Interpretation of nation and ethnos, national and ethnic identity in political sciences

In political science, the interpretation of nation, ethnos, national identity, and ethnic identity is a complex and multifaceted area of study. Scholars in this field analyze these concepts from various perspectives, considering their political, cultural, historical, and social dimensions. In political science, the interpretation of these concepts often depends on the specific research context and objectives. Researchers examine how nations and ethnos are defined, how national and ethnic identities are formed and maintained, and how these identities influence political behavior, institutions, and policies. The study of nation and ethnos is essential for understanding political dynamics, governance, and conflict resolution in diverse societies. The main goal of this article is a political science systematization of the conclusions that define these four concepts. To achieve the goal, we set the task of critical analysis by arguing the essence of concepts. First of all, we paid attention to those concepts that are embedded in the object of study, which have developed in the history of political thought. We focused on the main characteristics of each concept and determined their mutual differences. The article argues that there is no single definition of the concepts being studied among scientists. We conclude that researchers must take into account the semantic differences of interpretations given in the context of political-social views if they want to correctly interpret events occurring in the world.