Patriotism vs. nationalism

@AThousandYoung said
If one looks at a map one can see Kurdistan is ONE contiguous Country inhabited by one Nation which has no Nation-State. Instead various neighboring States control different parts of it.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Kurdistan

One could say Ireland is one Country with two States on it, one of which is an indigenous Nation-State, the other being whatever North ...[text shortened]... used consistently in this kind of context but are often present to emphasize the formal definitions

@no1marauder said
Not every source agrees with your definition:

Britannica Dictionary definition of COUNTRY
1
a [count] : an area of land that is controlled by its own government : nation

https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/country

Only parts of Kurdistan are controlled by their own government and even those are somewhat subject to the central governments of Iraq and S ...[text shortened]... n that nation. https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/the-shrinking-space-for-kurdish-autonomy-in-syria/

an area or region that has a particular quality or feature or is known for a particular activity.

Sealand uses the words in the way I do:

https://sealandgov.org/en-us/blogs/news/country-nation-state-sealand-sovereignty

A Nation: A Shared Identity
A nation is a community defined by a shared sense of “us”. It doesn’t depend on borders or governments. The Kurds, Catalans, and Roma remind us that nations can thrive culturally even without formal political sovereignty. A nation exists in collective memory, culture, and belonging. A nation can exist without land, a formal government, or legal recognition. It is, above all, a community of people.

A Country: A Distinct Place
A country is a cultural and geographic idea, a place that feels distinct in character, history, and customs. It isn’t a legal category. Scotland and Greenland are widely called countries, even though they sit within larger sovereign systems. “Country” is how we describe a place that stands apart, regardless of its political status.

A State: A Legal Sovereign
A state is the strictest term of the three. In international law, it requires people, territory, a functioning government, and the capacity to engage diplomatically with other states. This explains why Taiwan, Kosovo, and Palestine occupy complex middle grounds: their internal governance and external recognition don’t perfectly align.

Or if you like this source better:

https://study.com/academy/lesson/video/the-difference-between-countries-nations-states-and-governments.html

Country vs State:
The terms state and country are often used interchangeably. In simple language, a country refers to a distinct political entity, much like a state. The United States can be described as both a country and a state. However, in political science, particularly in international relations, "state" is the preferred term because "country" can also refer to rural areas or regions rather than political entities.

Defining Nation:
A nation is a group of people connected by a shared culture, history, and traditions, usually residing within a particular geographic region. Unlike a state, a nation does not necessarily have sovereignty. The Jewish nation consists of Jewish people worldwide, but not all of them reside in Israel, which is a state. Similarly, Native American tribes such as the Lakota nation are considered nations but do not have independent states of their own.

In this translation of Germania, the word country is used like I use it:

Germania by Tacitus
https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/germania.html

And, beside the perils of rough and unknown seas, who would leave Asia, or Africa, or Italy for Germany, with its wild country, its inclement skies, its sullen manners and aspect, unless indeed it were his home?

...Their country, though somewhat various in appearance, yet generally either bristles with forests or reeks with swamps

@PuzZuLz said
@vivify

You should edit the thread title and use an upper case N 😉

@AThousandYoung said
I'm using Definition 2:

an area or region that has a particular quality or feature or is known for a particular activity.

Definition 1 in both sources uses the modernized, modified word. Yes, in some contexts, it is correct to use Nation and Country interchangeably and to use State for a subdivision of the Nation/Country.

That's not the origin ...[text shortened]... y I use the words fits in better with historic use during the early parts of the Age of Nationalism.

@no1marauder said
The examples provided for Definition 2 are not supportive of your argument:

[noncount] : an area or region that has a particular quality or feature or is known for a particular activity.

[b]He moved to the north country to fish and hunt.
We went camping in the hill country.
They drove through miles of open country.
We took a trip to wine country. [=an area where ...[text shortened]... country": https://www.cbsnews.com/news/micronation-sealand-bates-royal-family-60-minutes-transcript/

Google AI prompt:

While people often use the terms nation, state, and country interchangeably, they have distinct definitions in political science and geography.
Key Definitions
• Nation: A cultural group of people united by a shared language, history, ethnicity, or traditions. A nation shares an identity but does not always have its own independent territory or sovereignty (for example, the Kurds or the Rohingya).
• State: A political and legal entity with a defined territory, a permanent population, a centralized government, and sovereignty (the power to govern itself and deal with other states). This is what people commonly call a country.
• Country: A geographical and political region often used interchangeably with a state or sovereign government, though "state" is the preferred term in formal political science to avoid ambiguity.
• Nation-State: The specific combination where the cultural boundaries of a nation match the political boundaries of a state.

TermCore FocusKey ElementExample
NationPeople and cultureShared identity and historyThe Kurdish people
StateGovernment and powerSovereignty and territoryFrance
CountryGeographic placePopulated land areaNigeria

https://www.thoughtco.com/country-state-and-nation-1433559

A sovereign state has recognized boundaries, people, and an internationally recognized government.
Nations are groups that share common language, culture, or history but may lack sovereignty.
A country can mean a state, sovereign state, or nation-state, but also a cultural area without political status.
While the terms country, state, sovereign state, nation, and nation-state are often used interchangeably, there is a difference. Simply put:

A state is a territory with its own institutions and populations.
A sovereign state is a state with its own institutions and populations that has a permanent population, territory, and government. It must also have the right and capacity to make treaties and other agreements with other states. Note there are also non-sovereign states.
A nation is a large group of people who inhabit a specific territory and are connected by history, culture, or another commonality.
A nation-state is a cultural group (a nation) that is also a state (and may, in addition, be a sovereign state).
The word country can be used to mean the same thing as state, sovereign state, or nation-state. It can also be used in a less political manner to refer to a region or cultural area that has no governmental status.

@no1marauder said
The examples provided for Definition 2 are not supportive of your argument:

[noncount] : an area or region that has a particular quality or feature or is known for a particular activity.

[b]He moved to the north country to fish and hunt.
We went camping in the hill country.
They drove through miles of open country.
We took a trip to wine country. [=an area where ...[text shortened]... country": https://www.cbsnews.com/news/micronation-sealand-bates-royal-family-60-minutes-transcript/