According to Ernst Renan what are the attributes of a nation?
As per Ernst Renan, if the world had only one master and only one law, it would be a problem, the existence of liberty is guaranteed by the existence of nations. Hence the existence of a nation is a necessity and a good thing. A nation is not interested in holding on to a country against its will, and it never has any real interest in annexing.
As per Ernst Renan, the culmination of a long past of devotion, sacrifice and endeavors is a nation. According to Ernst Renan, the base of a national idea is to have social capital, glory, great men, and heroic past.
As per Ernst Renan if anyone has the right to be consulted in a nation, it is the inhabitants. The existence of a nation is like a daily plebiscite, a large scale solidarity. In a nation, the people wish to perform more, the people of a nation should have common will in the present, and have common glories in the past.