Changes

Before the idea of a nation state arose, many countries were defined as being the lands that belonged to a particular ruler or rulers, won either by conquest, treaty or inheritance, regardless of the people who inhabited those lands. With the nation state came the idea that people of a particular cultural background have a right to self-determination. This same concept is still relevant to the modern world, as it forms the basis of recent independence movements such as those in [[East Timor]] and [[Kosovo]].

Before the idea of a nation state arose, many countries were defined as being the lands that belonged to a particular ruler or rulers, won either by conquest, treaty or inheritance, regardless of the people who inhabited those lands. With the nation state came the idea that people of a particular cultural background have a right to self-determination. This same concept is still relevant to the modern world, as it forms the basis of recent independence movements such as those in [[East Timor]] and [[Kosovo]].

[[Category:European Politics]]

[[Category:International Politics]]