Taifa ni kundi lolote la binadamu lenye utamaduni wake maalumu na mapokeo yake katika historia ya eneo fulani. Mara nyingi umoja wake unategemea pia lugha. Kila mojawapo lina haki ya kujitambua hivyo na kuhamasisha mshikamano kati ya watu wanaoliunda hata kujipatia uhuru wa kisiasa walau kwa kiasi fulani. Katika Kilatini linatumika neno natio linalotokana na nasci ("kuzaliwa"). Katika ngazi ya chini tunakuta kundi linaloitwa kabila. Anderson, Benedict (1983). Imagined Communities. London: Verso Publications.  Gellner, Ernest (1983). Nations and Nationalism. Cambridge: Blackwell.  James, Paul (1996). Nation Formation: Towards a Theory of Abstract Community. London: Sage Publications.  James, Paul (2006). Globalism, Nationalism, Tribalism: Bringing Theory Back In —Volume 2 of Towards a Theory of Abstract Community. London: Sage Publications.  Smith, Anthony (1986). The Ethnic Origins of Nations. London: Blackwell.