A nation-state is a concept of political geography that refers to a self-governing territorially-defined and geographically-defined nation with its own sovereign governmental structures, separate from its neighbors and distinct from the greater global order. It is a political and demographic entity held together by a shared idea of ethnicity and defined by a singular cultural identity. It is the traditional form of governance, having been developed in Europe during the seventeenth century, and is today the prevailing form of state organization across the globe. Thus, a nation-state is ultimately defined by its people or citizens, with each citizen having a shared understanding of identity and a sense of belonging.

See also: middle passage, colonial order, white supremacy, late-stage capitalism, black lives