ABSTRACT
Although the nation-state form of governance is predominant today in the global context in spite of all cultural differences, the fact is that as a political idea it can be traced back to no earlier than the dawn of the nineteenth century. Discussions here focus on various reasons for the extraordinary reception of this idea around the globe as well as its limitations for achieving global peace. Views of a few great thinkers from India and the West are referred to in this discussion. The tension between nationalism and globalism has not merely political but also ethical dimensions. This provides a crucial challenge to all thinking minds and calls for extensive conversations cross-culturally for transcending the disadvantages entailed in this paradigm.
