Nation Building
A nation is formed when national sentiment is awakened among its citizens, binding them together in the thread of unity.
Nation building refers to creating a situation where a country enhances its honor, dignity, and prestige, sensitively addressing the nation’s concerns, enabling every individual to feel proud.
It involves fostering love, affection, and a sense of ownership among ordinary citizens toward the state, working collectively to enhance national pride and progress toward the overall advancement of the country.
As per Nepal’s Interim Constitution of 2006, “Nepal is defined as a nation of Nepali people, united in the thread of unity, characterized by multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-cultural attributes.”
Difference Between Nation Building and State Building
| Basis of Difference | Nation Building | State Building |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Establishing interrelationships among all ethnicities, languages, and religions, and advancing the nation toward prosperity by improving all aspects of human life, including economic, social, political, and cultural dimensions. | Advancing the country toward prosperity by improving economic, social, political, cultural, and other aspects of human life. |
| Scope | Broad and emotionally driven. | Limited to the national boundaries. |
| Elements | Not controlled by geographical boundaries, population, government, or sovereignty. | Requires elements like geographical boundaries, population, government, and sovereignty. |
| Perception | Based on mutual cooperative sentiment. | Based on political, legal, and economic relationships. |
| Recognition | International recognition is not necessary. | International recognition is necessary. |
Interrelationship
Nation and state are two interrelated subjects. A nation without a state or a state without a nation results in an incomplete governance system. Against this backdrop, the interrelationship between the two can be described as follows:
- Both nation building and state building are fundamental aspects of maintaining and promoting the governance system and the country’s existence.
- Strengthening one enhances the robustness of the other.
- The existence of one is endangered without the other.
- A populace imbued with national sentiment is essential for both.
- Nation building, being an internal effort, is possible only through the promotion of state mechanisms.
- Promoting national sentiment contributes to the development of the state.
Conclusion
Nation building and state building are two essential components of the governance system. Despite theoretical differences, their practical interdependence makes them inseparable, like the relationship between flesh and nail. In the context of Nepal, the tolerance and culture of brotherhood among the citizens residing in the state must be appreciated for nation building.
