ABSTRACT
Nation building has moved to the forefront of our current domestic and foreign policy discussions as we continue to move further into the twenty-first century. We are reminded that nations have historical legacies and that nation building is much more than physical structures and participatory voting. Nation building also requires good governance and national values promoting the public good. Trusted government coupled with value-oriented civic participation cultivates political will in neighborhoods, communities, municipalities, and states, and results in a strong national commonwealth.
