Difference between Nationality and Ethnicity

Ethnicity and nationality are two important concepts often associated with identity; however, they encompass very different notions of belonging. Ethnicity is the result of cultural heritage, ancestry, and customs, and is often marked by markers such as language and religion. Generally, it refers to shared narratives and experiences provided by that affiliation.

Nationality is a legal and political ascription of where we stand in a nation-state's official characterization of our relationship to it, including citizenship rights and obligations as recognized by national laws. Ethnicity reflects our cultural identity and continuity, while nationality reflects a legal and civic/meaning-making relationship to place. Distinguishing between ethnicity and nationality will foster our understanding of how together heritage and citizenship contribute to one's experience of place and belonging.

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What is Nationality?

Nationality is a legal and political term. It defines the bond between an individual and a nation-state, typically indicated by citizenship. Usually, a person’s nationality is recorded in some legal form, such as a passport or identity card.

What is Ethnicity?

Ethnicity is a cultural group of people that share common language, religion, traditions, ancestry, or experiences. It is mainly about cultural identity and feeling of shared past.

Examples of Ethnicity and Nationality

Barack Obama is American in Nationality, but his ethnicity is African-American, derived from his Kenyan dad and American mom. 

A Han Chinese person can be Chinese, illustrating a correlation between ethnicity and citizenship. 

Basis of Identity

Ethnicity is based on common cultural heritage, ancestry, language, religion, and traditions. Ethnicity connects people with a shared origin or origin or community. It tends to emphasize cultural identity as opposed to political status and is often inherited. Nationality, in contrast, is defined as a legal relationship between an individual and a nation-state (a state indicated on a passport). 

Nationality typically indicates the place of birth or the act of naturalization, which defines citizenship, rights, and responsibilities associated with a particular country. Ethnicity mainly identifies cultural belonging, while nationality provides political association with a defined state.

Major Differences

Ethnicity is not constrained by political boundaries. Members of the same ethnic group frequently reside in different countries or nation-states and usually continue to share a common language, culture, and traditions. Kurds are a case in point- there are Kurds living in Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran.They share an ethnic identity, yet live separated by political politics.

Nationality, in contrast, is limited to one nation-state. It can be understood as a person's legal affiliation with or belonging to a country, with specific rights and obligations as a member of that country. Nationality is generally taken to be connected to the nation's laws, governance and political system.