ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a background to the idea of theorising nation-states and diversity. The chapter considers aspects of Will Kymlicka, James Tully, Yael Tamir and Benedict Anderson's work and sketches out a case for the significance of the connections between theorising nation-states and theorising diversity. Applying Anderson's notion to Franck's explanation of the nation-state brings into sharp relief the significance of this perspective when conceptualising diversity within nation-states. The powerful imaginings that are vital to theorising diversity, whether these are labelled as nations or nation-states, Anderson favours the use of nation, whereas Franck writes of nation-states. Whilst the development of debates in the field of multiculturalism arguably needed to proceed without engaging with theories on nation-building. Moreover, current nation-building tactics have to be exposed as inherently biased towards one dominant way of life, and the struggle to maintain a different way of life must be understood within this biased framework.
