• Civilization-state

    Alternative forms

    Full definition of civilization-state

    Noun

    1. A political entity (a state) associated with a particular civilization
      • 2009, LA Times, 22 November, Martin Jacques http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/22/opinion/la-oe-jacques22-2009nov22Although China has described itself as a nation-state for the last century, it is in essence a civilization-state. The longest continually existing polity in the world, it dates to 221 BC and the victory of the Qin. Unlike Western nation-states, China's sense of identity comes from its long history as a civilization-state.
      • 2010, Newsweek, 25 January, Martin JacquesChina may call itself a nation-state (although only for the past century), but in essence it is a civilization-state dating back at least two millennia.
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