countries tend to define their identity in a way which makes it easier for some citizens to identify with the state than others.
• It may also make it easier for the state to extend citizenship to some people and not others. This would be as true of the United States, which prides itself on being a country of immigrants, as any other country.

Test your knowledge about the concept of national identity in the context of democratic states. Explore how symbols, cultural practices, and inclusive identity play a role in defining the political identity of citizens.