The first approach in defining a nation looks from a sociological perspective. Sociologists began by studying the patterns of human behaviour over a period of time. They realised that humans are not conditioned to live in isolation. Without human contact, we would just revert to animal behaviour. Therefore, human beings often seek each other company. This pattern of behaviour is affirmed

In relation to that, the political approach emphasizes the territory a nation holds. Revolutionaries and nationalists often embarked on their campaigns to claim an area of land in which they could call a state. This is because if their claim could gain international recognition, they would be able to govern the state independently. Retaliation is also made possible if it is being attack by another state.

Despite the advantages cited in the above paragraphs, the future for a nation to obtain sovereignty even within its boundaries looked bleak. Advances in technology especially in the field of warfare prevent the dream of a sovereign nation from becoming a reality (Heywood, 1999: 107). This is due to the unpredictable and harmful effects that are inflicted to the world with each usage of nuclear warfare. International bodies are thus formed to control a nation right from engaging into a nuclear warfare.

Hence, Gellner argued that in reality nations are not naturally formed through the cultural histories of the people but instead are formed by the will of the people who manipulates the cultural histories to suit their motives (Gellner, ibid: 53). In other words, cultures are just the by-product of people's will and might not even reflect the community real histories. Language for example changes with every generation as people adapt the language to suit their changing lifestyle (Hobsbawm in Heywood, 1997: 107). This shows that cultures are not stagnant but dynamic in nature.

In conclusion, it is difficult to define a nation as it encompasses within it differing aspect such as cultural and also political. Joseph Stalin described it best by defining 'a nation is a historically evolved state community of language, territory, economic life and psychological makeup manifested in a community of culture' (Stalin in Hobsbawm, 1990: 5). The nation plays a role in directing or administering the states affair in everyday life but eventually the role will disappear due to the globalisation of the world.

A nation is thus defined by the political approach as a body of citizens voicing out their political view using the state as a tool (Hobsbawm, 1990: 18-19). Everyone is seen as an equal and there is mass participation in the governing of the nation. A sense of democracy seemed to prevail as choices are debated concerning a certain territory. Revolutionaries tend to follow this approach as

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