Globalization seems to be making nation-states increasingly irrelevant, yet their number has continued to grow in recent years. New nation-states emerged out of the ruins of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia; more still may come as Palestinians, Kurds, Chechens, and other peoples struggle tenaciously to establish their own. Nation, State, and Territory shows that national identities are as potent as ever. Today many conflicts rage over places and territories of historical, linguistic, and religious significance. Many analyses, however, only consider the economic and geostrategic value of territory. George W. White shows that national identity is intimately bound to specific places and territories. "Nation," "state," and "territory" are mutually defining and reinforcing phenomena, and through careful analysis White examines their origins, evolutions, and relationships to provide a better understanding of the interactions and conflicts of the world's nation-states.

"White is to be commended for placing such a large swath of European political history in a context that highlights the evolution of nationalism, particularly the linkages between national identity and territoriality. . . . A well-written and thoughtful look at the importance of geography in understanding nationalism." - Professional Geographer