Primordialism (perennialism) developed alongside nationalism during the romantic era and held that there have always been nations. Three main theories have been used to explain its emergence. Nationalism developed at the end of the 18th century, particularly with the French Revolution and the spread of the principle of popular sovereignty (the idea that 'the people' should rule). Historically, the civic type of nationalism was determinant factor in the development of modern constitutional and democratic value system since the beginnings, however the ethnic nationalism has a tendency to prefer authoritarian rule or even dictature. The two main divergent forms are ethnic nationalism and civic nationalism. There are various definitions of a 'nation', which leads to different types of nationalism. Nationalism, therefore, seeks to preserve and foster a nation's traditional culture.

It further aims to build and maintain a single national identity, based on a combination of shared social characteristics such as culture, ethnicity, geographic location, language, politics (or the government), religion, traditions and belief in a shared singular history, and to promote national unity or solidarity. It holds that each nation should govern itself, free from outside interference ( self-determination), that a nation is a natural and ideal basis for a polity, and that the nation is the only rightful source of political power. As a movement, it tends to promote the interests of a particular nation (as in a group of people), especially with the aim of gaining and maintaining the nation's sovereignty ( self-governance) over its homeland to create a nation-state. Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state.

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