How may nationalism be used in the future as a creative force for peace?

Nationalism functions as a mechanism to unite people who have a similar culture under one political union. A number of states in the Middle East and Africa are determined by colonial borders that have created multi-ethnic states. This would be wonderful if different ethnic groups did not have strong in-group loyalty, out-group xenophobia and hatred, and distinct legal and cultural norms.

One example of this problem was the historic Yugoslavia. However, Yugoslavia is now at peace as seven distinct nations, each of which takes into account the distinct ethnic character of the dominant group that lives there, i.e. nationalism.

This solution of splitting up multi-ethnic states into nation-states based on the premise of ethnic nationalism will ultimately create a variety of different states that can live in peace with each other and where each group can create the cultural and legal atmosphere that its people wish for.