Nation state system is as old as the human history.

It will be more correct to say that the history of nation

state system starts with the political consciousness of man. In this modern age, no one can satisfy its all
needs alone and due to this lie has to make relations with other states in order to satisfy his desires,
interests and goals. In the field of international politics these states are called sovereign states or nation
state system. It plays a dominant role in international relations. The people all over the world are divided
into a number of groups that lie in sovereign nation state. These states maintain relations with each other
under the pressure of sheer necessity. If people are not organized into states or nations, no international
relations would have been possible. Some scholars reduce the role of state in the nuclear and space age.
However, the role of nation-state cannot be reduced in the present age

The terms "nation" and "state" are quite different yet they are often used interchangeably. The nation is a
concept denoting a common ethnic and cultural identity shared by single people, while the state is a
political unit define in term of territory, population, organized government, exercising affective control over
its territory and inhabitants. The nation promotes emotional relationship among its members, while state
provides political and legal foundation for the identity of its citizens.

What is a State?
A State is an independent, sovereign government exercising control over a certain spatially defined
and bounded area, whose borders are usually clearly defined and internationally recognized by other
states

, what is a Nation?
A nation is a group of people who see themselves as a cohesive and coherent unit based on shared
cultural or historical criteria.

Nation State System

According to Palmer and Perkins, "The nation state system is the pattern of life in that the people are
separately organized that interact with one another in varying ways and various degrees." The state will
have to recognize the legitimacy of other states. The state should be sovereign both externally and
internally and its people must observe their duties.

Origin of Nation State System

To understand the origin of nation state system it is necessary to fall light on past history. Before
17th century, nation states were existed but under the control of Roman Catholic Church headed by pope
and the nation state had no sovereign status.

Treaty of Westphalia
Westphalia to Utrecht (1648-1713) The second stage of the development of the state-system has
between 1648-1713, during that conflict among UK. France, Holland and Spain were raised on colonial
supremacy. But France had to face heavy loss due to coalition of UK and Austria on the question of
Spanish succession. France suffered heavy loss by the treaty of Westphalia.

Utrecht to Vienna (1713- 1815) During this period conflict between Austria and France had taken place.
Fredrick the great of Persia enforced, France, Austria and Russia to form an alliance ill order to maintain
balance of power. UK made alliance with Prussia. Due to these alliances and counter alliances seven
years war took place from 1756-63. Later on, France under Napoleon became dominant in European
affairs. but soon defeated by the combined effort of UK. Russia. Prussia, Austria and Sweden. The result
was the Vienna meeting in 1915 in that balance of power was again restored in Europe with certain check
on France.

Vienna to Versailles (1815-1914) During this period i.e. from 1815 to 1914, various nation states were
emerged on the map of the.
This period in the history of the world is known as period of Pax-Britannica, because during this period
Britain had full autonomy and had maintained Balance of power to greater extant in Europe only two time
her supremacy was threatened. In 1854-56, Russia threatened her supremacy to dominate the region
during the Crimean war. Secondly in 1870-71. Germany displaced France and established her own
supremacy in the continent during the Franco-Prussian war. During this period, i.e. in 1913 the decline of
Turkey (Caliphate) and Spanish power led to the rise of several independent states on the map of the
world. And also during this period China emerged as a super power by defeating Japan. This period of
world history especially from 1882-1907 was the period of mutual fear and suspicion among states.

Versailles to the Present The treaty of Versailles in 1914 brought great changes in the map of the world
and also brought great disturbance because due to the harsh treatment with Germany in this treaty
caused Nazism in Germany and Fascism in Italy and also Russia emerged as one of the disturbing factor
in the world and due to all these the treaty of Versailles brought a gift of 2 nd world war for the humanity
and due to this several UK colonies i.e. in Africa and in Asia got independence