HSY2601
ASSIGNMENT 3 (SEMESTER 2)
DUE DATE: 11 September 2024
Written Assignment Submission Guidelines:
Please ensure that your assignment is submitted electronically through the myUnisa platform no
later than …September 2024. Kindly note that fax or email submissions will not be accepted.
NB: Assignment submitted to the lecturer(s) through email will not be considered.
TITLE: The Rise of the Modern Nation-State
INTRODUCTION
The 19th century witnessed the formation of the modern nation-state as a dominant political entity,
replacing older forms of governance such as empires, kingdoms, and city-states. The nation-state
was characterized by a defined territorial boundary, centralized government, and a population that
shared a common identity, often linked by language, culture, and history. The concept of
sovereignty, where the state held absolute authority within its territory, became a cornerstone of
the nation-state. This period saw the unification of fragmented regions into cohesive states, such as
the unification of Germany and Italy, driven by the desire to create a political entity that reflected a
unified national identity.
Nationalism as a Driving Force
Nationalism played a critical role in the formation and consolidation of nation-states. It provided
the ideological foundation that legitimized the existence of the nation-state, emphasizing the idea
that people who shared a common national identity should be governed by their own state.
ASSIGNMENT 3 (SEMESTER 2)
DUE DATE: 11 September 2024
Written Assignment Submission Guidelines:
Please ensure that your assignment is submitted electronically through the myUnisa platform no
later than …September 2024. Kindly note that fax or email submissions will not be accepted.
NB: Assignment submitted to the lecturer(s) through email will not be considered.
TITLE: The Rise of the Modern Nation-State
INTRODUCTION
The 19th century witnessed the formation of the modern nation-state as a dominant political entity,
replacing older forms of governance such as empires, kingdoms, and city-states. The nation-state
was characterized by a defined territorial boundary, centralized government, and a population that
shared a common identity, often linked by language, culture, and history. The concept of
sovereignty, where the state held absolute authority within its territory, became a cornerstone of
the nation-state. This period saw the unification of fragmented regions into cohesive states, such as
the unification of Germany and Italy, driven by the desire to create a political entity that reflected a
unified national identity.
Nationalism as a Driving Force
Nationalism played a critical role in the formation and consolidation of nation-states. It provided
the ideological foundation that legitimized the existence of the nation-state, emphasizing the idea
that people who shared a common national identity should be governed by their own state.
