The state is the organization through which the nation maintains its freedom and independence. Nationality A nation is a mass of people sharing a common geographic territory, common culture, common history, and common aspirations. Once established, the nation-state is perpetuated from generation to generation through the process of socialization. Socialization imprints nationality and state citizenship on both newborn citizens and immigrants. The newborn has no notion of nationality or citizenship and has no reason to support one nation or one state over another.
Socialization begins with a blank slate and constructs both nationality and citizenship.
But, each immigrant must be deprogrammed from their previous nationality before being enculturated with the new nationality and must forsake their old citizenship as they embrace new citizenship. One essential tool in the socialization process is mythology. Myths are simply stories that need no proof or substantiation. Myths are agreed upon and accepted by the vast majority of people who share a common culture. Myths of Founding The nation and the state are founded by a great personage or personages, usually with divine or supernatural attributes.