Evolution of the Concept "Nation" and its Modern Interpretations

Abstract

The article analyzes the evolution of the concepts of "ethnicity" and "nation" in the history of European philosophy and science XVII - early XX centuries, reveals the philosophical foundations and research paradigms of the concept's origin and evolution of ethnic groups and nations. In the article are analyzed in detail naturalistic (primordialist), anthropological, political, sotsientalny (in its socio-economic and cultural versions), subjective-symbolic and ethno-symbolic approaches to the study of ethnic groups and nations , it’s advantages and disadvantages. The author pays special attention to criticism of a paradigm of modern "strategic relativism", which adherents (R. Brubeyker, K. Verderi, F. Cooper, etc.) suggested to refuse the concept "nation".