The major difference between a state and a nation is that the latter presupposes a _______

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks what a nation requires that a state does not necessarily require. So we need the feature that separates the two ideas.

Step 2: Explain the concepts

• State: a political and legal entity with four essentials: a defined territory, a permanent population, a government, and sovereignty. A state can contain many different ethnic groups. Nigeria is a good example, with Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and many other peoples.
• Nation: a group of people bound together by common ethnicity, language, culture, history, religion, or shared sentiment and identity. The emphasis is on a people, not on territory or government. In its classical sense, a nation presupposes a homogeneous population, meaning people who share common characteristics.

Step 3: Test the options

• A. heterogeneous: This means a mixed population, which describes a multi-ethnic state. It is also grammatically incomplete, since "a heterogeneous" needs a noun after it. Wrong.
• B. Homogeneous population: A nation is based on common identity, so it presupposes a people of shared origin and culture. This fits.
• C. well-defined territory: Territory is an essential feature of a state, not what distinguishes a nation. Wrong.
• D. more organized system: Organization and government belong to the state. Wrong.

Step 4: Answer The major difference is that a state is defined by territory, government and sovereignty, while a nation is defined by a people with shared identity, which means a homogeneous population.

Correct option: B

Tip: Remember it this way:

• State = Structure (territory, government, sovereignty)
• Nation = Neighbours who share identity (culture, language, history)

When a question asks what a nation has that a state lacks, think "common identity and homogeneity."