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Why might a nation want to become unified?
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Nations seek unification for several reasons, including nationalism and increased power. Nationalism fosters a sense of shared identity and superiority, motivating groups to form unified states, as seen in historical examples like the Kurds and the unification of Germany. Additionally, unity can enhance national strength and influence. Unification is also crucial in existing nation-states during crises, promoting recovery and effective governance, as demonstrated by the U.S. post-9/11. These factors drive calls for national unity.
A "nation" is an abstract concept and, as such, has no agency. A nation is distinct from the people and groups that comprise it. Some of these groups may desire to be unified and may seek to gain credibility and influence by speaking of their position as representing an entire nation.
Two different types of reasons would encourage such a call for unity. The first is nation formation. In Europe in the eighteenth through nineteenth centuries, calls for unification were based on understanding a common nationality as the basis for establishing a new country, where there had previously been smaller units such as kingdoms or principalities. Nation formation as freedom from a colonial ruler also invokes unity. When the United States declared independence from Britain, the idea of "one nation, indivisible" was a crucial element.
The other type of reason relates to nation-states that already exist. In those cases, the...
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officials of the state, such as the president, are likely to call for unified national identity at times of crisis, such as war. National defense is one primary reason to invoke unity. Support for aggressive state action, such as invading a neighboring country, is also often accompanied by a call for national unity.
There is a multitude of reasons why a country would want to be unified. The nationalistic desires of a nation tend to overshadow the more productive reasons for unifying a country. For instance, Nazi Germany took nationalism to a new level that ended in a failed attempt at European control and millions of lives lost. Words like "motherland" and "fatherland" are used to cultivate a filial feeling in citizens toward their nation; citizens then feel united in that respect. This is also intended to protect the nation by giving it a revered status.
On a more positive note, unifying a country after a tragic event is one of the quickest ways to recover. For example, after 9/11 the United States gathered around patriotic sentiments across the entire country. Citizens of all walks of life were able to bind together to help the country recover; this simply would not be possible without a unified country.
Finally, imagine the difficulty of practicing any form of government in a country that isn’t unified. Governmental processes would cease to be productive, and chaos would inevitably begin.
There are at least two major reasons why people of one nation (one ethnic group) would want to form a unified country. One reason is nationalism. The other reason is a desire for greater power.
One reason why a nation would like to unify is because they are nationalistic. That is, they feel a close tie to others of their nation and they feel that their nation is distinct from and superior to other nations. They want to have a unified country of their own so that they can be together with their own kind. That way, they can all be together without being ruled by people of other nations. This, for example, is one reason why the Kurds would like to have a country of their own.
Another reason a nation might want to form a unified country is to become more powerful. The country might feel that uniting with others of their nation will make their country bigger and stronger. An example of this would be the unification of Germany in the 1860s and 1870s. Before this time, there were many small states with ethnic German populations. By uniting, they created one German state that had a great deal of power.
These are the two main reasons why nations want to create unified countries.