Po johnson ethnicity vs nationality

Some people in both the U. There are also many countries in which a person must meet certain ethnic criteria to qualify for citizenship. The word nationality can have different meanings. To say, for example, that someone is an American national would indicate that the person is a U. So in other words, nationality can be another way of saying citizenship.

There are other contexts, however, in which nationality overlaps with ethnicity. In Israel, for example, the term nationality that appears on national ID cards implies what in the U. Israeli is not considered a nationality, and therefore, will not be found on the ID cards of Israeli citizens. Many people around the world struggle to be recognized as a nationality.

In other words, they want an independent nation-state for themselves. The Kurdish people of the Middle East, for instance, are an ethnic group that make up the majority of the population in parts of present-day TurkeySyriaIraqand Iran. In France, the ethnic distinction of "Algerian" carries specific connotations. Once in the U. Now, they fit into American racial and ethnic categories.

So while this person might be Algerian in France, they may be categorized as Muslim in the United States. While this person would personally continue to personally identify as ethnically Algerian, they would be perceived and treated as a Saudi or Iraqi might be treated based on American national perceptions of ethnicity. They would perhaps even be called "Middle Eastern," even though they po johnson ethnicity vs nationality actually North African.

We've already talked about some examples above, but it's probably helpful to see a race vs ethnicity list, too. In the table below, you'll see a race in the left column, then some associated ethnicities in the next two columns. Keep in mind that this is a very small sample of the different race and ethnic combinations that exist. You can be more than one race and more than one ethnicity!

These definitions also differ significantly between countries, too. Again, these are not all the ethnicities that exist. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of ethnicities. And there are even more combinations of ethnicity and race! For instance, you can be ethnically Latinx, but racially black, Asian, or Caucasian. The big takeaway is that race and ethnicity are separate categories, and a person's ethnicity often depends on both cultural and national contexts.

While race and ethnicity are a tangled mess that becomes more difficult to understand the harder you try, nationality is fairly simple. Nationality is defined as the legal citizenship of a nation statepure and simple. It's pretty straightforward, too: you either are or are not a citizen of a nation state! In the United States, you can attain citizenship either by being born here birthright citizenship or by being granted legal citizenship by the United States government naturalized citizenship.

When you obtain your citizenship, your nationality becomes American. So, that's simple, right? You belong to a nation once you have legal citizenship, and your citizenship defines your nationality. Oh, but hold on! Here's where it gets tricky. Once you are a citizen, do you then automatically receive all the privileges and protections of citizenship?

Legally, yes, but culturally While you may be a legal citizen, how you are actually received and the treatment you are afforded can be affected by your race and ethnicity. This leads us to the phenomenon of nationalism. Nationalism is the belief that one's one nation state is to be prioritized, and the well-being of that collective is more important than, well, anything else really.

Nationalism emphasizes the setting aside of individual differences or interests for the good of one's own state. That sounds okay, right? Well, it can be. There's definitely a positive side to it. Sometimes, nationalism means that people are treated more equally. But nationalism can also mean that one's national identity should come before everything else.

Po johnson ethnicity vs nationality

This is particularly problematic when a person's culture comes in conflict with national identity. This shows up when questions arise such as whether or not English should be the national language of the United States. The Nationalist belief would be that once you are an American citizen, you should conform to an American identity--one that happens to be English-speaking.

This would require people who speak other languages to speak English, and when they don't, they can be considered to be "less American" and become subject to prejudice. We talked a lot about the ways in which society shapes the definitions of race vs ethnicity vs nationality. If you think this is interesting, you might enjoy studying political science or sociology.

Similarly, race is a separate concept that classifies people based on physical differences like skin tone, hair coloror other genetic traits. Race is a social constructoften used to categorize individuals in ways that are culturally specific. Sociologists view ethnicity as a form of cultural belonging. It shapes how people identify themselves and connect with others.

Ethnic groups offer a sense of community based on shared language, traditions, and history. Nationality forms the foundation of legal identity in modern nation-states. In many countries, nationality determines access to resources, social services, and even mobility such as passport access. The U. Census distinguishes between race, ethnicity, and nationality to capture the diversity of the American population.

The ethnicity categories used focus on cultural identity, such as identifying as Hispanic or Latino. These categories reflect how race and ethnicity are often used to classify and understand cultural differences among people. The concepts of ethnicity and nationality provide frameworks for understanding cultural heritage and legal identity.

Recognizing and respecting these distinctions is essential for building inclusive communities that value both the cultural richness of ethnic diversity and the unifying power of shared nationality. Understanding the difference between ethnicity and nationality is a step toward acknowledging the unique backgrounds, experiences, and contributions of people worldwide.

Whether we identify by nationality, ethnicity, or both, each component forms an integral part of who we are and how we interact with the world. Ethnicity vs. Nationality: Understanding the Difference. Written by. People belonging to this group share common traditions, history, language or dialect, culture, behaviour, religion, physical appearance and similar other factors like geographical affiliation to a particular place, dressing style, food, beliefs, etc.

For example : In India, the total population of 1. In other words, nationality means the identity of a large group of people having a legal connection and personal allegiance to a specific place, because of being born there. It indicates the country, where the individual is from and is the legal citizen. Nationality law deals with its provision and sets the conditions for obtaining nationality.

However, it can be acquired by birth, inheritance or naturalisation. It bestows the state, authority over the person and confers the person, protection of the state. The rights and powers of the state and its nationals may vary from country to country. It is psychological and thus provides the source for patriotism and self-sacrifice. So, you might have gained ample knowledge about ethnicity and nationality from the points mentioned above.