Class 11 Political Science Chapter 7 Nationalism – NCERT Solutions

NCERT Exercises – Chapter 7: Nationalism

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

1. How is a nation different from other forms of collective belonging?

Answer: A nation is different from other forms of collective belonging like family, tribe, or kinship groups. Unlike them, a nation is based on collective beliefs, shared history, political ideals, and identification with a territory. People may not have direct relationships but still share a sense of unity and common identity.

2. What do you understand by the right to national self-determination? How has this idea resulted in both formation of and challenges to nation-states?

Answer: The right to national self-determination is the claim of a nation or people to govern themselves and decide their own future. This idea led to the creation of new nation-states but also caused challenges like mass migrations, conflicts, separatism, and the complex issue of accommodating minorities.

3. “We have seen that nationalism can unite people as well as divide them, liberate them as well as generate bitterness and conflict”. Illustrate your answer with examples.

Answer: Nationalism united people during struggles like India’s freedom movement or Germany’s unification. But it has also divided societies, as with separatist movements (Basques in Spain, Tamils in Sri Lanka) and communal conflicts, leading to wars and bitterness among communities and states.

4. Neither descent, nor language, nor religion or ethnicity can claim to be a common factor in nationalisms all over the world. Comment.

Answer: There is no universal element—like descent, language, religion, or ethnicity—present in every nation. For example, India has many languages and religions, and Canada includes both English and French speakers. Nationalism is thus more about shared beliefs and political ideals than any one factor.

5. Illustrate with suitable examples the factors that lead to the emergence of nationalist feelings.

Answer: Factors include shared history (India’s ancient civilisation), common territory (motherland/fatherland), shared beliefs and political ideals (democracy, secularism), common language or culture, and collective aspirations. For instance, nationalist movements in Germany, Italy, or India arose from these unifying factors.

6. How is a democracy more effective than authoritarian governments in dealing with conflicting nationalist aspirations?

Answer: Democracy deals better with conflicting nationalist aspirations by enabling dialogue, acknowledging diversity, and providing equal rights and representation to different groups. It fosters mutual respect, legal protection, and peaceful accommodation, unlike authoritarian regimes, which often suppress identities.

7. What do you think are the limitations of nationalism?

Answer: Limitations include the risk of exclusion of minorities, fostering conflict or violence, promoting narrow identities, and generating hostility towards other groups. Excessive nationalism may suppress individual freedoms and lead to intolerance, wars, and disruption of peace.

Understanding Nationalism – Class 11 Political Science

Chapter 7 in the NCERT Solutions Class 11 Political Science 2025-26 explores nationalism and the concept of the nation. This chapter highlights how shared beliefs and history bind people together, providing students with essential knowledge for exams and real-world understanding.

Grasping the strengths and limitations of nationalism helps learners understand global conflicts and unity. Focus on key terms like pluralism, self-determination, and collective identity when studying this topic for Political Science class 11 board exams.

Regularly practice NCERT exercise questions to boost your conceptual clarity. Review examples, focus on the diversity within nations, and connect theoretical ideas to current events for better retention and higher scores in the 2025-26 exams.