And if so, then what? Current France is a result of all three (in the last few centuries especially the second - living at the centre of this expansion, you may be much less aware of it), so are you saying we just should dismiss this happening in the future? But, you should also think of countries falling apart. Of course, believers in nationalism will claim post-facto that there never 'really' was a national feeling corresponding to that country.

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}