This book discusses the concept of the nation-state as it has existed throughout history and as it currently exists. The concept of the nation state is one that has been existence in human history for, literally, millennia. At the dawn of the 21st century, there are historians, social scientists, and political theorists who would argue that the concept of the nation-states has become redundant with the emergence of globalism and the new concept of nationalism that has emerged with it. While the terms country, state, and nation are often used interchangeably, there is a difference. A State (note the capital "S") is a self-governing political entity. The term State can be used interchangeably with the country. A nation, however, is a tightly-knit group of people, which share a common culture. A nation-state is a nation, which has the same borders as a State.Definition of state. In modern politics, a state is an association, which has control over a geographic area or territory. States are seen as having three main pieces. Having control over a geographic area, or known as a territory.