Concerning the concept of national identity in sociology

National identity is a very complex and multidimensional concept. For this reason, each researcher determines and explains it from different standpoints emphasizing its certain perspectives. The paper deals with the viewpoints of A. Smith, H. Kelman, K. Huebner, B. Parekh and other researchers on the concept of national identity in sociology. The author analyzes various definitions of national identity and reviews the different aspects of each definition. The study shows the correlation between such concepts as national identity, state, and culture. It is argued that historical, ethnic and political forces influence and change the elements of national identity. The paper considers several types and different elements of national identity. The author reveals that the national identity is being reconstructed to perform several functions.