nationalism
nationalism as a neutral concept of social science refers to the institutionalisation of majority and minority societies on a national basis. Since the 18th and 19th century societies have been institutionalised on a national basis, legitimizing the state on a national basis, which builds a system of institutions that produces a national identity. The logic of nationalism is that the people in a given area – in a state – should form a culturally (nationally) homogeneous society. The emergence of nationalism and its subsequent transformation into a state ideology both made societies nationally homogeneous and led those who resisted homogenisation to organise their societies on a different national basis and to strive for statehood. The consequence of this process is that, since the second half of the 19th century, all European societies, whether majority or minority, have defined themselves in national terms (using a national terminology). nationalism sees the nation as a central value and seeks statehood or at least autonomy. The issue of nationalities after 1989 should be understood in the context of interaction of nationalisms of the majority, of minorities and the motherland (kin-state).