ABSTRACT
Modern nations extend over large geographical areas and embrace millions of people. They are bound together by the authority of the state that makes use of some combination of coercion and consensus. The emphasis on "national unity" and "national identity" are drawn upon to cover up an enormous range of diversity, pluralism, and conflict. The separation of basic institutions is accompanied by further differentiation within each institutional domain. Several countries of the world have given official recognition to the pluralism of their society. Switzerland was the first to designate multiculturalism as the official policy of their country. Civil Religion played an important role in the creation of the United States as an imagined community. There are several patriotic holidays in which the unity of the nation is asserted. Increasing globalization diminishes the beliefs in nationalism. Global exchanges are making increasingly abundant goods and services available in the world market.
