National composition of the population– distribution of people based on ethnicity. An ethnos (or people) is a historically established stable community of people, united by the unity of language, territory, economic life and culture, and national identity. The forms of ethnic community change and become more complex in the process of development human society- from clan and tribal associations under the primitive system, nationalities under early class societies to independent nations - in the conditions of the merger of local markets into a single national market. If, for example, the formation of nations has long been completed, then in some underdeveloped countries, and (, etc.) tribal associations are widely represented.

Today there are 2200 – 2400 ethnic groups in the world. Their numbers vary greatly - from several dozen people to hundreds of millions. Among the most large nations include (in million people):

• Chinese – 11 70,
• Hindustani (the main people of India) – 265,
• Bengalis (in India and) – 225,
• Americans - 200,
• – 175,
• Russians – 150,
• Japanese – 130,
• Punjabis (main people) – 115,
• – 115,
• Biharis - 105.

Thus, at the beginning of the 21st century, 10 ethnic groups account for about 45% of all humanity.

In many countries and regions of the world different ethnic groups are presented differently. Therefore, they usually distinguish between the main peoples, i.e., the ethnic groups that make up the bulk of the population, and national minorities.

Based on their origin and social status, national minorities are usually divided into two types:
autochthonous, i.e. indigenous peoples, ethnic groups born of immigration.

Yes, for national composition modern ones are characterized by the following proportions. The main ethnic group - the British - make up 77% of the total population; autochthonous ethnic groups, including Scots, etc. - 14% and immigrants from different countries – 9 %.

IN last years In countries with a complex national composition, interethnic contradictions have intensified.

IN modern world There are more than three thousand different ethnic units, and there are just over two hundred states. This means that, with some exceptions, the majority are multinational countries.

Terms and concepts

In order to understand the issue in detail, it is necessary to highlight the key concepts that researchers use when studying a particular country. Concepts such as are quite close in meaning, but at the same time have certain nuances. It is clear enough that all these terms are the result of historical complication various elements characterizing a particular ethnic community. Economic development and expansion of territory led to an increase in the area of ​​residence of the tribe, which gradually turned into a nationality or people. And as the highest stage of an ethnic unit, the formation and emergence of a nation can be distinguished. Many scientists agree that the determining factors in the formation of this community are one language, territory, culture and economic ties. However, as a nation develops, these factors lose their primary importance, and it can continue to exist even when divided

Formation of national identity

Indeed, confirming this statement, we can turn to the example of such a multinational giant as the USSR. Many nations that existed as part of this state, after its collapse, found themselves in different sides borders, but have not lost their identification. Therefore, having been formed once, they continue to exist, except for cases of physical disappearance. Language as one of the fundamental characteristics of a nation may cease to be so. As the number of people increased, the role of kinship decreased, and it could happen that two or more languages ​​appeared in one nation. When former ethnic groups were united into increasingly numerous ones, variations of languages ​​(dialects) were preserved, sometimes quite different from the former single language. The most striking example is the Swiss Confederation. The multinational countries of Europe were formed approximately along this path. However, not only European countries followed this path development national relations. The multinational countries of Asia also could not immediately form as full-fledged multiethnic entities. A series of revolutions and other metamorphoses led them to the need for coexistence, and one of the many Asian states - China - was also formed according to this principle.

Different interpretations of the concept "nation"

When using the term “nation”, one must keep in mind its dual meaning. Firstly, scientists consider it as a collection of citizens of a particular state. That is, it is a multicultural, socio-political, territorial and economic community of representatives different nationalities forming the state. In the second case, this definition is used to designate the highest form of ethnic unity. Multinational countries formed according to the first scenario in the modern geopolitical world make up more than half of all state entities. The most typical example is the American nation. For many centuries, the United States has been called a “melting pot” that successfully dissolved the ethnic diversity of American citizens, turning them into a single nation. This course of events was dictated by historical realities, the emerging industrial type of society made strict demands, primarily of an economic nature, and many nationalities had to unite in order to successfully compete in the international arena. This is how the multinational countries of the world took shape.

Russian style integration

The globalization of the economy has influenced the ways in which state-national entities integrate. Dynamically developing production has led to the formation of new options for interethnic cooperation. The USA and the Russian Federation are multinational countries; both of them are federations by their structure. However, the methods of their organization are fundamentally different. Russian Federation built on the national-state principle of the subjects that make it up. They have a certain independence in internal affairs and jointly represent the Russian nation.

An alternative path to national cooperation

American states also have a certain internal autonomy, but are formed on a territorial basis. Russia, in this way of organization, guarantees the development of the peoples inhabiting it. The United States of America, on the basis of democratic laws, also secures the right of each ethnic unit to national and cultural independence. These two types of government associations are represented throughout the globe.

Globalization and nations

The entry of the world into the information age has further intensified interstate competition, and, accordingly, interethnic competition. Therefore, the main trend is the birth of supranational state entities. They are formed on the principle of a confederation and have great national and cultural diversity. The most typical example is the European Union, which includes more than twenty countries and whose inhabitants speak, according to a rough estimate, 40 languages. The structure of this association is as close as possible to the existing economic and political realities. Its territory has a common legal system, currency, and citizenship. If you look closely at these signs, you can conclude that a European supernation has practically emerged. The number of new EU members is growing. Similar processes, but with a lesser degree of cooperation, are taking place all over the world. The initial economic and political blocs are prototypes of future supernations. It seems that the future of all human civilization lies precisely in such large state-national formations.

National politics

The guarantor of the preservation of unity is in states united into multinational countries. The list of these countries is quite extensive and includes the overwhelming number of government entities located on our planet. National policy includes a set of measures to ensure the equal existence and development of ethnic units of the state. The most multinational country the world - India is an example of this. Only a balanced and cautious policy of this country allows it to be a leader and successfully compete with its giant neighbor China.

Modern trends in interethnic relations

It is the legislative consolidation of rights that serves as the binding “solution” for these countries. The development paths of nationalities and states did not always coincide. History shows many similar examples. Multinational countries are most susceptible to collapse precisely because of their multiethnicity. The twentieth century saw the collapse of many such states: the USSR, Yugoslavia, and even binational Czechoslovakia. Therefore, maintaining parity of nationalities becomes the basis for cooperation and integration. Over the past two decades, the process of separatism has become somewhat biased; this also applies to established European states, such as, for example, Great Britain, from which Scotland announced its intention to secede, as well as the states of Asia and Africa artificially created as a result of colonial policy.

In the modern world there are more than three thousand different ethnic units, and there are just over two hundred states. This means that, with some exceptions, the majority are multinational countries.

Terms and concepts

In order to understand the issue in detail, it is necessary to highlight the key concepts that researchers use when studying a particular country. Concepts such as tribe, nationality, people, nation, ethnic group are quite close in meaning, but at the same time they have certain nuances. It is quite clear that all these terms are the result of the historical complication of various elements that characterize a particular ethnic community. Economic development and expansion of territory led to an increase in the area of ​​residence of the tribe, which gradually turned into a nationality or people. And as the highest stage of an ethnic unit, the formation and emergence of a nation can be distinguished. Many scientists agree that the determining factors in the formation of this community are one language, territory, culture and economic ties. However, as a nation develops, these factors lose their primary importance, and it can continue to exist even when divided by state borders.

Formation of national identity

Indeed, to confirm this statement, one can turn to the example of such a multinational giant as the USSR. Many nations that existed within this state, after its collapse, found themselves on different sides of the borders, but did not lose their identification. Therefore, having been formed once, they continue to exist, except for cases of physical disappearance. Language as one of the fundamental characteristics of a nation may cease to be so. As the number of people increased, the role of kinship decreased, and it could happen that two or more languages ​​appeared in one nation. When former ethnic groups were united into increasingly numerous ones, variations of languages ​​(dialects) were preserved, sometimes differing quite strongly from the former single language. The most striking example is the Swiss Confederation. The multinational countries of Europe were formed approximately along this path. However, not only European countries followed this path of development of national relations. The multinational countries of Asia also could not immediately form as full-fledged multiethnic entities. A series of revolutions and other metamorphoses led them to the need for coexistence, and one of the many Asian states - China - was also formed according to this principle.

Different interpretations of the concept "nation"

When using the term “nation”, one must keep in mind its dual meaning. Firstly, scientists consider it as a collection of citizens of a particular state. That is, it is a multicultural, socio-political, territorial and economic community of representatives of different nationalities that form the state. In the second case, this definition is used to designate the highest form of ethnic unity. Multinational countries formed according to the first scenario in the modern geopolitical world make up more than half of all state entities. The most typical example is the American nation. For many centuries, the United States has been called a “melting pot” that successfully dissolved the ethnic diversity of American citizens, turning them into a single nation. This course of events was dictated by historical realities, the emerging industrial type of society made strict demands, primarily of an economic nature, and many nationalities had to unite in order to successfully compete in the international arena. This is how the multinational countries of the world took shape.

Russian style integration

The globalization of the economy has influenced the ways in which state-national entities integrate. Dynamically developing production has led to the formation of new options for interethnic cooperation. The USA and the Russian Federation are multinational countries; both of them are federations by their structure. However, the methods of their organization are fundamentally different. The Russian Federation is built on the national-state principle of its constituent entities. They have a certain independence in internal affairs and jointly represent the Russian nation.

An alternative path to national cooperation

American states also have a certain internal autonomy, but are formed on a territorial basis. Russia, in this way of organization, guarantees the development of the national culture of the peoples inhabiting it. The United States of America, on the basis of democratic laws, also secures the right of each ethnic unit to national and cultural independence. These two types of government associations are represented throughout the globe.

Globalization and nations

The entry of the world into the information age has further intensified interstate competition, and, accordingly, interethnic competition. Therefore, the main trend is the birth of supranational state entities. They are formed on the principle of a confederation and have great national and cultural diversity. The most typical example is the European Union, which includes more than twenty countries and whose inhabitants speak, according to a rough estimate, 40 languages. The structure of this association is as close as possible to the existing economic and political realities. Its territory has a common legal system, currency, and citizenship. If you look closely at these signs, you can conclude that a European supernation has practically emerged. The number of new EU members is growing. Similar processes, but with a lesser degree of cooperation, are taking place all over the world. The initial economic and political blocs are prototypes of future supernations. It seems that the future of all human civilization lies precisely in such large state-national formations.

National politics

The guarantee of maintaining unity is national policy in states united into multinational countries. The list of these countries is quite extensive and includes the overwhelming number of government entities located on our planet. National policy includes a set of measures to ensure the equal existence and development of ethnic units of the state. The most multinational country in the world - India - is an example of this. Only the balanced and cautious policy of this country allows it to be the leader of South Asia and successfully compete with its giant neighbor China.

Modern trends in interethnic relations

It is the legislative consolidation of the rights of national minorities that serves as a binding “solution” for these countries. The development paths of nationalities and states did not always coincide. History shows many similar examples. Multinational countries are most susceptible to collapse precisely because of their multiethnicity. The twentieth century saw the collapse of many such states: the USSR, Yugoslavia, and even binational Czechoslovakia. Therefore, maintaining parity of nationalities becomes the basis for cooperation and integration. Over the past two decades, the process of separatism has become somewhat biased; this also applies to established European states, such as, for example, Great Britain, from which Scotland announced its intention to secede, as well as the states of Asia and Africa artificially created as a result of colonial policy.

More than six dozen people live in foreign Europe different nations. For many, this territory became home even before the formation of the modern world map.

Factors in the formation of the national composition of Foreign Europe

• Relief . Since ancient times, tribes of people united in lowland areas. Therefore, the Paris Basin and the North German Lowland are considered the earliest inhabited regions. The fusion of ethnic groups is clearly visible in countries with predominantly mountainous terrain - in the Balkans and the Alps.
• Migration . Europe has experienced waves of migration more than once throughout its history. In fact, the processes of migration of peoples to more the developed countries has been going on for 4 centuries. But the largest influx of people occurred at the beginning of the 20th century, after the end of the First World War and the liquidation of the colonies. The continent was settled by people from Central Asia, Latin America, Africa and Oceania. Ethnic diasporas of these people still exist in France, Germany, England, Switzerland and a number of other countries. But people have taken root and merged with the ethnic people so much that it is almost impossible to single out purebred Arabs or Mexicans.
• Interspecific conflicts and civil wars . The national composition of foreign Europe was constantly changing. Only for the last 60 years has Europe been at peace. It is difficult to list all the conflicts and wars in its history. Countries united, divided, and only in 1918 the foundation was formed, which is now depicted on the world map. The final formation of states occurred as recently as 1990, following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Fig.1. Map of Europe before the First World War, 1914.

There is no such ethnic group as the Spaniards; in the tenth century AD, several nationalities united into one. These were: Arabs, Celts, Jews, representatives of the Romanesque culture. It took several centuries to complete the merger process. The Bulgarians also lost their original culture because they were under the rule Ottoman Empire for 4 centuries.

Composition of the population of Foreign Europe

According to the number of peoples within the country, all states are divided into three types: single-national, binational and multinational, i.e. those with large national minorities.

Rice. 2. Ethnic composition Europe

14 single-national countries of Foreign Europe are presented in the table:

Fig.3. Percentage of indigenous population

Germany, and its neighbors from the west and east - Austria and the Netherlands, are conventionally considered single-national, despite mass migrations to these countries.

The most multinational countries of Foreign Europe can be conditionally divided into two groups: the first will include the states of Great Britain, Spain and Switzerland, and the other will include all the countries of the Balkans.

The indigenous population of Germany are Germans. The largest diaspora are Turks, Russians, Italians and Greeks.

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Great Britain consists of several ethnic territories united under one crown. That is why it is considered multinational. The English live in the towns and villages of England, the Scots live in the northern part of the island, and the Irish live in Ireland. And among all the diversity of migrant cultures, the Gaels and Welsh retained their identity.

The peoples predominant in Spain: Basques, Spaniards, Catalans, Gypsies.

The indigenous population of Switzerland is divided into 4 ethnic groups: German-Swiss, Italo-Swiss, Franco-Swiss and Romansh.

Binational countries:

• Baltic Sea States : Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania. In addition to the national indigenous population, the Russian diaspora predominates in these countries.
• Scandinavian states : Finland, Sweden. In addition to the indigenous peoples, who make up the first group of the national majority (Finns and Swedes), in these countries there is a second group - immigrants.
• Slavic countries : Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria.
• France . Despite the fact that the majority of the population calls themselves French, the following nationalities have survived: Basques, Lorraine, Flemings, Jews.

What have we learned?

In the process of becoming European Union, all countries have passed difficult path formation of their ethnic groups. Today there are practically no purebred nations left. But scientists still divide European states into three groups: with one predominant nation, with two, and multinational.

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