This collection of papers re¬presents an attempt by Marxist groups to understand the signi¬ficance of the nationalist up¬surges which are taking place in different parts of the coun¬try, as well as to evolve a strategy towards them. The seminar at which they were presented in Madras in 1981 was attended by a large number of political activists and radical youth groups from different states, and their ex¬perience and concern is reflect¬ed in the articles. This adds considerably to the interest of the book and also accounts for a degree of oversimplification which is present in some of the papers. Almost every modern State faces the problem of coping with the conflicting demands of national minorities. The problem is particularly acute in developing countries. Yet the theory of the State has, on the whole, ignored the problem. Historically, the modern notion of the State was developed prior to, and independently of, the concept of nation, and the relationship between the two concepts has remained ambiguous. States are, by definition, territorial units, while nationalities are held together by ties of emo¬tional affinity and common purpose. Although the notion of a nation-state is an attrac¬tive one, suggesting, as it does, a political unit in which legal ties are reinforced by a sense of common identity and com¬mon interest, there is no way of ensuring that every State represents one, and only one, national group.
Sept-Oct 1983, volume 8, No 2