Nation, State, and People: Understanding Key Concepts
Understanding the Concepts of People, Nation, and State
An analysis of the concepts of people, nation, and state reveals that while these concepts cannot be automatically equated, they are distinct yet interconnected social realities. The state is a historically evolved form of organization, representing the political-economic relations of a territorially defined community, achieved through a combination of power and solidarity. Therefore, the state contributes to fulfilling a wide range of material and basic psychological needs for both individuals and social groups.
- Unlike people, the nation is not a natural entity but a historically created one. It evolves from a natural area to a culture, possessing the ability to determine its existence and shape its future. In essence, the nation arises when a people transition from historical obscurity to historical consciousness, driven by the need for self-determination, acting deliberately and according to related plans.
- In contrast to the state, the nation is not necessarily tied to a specific territory, although it can be. It is a personal, rather than a territorial, entity.
- The state inherently possesses sovereignty and external coercive power. The nation, however, is characterized by participation and self-determination, embodying a “societas communitas.”
- Arguably, the concepts of nation and state are neither mutually exclusive nor necessarily associated. They pertain to different aspects of society. A nation can coexist within the same state alongside other nations or peoples and can participate in various state structures. This is because the state primarily deals with economic and political relations, which, while influenced by a nation’s cultural foundations, are not entirely limited by them.
- Under such conditions, a nation, to preserve its existence and cultural identity, may aim to overcome cultural domination imposed by the state. This can be achieved through organizing and establishing an independent state rooted in national identity or by radically changing the existing state structures.
- A people can evolve into a nation when their historical existence as a community fosters cultural integration that transcends the limitations of political and economic relations.
Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous peoples have been “notably absent” in the constitution of modern societies, and many remain a minority in the social allocation of decision-making and control.
Indigenous peoples, as cultures with ancestral roots, are part of the Nation, the State, and the Venezuelan people as unique, sovereign, and indivisible. In accordance with the Constitution, they have a duty to safeguard national integrity and sovereignty. The term “people” should not be interpreted as defined in international law. The legitimate authorities of indigenous peoples in their habitat may apply instances of justice based on ancient traditions, affecting only their members, according to their own rules and procedures, provided they do not contradict the Constitution, the law, and law enforcement. They also determine the form of coordination of this special jurisdiction with the system of national courts.