The nation state is a form of state that rules mainly one nation. The state is a politicalentity (the government, etc.); the nation is a cultural and/or ethnic entity. The term "nation state" means that both are on the same territory, which distinguishes the nation state from the other types of states that have existed.[1]
↑However, a unifying "national identity" can exist also in countries that have several ethnic or language groups. For example, Switzerland is constitutionally a confederation of cantons, and has four official languages, but it has also a Swiss national identity; a national history; and a classic national hero, Wilhelm Tell. (See: Thomas Riklin, 2005. Worin unterscheidet sich die schweizerische "Nation" von der Französischen bzw. Deutschen "Nation"? [1]Archived 2006-10-13 at the Wayback Machine
