ABSTRACT
National identity as a concept is logically inseparable from concepts such as nation and nationalism, which are even more difficult to define. Ernest Gellner, in Nations and Nationalism, defines nationalism as a 'theory of political legitimacy' which holds that 'the political and the national unit should be congruent'. Historically, the idea of nationalism is a modern creation, its origins tied to the development of industrial capitalism. The development of modern nationalism is understandable only in the context of rapid urban population growth and the penetration of isolated communities both by an increasingly global economy and the administrative organs of an increasingly centralized but participatory polity. Public statements of collective identity take many forms and make use of many different kinds of symbols for support. These symbols, whether in the guise of a constitution, a military parade, or a capitol complex, help to give value and significance to the activities of the state.
