21. yüzyılın ilk çeyreğinde mikro seviyede bölgesel olarak, makro seviyede küresel çapta; ulus oluşumları, devletlerin yaşadığı değişimler, 11 Eylül terör saldırıları sonrası oluşan ortam ve son olarak yakında zamanda Arap ülkelerinde başlayan Arap Baharı; ulus, devlet, etnisite, millet gibi kavramların ve bunların oluşturduğu yapıların gözden geçirilmesini, yenilenmesini ve/veya meydana gelen durum için bir tanımlama yapmayı ve bu tanımlamayı da tartışmayı gerekli kılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada öncelikle ulus-devletin tarihsel gelişimi geleneksel devletler ve modern ulus-devlet başlıkları altında anlatılacaktır. İkinci bölümde ise ulus-devletin teorik çerçevesi Batıda, Yeni Kıtada ve Az Gelişmiş Ülkelerde olmak üzere üç ayrı altbaşlıkta incelenecektir. Üçüncü bölümde ise geçmişten günümüze ulus-devletin kazandığı özellikler şiddet araçlarının (tekel) denetimi, toprak, egemenlik, anayasallık, kişisel olmayan iktidarın uygulanması, kamu bürokrasisi, otorite ve meşruiyet ve son olarak yurttaşlık başlıkları altında ayrıntılı bir şekilde incelenecektir. Sonuç kısmında ise geçmişten günümüze anlatılan ulus-devletin yaşadığı dönüşüm ile ilgili olarak içinde bulunduğu durum ve geleceği konusunda bir değerlendirmeye gidilecektir.

In the first quarter of 21st century locally in micro level, globally in macro level, nation formations, changes that states are going through, the environment happening after terrorist attacks in 11th September and finally Arab Spring which has recently started in Arab countries make it necessary to review, renew the concepts such as nation, state, ethnicity, nationality and the structures that they formed, and to make a definition of the situation occurred and also discuss this definition. This study examines the mentioned situation in three titles. In the first chapter, the historical development of nation-state is explained. Held collects the evaluations of states in historical period under five main titles according to Pierson. These are traditional empires extorting, feudalism: divided authority systems, class orders, absolutist states and finally modern nation states. This ordering explains the process heading to nation state. However, when examined the original, the only geography that follows this process is today’s Western Europe. Nation-state came up with modern ages in Western Europe. Since the beginnings of 16th century, it had begun being shaped and matured at the end of 18th century. It was carried to eastern societies who did not follow this process with “noble Europeans” showing themselves as models. Nevertheless, nation-state of Europe came to existence as state-nation in eastern societies. To examine the historical development one by one will be a good approach in terms of placing the idea of nation-state. It will be much more accurate to call all of the sections before modern nation states as traditional states. In the second chapter, theoretical frame of nation-state is examined under three subtitles according to the order made by Erözden. Erözden presented such an approach: “It is possible to divide nation-state fictions showing extensity in global scale and their structures depending on this to three main groups. In the first group, there exists nation states centered Europe and around Europe. As for the second group, it is made up of nation states observed in the America continent and formed with the genocide of local people and whole replacement with immigrant population. Nation-states appeared after the second half of 20th century and formed as a result of getting out of colonialism forms the third group.” Each third group has a distinctive formation in its installation and structure. As for Wicker, he puts forward the idea that the power of nation-state came from three concepts in 19th and 20th centuries. Republic Thought: It is based upon existing citizens and a public administration in a region whose boundaries are clearly defined and in whose boundaries democratic rights are valid. Capitalism: The capability of enabling technological development, developing new industries and enabling capital accumulation enabled elements of economic development causing a slow increasing in general life standards. Nation: It came up from the inner interaction between capitalism and state. In the third chapter, features that nation-state have gained so far are lined up. The classical state understanding has three main factors. These are land, folk and sovereignty. Weber adds these five more items and mention that modern state has eight features in total. These are monopoly supervision of violation tools, land, sovereignty, and constitutionality, power that is not personal, public bureaucracy, authority / constitutionalism and citizenship. In addition to these, Pierson attributes ninth feature to modern state. This is taxing. However, it should be stated that main three features which Weber remarked for the nation state concept are cornerstones of state. These are ranged as a regular organization of administration, administration’s having the monopoly of legal violence in society and the validity of this monopoly in a particular geography. In the conclusion part, some inferences are made from what is previously told.  In general terms, nation-state regresses. However, though international institutions such as the United Nations, European Union increase their power, nation-states are seen to be dominant nowadays.  Nation-states have reached a legal status via international organizations and agreements especially since 20th century contrary to the past and guaranteed themselves.  Nation-state loses power with increasingly strengthening of local administrations and directing some parts of its authority to local administrations and the effect of globalism inside these organizations. At the same time, lower identities get rid of the shock that they experienced in World War I and World War II with the third generation together. The thought of having a complete dependence to upper identity loses its effect upon lower identities.  Although nevertheless lower identities wants to be sovereign themselves, they want to utilize from the advantages enabled by being the part of international organizations.  Nation-states loses power and their effectiveness especially in economic field in the presence of international organizations such IMF and World Bank. Nation-state continues to provide its citizens for security, legally equality and justice, which is its most important feature despite the changes mentioned above item by item. On the other hand, it continues to protect its irresistible authoritative power. However, it is getting harder depending on global developments each passing day.