Nationalism is an ideology which holds that a nation is the fundamental unit for human social life, and take precedence over any other social and political principles. Nationalism makes certain political claims based upon this belief; above all, the claim that the nation is the only legitimate basis for the state, and that each nation is entitled to its own state. Nationalism also refers to the specific ideologies of various nationalist movements, which make cultural and political claims on behalf of specific nations. Nationalism has had an enormous influence upon world history, since the nation-state has become the dominant form of state organization. Most of the world's population now lives in states which are, at least nominally, nation-states. Historians also use the term 'nationalism' to refer to this historical transition, and to the emergence of nationalist ideology and movements.
