Title: Beyond territory: the evolution of the nation-state in virtual contexts: a systematic literature review

Authors: André Salgado; Luis Capucha; Leandro F. Pereira

Addresses: ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Av das Forças Armadas, 1649-026, Lisboa, Portugal ' ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Av das Forças Armadas, 1649-026, Lisboa, Portugal ' BRU-Business Research Unit, ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Av das Forças Armadas, 1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal

Abstract: The nation-state is a well-established concept, although it is common to find overlaps with other concepts with different meanings. A nation-state can be defined as a form of political organisation characterised by i) a permanent population; ii) a defined territory; iii) a government; iv) a monopoly on the legitimate use of violence and force; and v) the capacity to enter into relations with other nation-states. Through an integrative analysis of the literature, it was possible to understand that the territory component only explains the nation-state if it is associated with materiality and, at the same time, the presence of the other conceptual components that characterise it. The emergence of political phenomena in virtual territory, which is therefore not material, requires conceptual reflection, which has so far been little explored.

Keywords: nation-state; territory; digital society; metaverse; virtual territory; state; PRISMA model.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEG.2026.156076

International Journal of Electronic Governance, 2026 Vol.18 No.1, pp.102 - 123

Received: 02 Jul 2025
Accepted: 28 Jan 2026
Published online: 02 Sep 2026 *

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