Final answer:
Governments encourage citizens to identify with the state through national symbols, rituals, and education, fostering a sense of national identity to legitimize authority, maintain social order, and export cultural values.
Step-by-step explanation:
Governments have intentionally fostered national identity and social cohesion among their citizens by employing a variety of strategies. Political scientist Benedict Anderson characterizes nations as imagined communities, where the sense of communal belonging transcends physical interactions and is instilled through institutions and symbols. These measures, which include the establishment of national holidays, flags, anthems, and public education, serve both practical and ideological purposes. They help to legitimize state authority, promote social order, and engender a collective mindset that supports the state's ongoing stability and aims.
Historically, fledgling nations in the nineteenth century often used language, ethnicity, religion, or a shared history to formulate a national identity, solidifying their citizens' sense of belonging and unity. In contemporary times, with globalization spreading cultural products worldwide, national identity can also expand influence, spreading a state's political and social values through recognizable brands and products. This multifaceted approach to fostering national identity reflects both the interests of the state in maintaining control and order, and the psychological needs of individuals to feel part of a larger group.